Staff Schedule
Head Counts at the start of camp, during sessions, during breaks, check with other coaches
Buddy system?
Leave bags at wall while you go to the bathroom?
Other ideas? Share them with the team using the incident report form
Day 1 Block 1 - Icebreakers
The first thing you do on the first day of camps is important because it sets the tone for the rest of the week! Consider these tools:
Introduce yourselves as coaches
Set the tone - explain any key camp rules and values (hint: an important one is respect!)
Do an activity that gets the kids (and yourselves) learning names and breaking the ice.
go around the circle and say your name, favourite sport/activity, and answer to the "question of the day"
suggestions for question of the day: something light but controversial that gets people talking! Ideas could be:
a) Is a hot dog a sandwich?
b) Is water wet?
c) Cats or dogs?
d) Have you ever been stung by a bee?
play a game like squirt or the name game (with this one, feel free to silently add in more and more balls/objects!)
Get into an bigger activity
If you like movement, play a cooperative tag game like blob tag
If you like a slower build to the day, play a game like drop/catch
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!