How to plan a whole practice on one index card

2026-10-07 · Rory Callahan

New coaches tend to over-plan. Long lists of drills, a clipboard, a whistle. Then the kids arrive and none of it survives the first five minutes.

Here's the simpler way. Every practice fits on one index card, in four lines.

1. A warm-up game

Something that starts the moment kids arrive, with a ball each. No lines and no laps. Think tag, but with a ball at their feet.

2. A main game

One game that practices one thing, like dribbling or stopping the ball. Keep everyone moving. If kids are standing in line, the game is too big.

3. A scrimmage

Small teams, small field, lots of touches. This is the part they'll tell their parents about.

4. One coaching cue

One short phrase you'll repeat all practice, like "Little touches" or "Eyes up". Just one. Kids remember one thing far better than five.

Why it works

Young kids learn by playing, not by listening. A plan that fits on a card keeps you focused on games, and it fits in your back pocket.

My Saturday Practice Cards give you a full season of these, ready to print, with a diagram of how to set up every game.