So you’ve crossed the threshold from time manager, to time management trainer as part of your coaching. You have a few great opportunities here and you will end up giving your players skills that will last them a lifetime!
Start Early
That’s right; from day one with your client or team you should be focusing on building their time management skills. This is especially key if you have the chance to work with young players. The younger the better as they retain time management skills brilliantly at young ages, and less so into teenage or adult years.
Use every minute of your first practice to make your players aware of the time that is at stake, and that this is time they’re never getting back. Instead of using the rush method which will eventually become useful, use these tactics to bring in time management awareness:
- Constantly remind the players of how many minutes you are into the practice.
- Follow up in a specific time frame, and then ask them to do the same.
- Remind players how long they will be spending on one task, and don’t budge on the time.
Put Another Player in Charge of the Clock
There is a trust between players and coaches that is constantly being tested. However, they often turn to their teammates for support. Instead of taking on every responsibility, use a player for each time block to hold the clock. An old school stop watch is great and it allows them to take a few minutes as a break.
What this does is reinforce that you are not the almighty master of the clock. Instead it spreads that the time spent in practice is the same every time. Regardless of who is holding the clock and who is calling out the times? It will also deter your clients from keeping a countdown for the end of practice. They never know when they’ll be called on to be the time keeper.
Teach the Pomodoro Technique
One of time management leader’s favorites is the Pomodoro technique. Otherwise known as time blocking. Using a time block of about twenty minutes you can get peak productivity out of each player for a determined amount of time. You also cut down on the time spent between tasks as they feel the need to start as soon as the next twenty minute time frame begins.
Using the Pomodoro technique and encouraging your players to use it too will help them understand how much time passes sometimes without us noticing. Time must be managed appropriately and if there is a chance to be aware then it must be taken.
Goal Setting
Unlike other time management techniques that can often be felt right away, goal setting is about the long-term vision. You can work with your players to set micro-goals in each practice and then large goals for each month.
Teaching them goal setting will allow them to better understand how their everyday activates affect how well they will perform in the future. Time management is crucial to goal completion and setting goals is the onset of many time management skills being developed. It is the classic, which came first, question.
Help you players develop a vision, then build a focus and eventually achieve their goal with success. Through focus and vision they can execute the many time management methods available to them through your coaching.
Whenever you are struggling to teach time management methods to your players, work with them on a goal. Even if it is a goal that will only be for the practice session.
Time Management & Booking App
Using technology and a time slot booking web application like Time Slot Pro will decrease the amount of time spent on tasks that should be automated when it comes to clients booking and paying for your time.