Online Instructor Training

Basics
– Check that the location is suitable for a session,
– Make sure all of the equipment is in good shape
– Ensure that the pitch is well prepared and clear of any debris.

Warm-up and games
– To prevent injuries in players, a proper warm up is required.
– We need to make sure players aren’t playing too fiercely, and injuring other players or themselves.

The games are the structure behind the fun in the Rabble games. It’s critical that you understand and are able to explain the rules precisely and clearly. Otherwise your games will move slowly and there will be confusion amongst players.

Understanding the Rules
– Understanding the rules doesn’t mean that you can explain the rules to others clearly. Players can feel uncomfortable or uneasy if they don’t understand the rules. So you don’t only need to understand them yourselves, but also to be able to explain them clearly and concisely.
– We recommend you practice explaining the games before running the session.

Have you explained well?
– A good explanation is concise and precise, and delivered logically.
– A waffling or slow explanation shows a lack of clarity from the instructor.

Rabble rule explanation structure
Use the Rabble explanation structure in every game that you explain.
1. Aim of the game
2. How you score
3. How you defend
4. How (or when) the game ends
If you follow this structure in every game you explain you should keep your explanations concise and clear.

Position
Position is important, a good position can save time and effort.
– Make sure you can be see and heard by all players,
– Position the players so they can see the pitch from their perspective,
– Whilst scoring stand near controversial areas (scoring areas, balls).

More or Less Explanation
– With new or nervous players, they might need a little more time and a bit more explanation to begin playing.
– Likewise, a core group of regular players might pick up on familiar rules faster and need less explanation.
Make sure you always deliver the rule in the most concise way possible, in order to minimise dead time.

Game Structure
– Never have more than 3 primary rules in a game. We’ve designed the games in a specific way to ensure a balance of fun, fairness, and fitness, so it’s best to stick to the format.
– We have a set of standard rabble rules that are the same in every game that helps players pick up those rules quickly.

Making sure players get a good workout is key to running a successful session. Rabble has designed the format of games to ensure the intensity is kept high whilst masking the effort as much as possible.

Managing dead time
– Dead time is any point during a session where players aren’t doing anything. This can occur at multiple points (such when you’re explaining games, at reset points, water breaks, counting the score or whilst you’re setting up new games).
– They key to an effective workout is to minimise this dead time as much as possible.

Reducing dead time
In order to avoid dead time:
– Make sure your session is planned and the pitches are laid out in advance,
– Concise game explanations – move from game to game as quickly as possible. If your explanation goes on longer than you hoped, play that game for a little longer, and perhaps add in an extra rule change to keep it going. This helps keep the deadtime proportional to the game,
– Don’t end a game until you’re ready you can start the next game, and swap sides/teams as soon as possible.
– Don’t stop or hold up a game for latecomers, make sure the current players are playing whilst you intro the late player to keep everyone else playing.

Reduce dead time with scoring
– Some of our games allow you to keep score during the game itself (e.g. players score by high fiving you), which allows you to minimise downtime.
– If you’re running a game where the score is calculated at the end (e.g. by counting cones collected), then get players to run and grab these and bring them to you to keep the intensity high.

Fitness aims
There’s a number of different ways in Rabble to deliver different fitness outcomes.
– Endurance – endurance sessions can be good for building up stamina, but can sometimes demotivate players who can’t score.
– Speed – can make the pitches smaller, but make sure that you run shorter games a few times with some minor rule tweaks to minimise dead time.
– Speed/Endurance – most Rabble games deliver a mixture of the two, but to encourage this further, swap teams from attack to defence immediately to drive endurance.
– Strength – introduce squats, jumps, pushups, etc. at reset points to keep players working out when there’d otherwise be dead time.
– Agility and co-ordination – players will improve these skills throughout the ball games.
– Reaction time – some of the warm up games are designed to improve reaction time, you can also incorporate reactions at game starts.

Are players getting a workout?
One of the best ways to ensure players are getting a workout is that they’re out of breath and need some time to recover between games.

Are players enjoying themselves
– A good way to check if players are enjoying themselves is to see whether they’re moving in the way you’d expect them.
– If they’re not just tired, it might be they’re not clear on the rules, or they might not be feeling successful (e.g. not scoring points or feeling like they’re not contributing to the team).

This is why it’s crucial to explain the rules clearly, as well as laying out the pitches and structuring the games to make sure everyone has a chance of scoring and contributing.

