As we head towards the end of the week, all coaches should have already started thinking about their game plans and goals for the weekend. Depending on what age group and what level of competition your team is in, your teams focus may differ. However, the importance of having a goal, focus and KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) is crucial to your team’s potential development, performance and success (however you define success for your team).
(Photo: Anthony Pearse/AFL Media)
Therefore, we are going to talk about the importance of KPI’s, how to set them, how to use them throughout a game, and even how to use them in your training sessions.
How To Set Them
Setting KPI’s is relatively easy if you understand what you are trying to achieve for the game. Come up with a few goals you want to achieve each quarter, half or full game and set them so that they are reasonably achievable, challenging and focused on your game plan. KPI’s can be set based on previous games which highlighted the need for a specific changes or improvements. For example, an under 14’s team may of had only 15 tackles for the whole game and the other team scored a lot of goals from lack of pressure. Throughout the week, there should be a focus of tackling and applying pressure, then on game day a KPI’s of 10 tackles per quarter might be set. Additionally, KPI’s can be set for younger players too. For tackers or under 10’s, a KPI might be set for players to try and get 5 marks per quarter for the team or put on 5 blocks per quarter. Make sure your KPI’s are set to suit your team.
Setting KPI’s is relatively easy if you understand what you are trying to achieve for the game. Come up with a few goals you want to achieve each quarter, half or full game and set them so that they are reasonably achievable, challenging and focused on your game plan. KPI’s can be set based on previous games which highlighted the need for a specific changes or improvements. For example, an under 14’s team may of had only 15 tackles for the whole game and the other team scored a lot of goals from lack of pressure. Throughout the week, there should be a focus of tackling and applying pressure, then on game day a KPI’s of 10 tackles per quarter might be set. Additionally, KPI’s can be set for younger players too. For tackers or under 10’s, a KPI might be set for players to try and get 5 marks per quarter for the team or put on 5 blocks per quarter. Make sure your KPI’s are set to suit your team.
How To Use Them Throughout a Game.
As the picture above illustrates, it’s important to use your KPI’s throughout the messages in a game. You can display them on a whiteboard so players can see them and then hear the coach talk about them. It is extremely important for coaches to use the KPI’s as part of their address to the team for two main reasons. One being that there are so many things going on throughout a match, that the coach needs to stay focused on their message, so the predetermined KPI’s should form the main part of the address. Furthermore, if the importance of the KPI’s were conveyed upon the players throughout the week and before the game, then they should be followed up during the game and how to achieve them if they have not been met.
As the picture above illustrates, it’s important to use your KPI’s throughout the messages in a game. You can display them on a whiteboard so players can see them and then hear the coach talk about them. It is extremely important for coaches to use the KPI’s as part of their address to the team for two main reasons. One being that there are so many things going on throughout a match, that the coach needs to stay focused on their message, so the predetermined KPI’s should form the main part of the address. Furthermore, if the importance of the KPI’s were conveyed upon the players throughout the week and before the game, then they should be followed up during the game and how to achieve them if they have not been met.
How To Use Them During The Week
Depending on how the game went of the weekend, you can form your training session/s around the KPI’s. If for example the goal of 5 handball receives per quarter was not met on the weekend, then some of the activities at training should promote that skill. Be aware as a coach to explain the reasons for setting the KPI’s and how they will contribute to the success of the team. Your language throughout the training session should also reflect the KPI’s so that all your players understand what is expected.
Depending on how the game went of the weekend, you can form your training session/s around the KPI’s. If for example the goal of 5 handball receives per quarter was not met on the weekend, then some of the activities at training should promote that skill. Be aware as a coach to explain the reasons for setting the KPI’s and how they will contribute to the success of the team. Your language throughout the training session should also reflect the KPI’s so that all your players understand what is expected.
