POINTS OF EMPHASIS

Points of emphasis can be the single most important aspect of your drill.  They offer clarity and focus to
both coaches and athletes.  It is important that you are clear on the reason you are running a particular drill.  Another way to frame clarity is "What do I want the athletes to take from this drill?"  When you debrief with your athletes after the drill they should be able to recite to you the focus, importance and reason you've planned this drill into their practice.

Once you set a point of emphasis it is the most important aspect of the drill and trumps all else as you observe and assess.  If athletes lose focus on the POE then we stop the drill and bring them back to focus on the reason we are running the drill and what they should get out of it.  We re-demonstrate the essential pieces, check for understanding and then get back at it.

Coaches often run drills that they like, especially when you get a cool drill form another coach.  Drills are only as valuable as their ability to facilitate the purpose.  No drill on it own has value.  Keep these things in mind when planning your next practice.  Ask yourself "What do I want my athletes to take from this drill?"  Start with one POE for each drill.  Depending on the focus level of your athletes you can add POEs or integrate them.  However we never want one POE to compromise another.  Prioritize your POEs.  When coaching younger athletes (Novice, Atom, Major Atom, Bantam) focus on one POE in each drill.  A drill can have other positive by-products, but only one POE for younger players.  As athlete move to different stages, you might have two POEs with your drills, again keeping in mind that drills can deliver positive by-products without them being POEs.