Meetings are necessary for all teams, but the effectiveness of a meeting depends heavily on how it is organized and how long it goes. In this video, former Olympic and collegiate coach Terry Liskevych shares tips on how to make meetings more efficient and productive.
- Have a theme. One day, you might talk about technique. Another day, you might cover tactics. Break it down into chunks of 15-30 minutes, never more. Attention spans are short.
- Keep scouting meetings brief – 15-20 minutes, 30 minutes tops. Same message as above. If you talk too much, you'll lose players and they won't retain important information. Keep it on point and succinct. (Wave Volleyball club director Brennan Dean offers tips in this video on scouting opponents).
- Be mindful of what you say post-match, win or lose. The team doesn't need to hear a lot from you right after they have played, and what you say might not be particularly useful. "Emotions are flying high after a match, whether you win or lose," Liskevych says. "As a coach, you might not have the right picture of what really happened, so take a deep breath, let everybody cool off and wait to make specific comments about the match until you've had a chance to look at the video and stats."
- Revisit your team mission and team culture frequently. You put time into establishing a culture and mission, so make sure your players are thinking about it and acting on it regularly. "Companies put their mission statement or culture statement on the entrance of their corporate headquarters, but, often, nobody follows it," Liskevych says. "You have to live it every day."
Also remember that culture is better defined by actions than words. "Penn State was known for its scrappy defense and relentless coverage," Liskevych says. "People could see that from the stands. They didn't need to hear it or read it."
For a comprehensive look at what to address in a preseason meeting, check out 14 Rules and Strategies to Cover with Parents.
