Tips from your coworkers:

Consider these tips for how to get your campers to focus when you introduce the next activity (eg. when explaining instructions or transitioning) and ways to make sure that you don't lost a camper when you are transitioning from one area to the next.

How to get your camper's attention:

• Making a good and fun impression on day 1 so they are more inclined to stay focused when I am talking

• Use a clapping pattern (the coach claps a tune and the campers have to clap it back)

• Use your whistle

• Play a version of simon says (eg. "If you can hear me, touch your nose, touch your chin...) until everyone is listening

• Make a game out of it - if the campers are quiet and following in an organized manner, give them a reward like a couple more minutes of a favourite game

• If some camper's aren't listening while you are trying to talk, rather than yelling at them it can be useful to stop your instruction and look at the group - it'll make them realize that they are interrupting and cause them to refocus

• Depending on the age group, sometimes standing there and waiting in silence does a lot to get the camper's attention

• Using proximity (get close to campers who aren't listening) 

• Quiet coyote or other physical signal that they are ready to listen (eg. ball on tummy, hands on your head, hug your racquet, etc.)

• Have a rally word to bring in the campers

• Counting down

• At the beginning of the week tell them that I will be using my whistle to get their attention and then when really need their attention use it 

• I tell them that the quicker they sit still the quicker they can get to the activity 

• Reward campers for listening and being respectful by allowing them to pick warmup games

• Change in tone/volume of voice

• Keep instructions simple to prevent kids from getting antsy!

• Include a camper or campers in a demo while explaining instructions 

• I play the game of "how many fingers am I holding up?" then trick them in the end every time by holding up a thumb and being like "ha gotchya I'm holding up 0 fingers" 

• Explain that at some point in my athletic journey I found the activity difficult because they look up to you and if you are able to go down on their inexperienced level, it could make them more receptive to al least trying the activity. 

• Use a fun call and response to make sure everyone is listening and ready to move! The coach yells out the first part of the call, and the campers all have to respond with the rest of the phrase. Some fun past examples include:

  • • 123 eyes on me --> 123 eyes on you

    • I'm tired of this grandpa --> well that's too dang bad (or any popular phrase, good for older campers)

    • Shark bait --> OOH HA HA

    • Avengers --> Assemble

    • you say “hands on top that means” and campers say “stop” and put their hands on heads 

How to have a safe and smooth transition from one place to the next:

• Have a coach at the front and back of the line

• Constant supervision while travelling 

• Perform head counts before and after transitioning spaces

• My favourite thing my coaches have done for me in the past is give everyone a numbest on the first day and then make them count each other off at each stop to make sure we're not missing a number 

• Everyone has a hand on the shoulder of the camper in front of them

• When transitioning, immediately have them sit down without outside distractions like balls, that way they aren't running around while you try and get stuff together 

• Play spy (sticking as close to the wall as you can and being stealthy/quiet to not get caught by the bad guy/wandering admin staff/other coach)

• Line up and play follow the leader

• Line up and play a game of telephone down the line with what we're doing next

• Have the campers get in a line and count themselves out

• Play a game while everyone is waiting for the bathroom break to finish (eg. eye spy, riddles, camping game, etc.)

• Rewarding the athletes with 2 free game selections if everyone is quiet and form a perfect line!