These ideas are brought to you by some of the countries leading Racketball club coaches. You might have things running at your club that are similar if not then hopefully you will find some good ideas.
club focus weekly example chapel a
Mon 11:00-12:00 (U3A) 7-12
Tue 18:00-19:30 (intermediate)
Wed 18:00-19:30 (advanced)
Fri 11:00-12:00 (U3A)
Fri 12:00-13:00 (Racketball games, which is basically a hidden handicap)
Fri 13:00-14:00 (ladies beginner racketball)
Sat 15:45-17:45 (racketball games for a bottle of wine, fun related)
Sun 10:30-12:00 (beginner/intermediate session)
Sun (Racketball doubles, fun tournament with everyone changing partners)
http://chapel-a.co.uk/racketball/
Tue 18:00-19:30 (intermediate)
Wed 18:00-19:30 (advanced)
Fri 11:00-12:00 (U3A)
Fri 12:00-13:00 (Racketball games, which is basically a hidden handicap)
Fri 13:00-14:00 (ladies beginner racketball)
Sat 15:45-17:45 (racketball games for a bottle of wine, fun related)
Sun 10:30-12:00 (beginner/intermediate session)
Sun (Racketball doubles, fun tournament with everyone changing partners)
http://chapel-a.co.uk/racketball/
Beginners racketball
As long as players are safe, running around and enjoying themselves it doesn't really matter how well they hit the ball. Don't be afraid to make suggestions but remember that these are adult beginners, making the session fun needs to be your primary focus.
I feel that post warm up the first thing to focus on should be a coach feed but only for around 5 minutes. This gives you a chance to really see how players move and hit the ball.
While engaging in the coach feed you will find some players a lot less receptive to being coached then others. Don't feel the need to coach them, they will enjoy games, competing and running around far more than hearing you talk. If someone is determined to improve their Racketball and is very open to new ideas and change then give them plenty of tips.
Some coaches feel that the individuals in a group should all be treated the same. I disagree with this because people are not the same, they will come be coming to your coaching for a variety of different reasons getting fit and for the social being potentially the strongest among them. With players taking part for such different reasons it makes no sense that they will all enjoy the same style of coaching. If you treat every player the same some will inevitably enjoy the session less than others. I believe that the aim of the coach is to look to facilitate the needs of the individuals. There are times when you will bring players together for an exercise that some will enjoy more than others, this will be the case with any group activity as long as these even out throughout the sessions however hopefully everyone will enjoy their Racketball and get what they want from the sessions.
Follow this link to our Beginners Racketball drills page to view our carefully selected drills for beginners
Follow this link to see how to promote a beginners session at your club
I feel that post warm up the first thing to focus on should be a coach feed but only for around 5 minutes. This gives you a chance to really see how players move and hit the ball.
While engaging in the coach feed you will find some players a lot less receptive to being coached then others. Don't feel the need to coach them, they will enjoy games, competing and running around far more than hearing you talk. If someone is determined to improve their Racketball and is very open to new ideas and change then give them plenty of tips.
Some coaches feel that the individuals in a group should all be treated the same. I disagree with this because people are not the same, they will come be coming to your coaching for a variety of different reasons getting fit and for the social being potentially the strongest among them. With players taking part for such different reasons it makes no sense that they will all enjoy the same style of coaching. If you treat every player the same some will inevitably enjoy the session less than others. I believe that the aim of the coach is to look to facilitate the needs of the individuals. There are times when you will bring players together for an exercise that some will enjoy more than others, this will be the case with any group activity as long as these even out throughout the sessions however hopefully everyone will enjoy their Racketball and get what they want from the sessions.
Follow this link to our Beginners Racketball drills page to view our carefully selected drills for beginners
Follow this link to see how to promote a beginners session at your club
intermediate/advanced
The focus on this session should be slightly different to the beginners Racketball session.
Intermediate and Advanced players will be able to perform much greater variety of drills and exercises. Think about splitting your session into four sections.
1. Meet and warm up - I like sessions to start with three quarter court. This is a social start and as players do not always arrive on time this is a relaxed way to begin while you wait for everyone. As players arrive it also gives you a very easy opportunity to have a relaxed chat without having to worry about the group who are playing on court.
If the session is over an hour I always like to run a Group Warm up game. These are fun and great ways for groups to bond. Ideas include the tennis ball game, reaction ball basketball, dodgeball and tag. Players might see these games as childish but if they properly engage they will be a lot of fun. Follow this link to see some Adult Warm up games.
Please note that if the session it's under an hour it is hard to do due to the time constraint this is probably the part of the session that I sacrifice in favour of more Racketball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-ZraI7u8vo
2. Drills and conditioned games - drills and conditioned games have a few key functions but in a session like this the main one is the ability for players of very different levels to practice together and play competitively. Drills can also be used to home specific skills with conditioned games being a good way to get players examine the game in a different way. I usually try to spend around 1/3 of the session on drills and conditioned games.
Follow this link to have a look at drills and conditioned games ideas for Intermediate and Advanced Racketball
Intermediate and Advanced players will be able to perform much greater variety of drills and exercises. Think about splitting your session into four sections.
