Page 12 - Jim Stone Book Beginner

the practice plan should address them daily in multiple forms. The checklist records what the athlete
is currently working on or what they have achieved. The checked box translates to achievement. A
checklist and a practice plan are equally essential and work in conjunction to lend a framework for
both instruction and recording achievement.

Reason #6- A checklist fosters time management skills and improved practice planning. Most clubs
or school teams have about two hours of practice time available. A checklist should reinforce to the
coach what are priority items in every session.

Reason #7- The checklist will provide a communication vehicle to both the athlete and parents
detailing practice priorities and the athlete's progress. The involvement of the parent is an integral
aspect of establishing an environment conducive to success. Using checklists and practice plans,
the parent should receive a syllabus outlining the upcoming month's instructional content at the
beginning of each month. A component of this will be what content the student is responsible for
learning. The onus is on the coach or club director to organize and communicate the required
content to all involved. Having a parent involved in the learning process will create many layers of
goodwill and positive vibes.

Reason #8- Using a checklist will foster a more organized teaching framework, resulting in a more
confident instructor or coach. One of the biggest challenges for club directors is finding quality
coaches for all their teams. The checklist format for instruction will allow coaches of all levels to
follow a roadmap for player development. Feedback will be more straightforward due to the focus on
smaller aspects of a skill or movement pattern.

Developing a Proper Checklist

The process of creating a quality checklist mandates significant thought as to what aspects of a task
are essential. The checklist must be brief, to the point, and easy to use. Coaches should not try to
cover every component of the skill on the checklist. Otherwise, the essential aspects in need of
emphasis become lost in a mass of minutiae.

The checklist cannot be lengthy. A rule of thumb is to keep a checklist between five and nine items.
Several items merit consideration as you develop your plan to organize a skill checklist.

The acquisition of fundamental motor skills during childhood are the basis for developing the skills to
participate in sports and leisure activities. The importance of proper instruction at the younger age
levels is vital to later skill acquisition. An examination of the motor skills involved in volleyball is in
order. These skills will be the foundation for skill development. Fundamental motor skills can take a
long time to master. Evidence indicates that it can take between 240 and 600 minutes of
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instruction to teach children to perform fundamental motor skills correctly.

The best sport-specific training is always playing the sport. However, some will take this concept to
the extreme of only playing the sport. There is a transfer of learning and developing motor abilities
when engaging in similar movements and activities. For example, participating in throwing activities