Empty Fields

Empty fields in the right hands can be a blessing. Sometimes they are hidden in our neighborhoods, or out in plain sight. While organizations and local authorities have privatized a lot of facilities and parks, we still have an abundance of fields around us. They may be harder to find in some places, but they exist. So, what’s the point? It’s simple, why don’t our players use them?

I don’t have the answer. There are too factors playing into this, to theorize one right answer. As coaches, we need to encourage our players to seek out pick-up games. We should also give them the tools to train on their own. But do we give them those tools? What do those tools look like?

• Help them find a group
• Give them plenty of exercises to vary their workouts
• Have them do things they enjoy
• Set goals
• Explain the importance of making this a routine
• Show them how to journal

A good idea that my older teams had was to create a group chat among the players, so they could coordinate their own training.