This weekend, I had the privilege of presenting Positive Coaching 101 to the basketball coaches from Piedmont Parks and Recreation. The group’s enthusiasm was contagious, they’ll be coaching both boys and girls from grades 2 through 8 this season. With such a wide range of ages and experience levels, I decided to focus on something that unites all players, no matter their age: the joy of play.
The best part of being on a team is getting to play. In today’s world, kids’ lives are often so scheduled and structured that their hour-long sports practice might be the only time all day they get to simply play with friends. When planning practices, limit time spent standing around and create opportunities for players to learn through play, by using games that build sport-specific skills while keeping the fun and energy high.
There are two ways to approach teaching through play. One way is to use common playground games that most players will be familiar with or by playing smaller, short-sided games of the actual sport. Both approaches give the coach the ability to have all players moving their bodies and taking a turn at the same time. For the Piedmont coaches, we focused on short-sided games, but I wanted to discuss common playground games here too so coaches can get a feel for their teaching options.
Playground Games
Classic playground games like tag, relays, keep away, and steal the bacon are great tools to keep practices active and fun. Most players already know the basic rules, so coaches don’t need to spend much time explaining, kids can jump right in and start playing.
Tag for warm-ups.
Tag is perfect for getting players moving at the start of practice. Try variations like freeze tag, chain tag, partner tag, or sharks and minnows. Instead of standing in lines, players are running, dodging, changing direction, and sprinting in short bursts, all while laughing and building endurance. There are so many versions of tag that you can use a different one each day to keep things fresh yet still part of your team’s warm-up routine.
Relays for skill development.
Relay races add a fun competitive element to practicing specific skills. Challenge your team to beat a set time, cover a certain distance, or complete a number of repetitions. Changing one variable keeps the challenge appropriate for different ages or skill levels. Keep track of relay champions to motivate players to push themselves and improve each week.
Keep away for teamwork and control.
Nearly every sport involves keeping possession, so keep away is a perfect skill-building game. Players can practice dribbling, passing, shooting, serving, or scoring, all within a fast-paced, game-like environment. Divide the team into small groups, assign an area of focus, and let them compete to maintain possession. Add creativity by introducing multiple balls, several teams, or different field sizes to keep everyone active and engaged.
Steal the bacon for reaction and competition.
Steal the bacon works for almost any sport. Divide players into two teams lined up on opposite sides of the field. Place a ball, cone, or other object (“the bacon”) in the center. Assign each player a number; when their number is called, they race to grab the bacon and bring it safely back to their side. The opposing player becomes the defender, trying to stop them. You can adapt it for different sports, shooting a basket, scoring a soccer goal, or pulling a flag in football. Call one number or several at once, allow passing or dribbling, and adjust the rules to match your goals. This game is always a hit and brings out great effort and excitement from players.
Sport Specific Short Sided Games
To give every player more touches and time to play, use small-sided games like 2v2, 3v3, or 3v2. Set up cones to create multiple playing areas so several games can happen at once. Once play begins, add constraints to focus on a specific skill, such as requiring a pass before scoring, dribbling with the non-dominant hand or foot, or making sure every player touches the ball before a goal. You can also adjust the space or add a timer to change the challenge.
This method, known as the Constraints-Led Approach, is used by many professional teams. It helps players think critically, make quick decisions, and develop creativity in realistic, game-like situations. For youth athletes, this approach builds confidence and skill through trial and error and it’s much more engaging than running the same drills over and over.
Bringing it all together: teaching through play.
No matter which approach you use, the key is to find teachable moments within the play. After a few minutes of game time, call a quick timeout and gather your players to reflect on what just happened. Ask open-ended questions like, “What did you notice when you were defending?” or “What helped your team score?” These types of questions encourage players to think critically, reflect on their choices, and discover what works through their own experience.
Next, invite players to come up with a strategy they think could improve their play. When the ideas come from them, they feel more ownership and are more motivated to try something new. Let them test their ideas, then bring the group back to discuss what worked and what didn’t. Coaches can add new constraints, mix up teams, or adjust the game to keep the learning going.
This cycle of play, reflect, and adjust keeps practice engaging while helping players develop not just skills, but confidence, creativity, and self-awareness.
Thank you to Piedmont Parks and Recreation, especially Liam Kelly, for having me! I had a great time meeting the coaches and preparing them for their upcoming season. Best of luck to all the teams!
