I wrote a book
Details on ordering Games for Coaching Ultimate Frisbee: Using Gameplay to Teach Skills and Tactics
Latest purchasing details:
Purchase a PDF copy https://sowl.co/s/nJvUr or on Google Play
Ebook and paperback available worldwide on Amazon.
Paperback also available worldwide on Lulu. If you haven’t heard of Lulu before it is a service that allows self-publishing. I ordered my personal copies through Lulu with no issues.
(big thanks to Mark Earley for allowing me to use this photo)
This book is for anyone that wants to, or is curious about, using more games in their training sessions.
I started this project after getting feedback from other coaches that they were interested in playing more games but they didn’t know where to begin. There’s a lot of information available for coaches these days: lots of drills, techniques, tactics are written and talked about online but it’s hard to find any information on using a gameplay approach.
So here’s 30 tried and tested games. I hope these serve as a good starting point for you and that seeing the variety of different approaches here gives a framework for you to start your own experiments.
I have written before about using games as training tools. I’m a big believer in trying to have a much of my sessions as possible be run through gameplay. It’s not something I use exclusively but I love them. Here’s some of the benefits I have seen in my coaching:
I do my best to coach my teams to be flexible and adaptable. Training in a manner where we are continually changing our approach and problem solving through games builds that strength, and prepares us for competitions where the opponent and the environment may be completely different game to game
Learning through gameplay makes for quicker transfer of skills to games. By implementing constraints that mirror real-game situations, players are better prepared to transfer their skills and decision-making abilities to competitive settings.
This gameplay led approach emphasizes the importance of decision-making as a key skill. Learning mostly through heavily directed static situations can build a good base of technique, but learning in an environment where you have to apply skill and decision making together prepares players well for games.
Games are great for long term development of players. These games are designed to challenge and encourage players to explore, adapt and think within the game context. The game of Ultimate is continually evolving and this approach gives your players the flexibility and adaptability to succeed long term.
If you have any questions about the book’s contents or if you are curious about how it could help you please feel free to reach out to me for a chat.bettereverydaycoaching@gmail.com