Practice blocks: building your session like a programme

The difference between a practice that flows and one that drags is rarely in the drills themselves — almost always in the structure. Think in blocks and you hold on to tempo, time and tension.

Reading time: 5 min

The classic four-block structure

Warm-up (10–15 min): with a ball — see warm-up drills. No laps for the sake of laps.
Technique block (20 min): today's focus in isolation, lots of repetitions, low pressure.
Tactics block (20–25 min): the same focus, now in a game context with decisions and resistance.
Game play (20–25 min): free play with adjusted scoring that rewards the focus.

Every block gets a time — and you guard it

Give every block a time slot in advance and stick to it, even when things are flowing nicely. A drill that runs 'just five more minutes' always eats the game-play block — exactly the block players come for and where the focus becomes match-real. Better to cut a drill off early at its peak: then they will want it again next week.

Practice blocks in the Koach app: numbered blocks with category and time, from warm-up to 6-on-6 game play — The programme as a series of blocks: category and minutes per block, together adding up to exactly the practice length.

Building the programme in Koach

Open the practice and add blocks from your drill library. Every block shows its category and duration; the minutes add up to your practice time, so you immediately see whether the programme fits. Rearrange by dragging if the order could be better — heaviest block in the second quarter, when everyone is warm and still fresh.

The 1:2 ratio: for every minute of explanation there should be at least two minutes of doing. If you cannot explain a drill in thirty seconds, simplify it or demonstrate instead of talk.

Frequently asked questions

In what order do I place technique and conditioning?

Technique first, conditioning last. Fine motor skills deteriorate on tired legs — training serving and passing after a conditioning block is practising bad execution.

How do I structure a practice with big skill differences in the group?

Same block, different demands: everyone runs the pass-and-attack drill, but the advanced players get target zones and the beginners get space. Differentiating within the block works better than splitting the group.

Should every practice end with game play?

Almost always: it is the payday of the practice and the place where the focus meets real pressure. Exception: the day before a match you can finish with serve-and-pass and a calm walkthrough of the lineup.

Try it yourself in Koach

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