1. Meet and warm up - I like sessions to start with three quarter court. This is a social start and as players do not always arrive on time this is a relaxed way to begin while you wait for everyone. As players arrive it also gives you a very easy opportunity to have a relaxed chat without having to worry about the group who are playing on court.
If the session is over an hour I always like to run a Group Warm up game. These are fun and great ways for groups to bond. Ideas include the tennis ball game, reaction ball basketball, dodgeball and tag. Players might see these games as childish but if they properly engage they will be a lot of fun. Follow this link to see some Adult Warm up games.
Please note that if the session it's under an hour it is hard to do due to the time constraint this is probably the part of the session that I sacrifice in favour of more Racketball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-ZraI7u8vo
2. Drills and conditioned games - drills and conditioned games have a few key functions but in a session like this the main one is the ability for players of very different levels to practice together and play competitively. Drills can also be used to home specific skills with conditioned games being a good way to get players examine the game in a different way. I usually try to spend around 1/3 of the session on drills and conditioned games.
Follow this link to have a look at drills and conditioned games ideas for Intermediate and Advanced Racketball
3. Competitive Games - Bring in some competitive full court normal rules Racketball. This is probably what the majority of the players enjoy the most. There are some great variations that you can use to move players around so that everyone has the opportunity to play with everyone.
One Up One Down - play with timed games for example 5 minutes. The players that are winning at the end of 5 minutes move up a court, the players who have lost at the end of 5 minutes move down.
50 Point Game - split the players randomly on to courts, you need at least one player sitting out. Players play games until one player reaches a multiple of 5. The player who reaches the multiple of 5 first then comes off court to sit out. If players start the mini games on 4 they only need to win one point to get to a multiple of 5 and then come off to rest. The first player to reach 50 points wins. This is a great way for players to move to different courts really quickly and play against different players.
4. Fitness - I like to finish every session with a small fitness blast. Don't be afraid to taylor the level of this to the different abilities that you have in your session. I normally look for a 5/10 minute fitness finish to a session. Some players will moan about fitness but I think that the health benefits are amazing and this little blast at the end of a session gives players a great feel good feeling right at the end of the session. Follow this link for some end of session fitness ideas.
One Up One Down - play with timed games for example 5 minutes. The players that are winning at the end of 5 minutes move up a court, the players who have lost at the end of 5 minutes move down.
50 Point Game - split the players randomly on to courts, you need at least one player sitting out. Players play games until one player reaches a multiple of 5. The player who reaches the multiple of 5 first then comes off court to sit out. If players start the mini games on 4 they only need to win one point to get to a multiple of 5 and then come off to rest. The first player to reach 50 points wins. This is a great way for players to move to different courts really quickly and play against different players.
4. Fitness - I like to finish every session with a small fitness blast. Don't be afraid to taylor the level of this to the different abilities that you have in your session. I normally look for a 5/10 minute fitness finish to a session. Some players will moan about fitness but I think that the health benefits are amazing and this little blast at the end of a session gives players a great feel good feeling right at the end of the session. Follow this link for some end of session fitness ideas.
ladies only racketball
These sessions run very successfully at many of the UK's big Racketball centres. The thinking behind them is the same as women's only gyms/exercises. Some women have no problem getting stuck into mixed group sessions but this is not the case for all women with many feeling more confident in a female only environment. I have included two links to interesting articles below. These can be good introductory sessions that provide a stepping stone to players who are perhaps new to exercise and can also run as long term sessions in there own right at the club. There are plenty of options of mixed sessions so why not a Ladies only session.
"Many women feel more comfortable and supported exercising in an all-female environment, while also feeling less self-conscious about how they look (and smell)" https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/are-womens-only-gyms-discriminatory
The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/23/women-only-gyms-muirfield-men-male-privilege
"Many women feel more comfortable and supported exercising in an all-female environment, while also feeling less self-conscious about how they look (and smell)" https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/are-womens-only-gyms-discriminatory
The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/23/women-only-gyms-muirfield-men-male-privilege
cake and coffee racketball
Cake and coffee mornings alongside Racketball sessions used to work incredibly well at Hallamshire and created a great sense of community.
If you are able to run sessions during the day and have a cozy club bar this is the perfect end to training.
See if you're able to come to an agreement with the club so that players can receive half price coffee and cake as part of the session fee.
If you are able to run sessions during the day and have a cozy club bar this is the perfect end to training.
See if you're able to come to an agreement with the club so that players can receive half price coffee and cake as part of the session fee.
u3a racketball
Having a link with a local U3A group and running a specific U3A session at your club could be very successful. Follow this link for more information on the U3A project and how to start sessions at your club. These sessions can work very well during the day when courts are free.
Promoting Racketball in your club: https://www.uk-racketball.com/external-groups-promotion.html
U3A Information: https://www.u3a.org.uk/
Promoting Racketball in your club: https://www.uk-racketball.com/external-groups-promotion.html
U3A Information: https://www.u3a.org.uk/
If you have any session ideas that work well at your club feel free to email them through to me mark@starsportsdevelopment.com