Making the scoring areas larger or introducing a rule that is inclusive (such as needing a team to pass to each player before scoring) should help players to be successful.

Players might also think that the teams and scoring are unfair – so make sure you keep things balanced, and are consistent in your scoring decisions.

If players feel like it’s too easy, they might also give up – so if you do have players that are finding it easy, it might be worth introducing more fitness elements (such as extra strength training at reset/tagging points) to keep their intensity high.

Progression
Players want to feel like they’re progressing fitness-wise when coming to Rabble, so make sure that each player is getting a workout, and if some are finding it too easy, trying tweaking the rules to make them work that little bit harder to push themselves.

There are several different elements that go into a Rabble game that will be under your control. The way in which you manage these will impact how the game runs. Learn how to effectively use these during a session to ensure all players get a workout and have fun!

Score
Score is the motivation for people to play. If you don’t keep score, players will lose interest – so make sure you know how points are scored, and how you’re going to keep track of it during the game.

Managing the score:
– Plan how you’re going to keep score,
– Make sure everyone can contribute to scoring, if not adapt,
– Score consistently and fairly,
– Don’t engage in disputes on score,
– Incentivise people correctly using Rabble suggesting scoring.

Pitch Layouts
How to utilise the pitch layouts to emphasise the game rules, and ensure the players are successful.
– Make sure it’s possible for everyone to score
– Plan out your pitch before each session
– Make sure your defenders are moving, rather than statically guarding
– Make sure the pitch isn’t too crowded – use tagging points to rotate people on/off the pitch
– Use the natural features of the park – hills, trees, bushes
– Make sure all of the features on the pitch are clear the features of

Selecting Teams
Learn how to balance teams to ensure a mix of abilities, personality traits, and new to returning players.
If you move players from one team to another, ensure you do it sensitively and discreetly, ideally whilst a game is going on, so as not to draw attention to it.

Game timing
– Time has a massive influence on the game, and can be used as a motivation tool, as well as for keeping structure to the session.
– Most games will last about 3 minutes per round, to ensure a mixture of high intensity, and to minimise explanation and dead time.

Adaptations and set-up
You may need to adapt your game plan based on a number of factors:
– Numbers
– Ability level
– Pitch space
– Indoor / Outdoor
– Weather

Your adaptations should be thought about in advance but may need to change during the game based on what you see.

Effective communications during a session are key to make sure players get a proper workout, stay motivated and have fun.

Why communication is important
You set the tone in the Rabble sessions so communications to players should be energetic, positive, inclusive and fun – this is crucial for player enjoyment and retention.

How to communicate
It’s important that we make sure players feel comfortable and welcome, but also keeping them motivated and at a high intensity.
So communication should be:
– Positive, lighthearted and fun -people come to have a great time,
– Personal, friendly and inclusive – Rabble should feel like a family, make people feel welcome,
– High-energy and intensity – inspire people to work hard,
– Be concise and clear – plan what you’re going to say and don’t waffle,
– Be authoritative – make decisions quickly and move on but remember players aren’t at school

Also, ensure you’re building communities – make communications personal and make it fun!

Motivate players
The instructor is pivotal in getting players to enjoy themselves in Rabble games.

You should be:
– Creating the positive atmosphere in the session,
– Keeping an eye on new players, check they are moving and enjoying the session,
– Intro new people to existing players,
– Give LOTS of personal specific praise – it’s the best way to motivate people,
– Use score to motivate – this is the key incentive for players to work,
– Use time to motivate – update players regularly on how much time is left to create urgency,
– Don’t allow any players to put down any other players.

Before Game Communications
Welcome all players before the game starts, and chat to any new players to make them feel comfortable before starting.
Learn a little bit about your players, let them know about what Rabble is, and highlight health and safety points.

In-game communications
During the game, keep talking throughout, offering praise, updating on score and time, creating the energy and urgency in the session.

Post Game Communications
After the game, again, offer praise to all players and ensure all players high five each other to keep a friendly atmosphere.
During the warm-down stretch let players know about upcoming games and socials, and invite them for a drink after the session to help build that community.

Assessment
In order to assess your understanding of the games and communication skills, we ask that you record yourself on video explaining any 3 games from the list of games including in the Rabble Instructor Training Games. This can be done on a smartphone and emailed to: [email protected]

Once this has been submitted and reviewed, you will receive confirmation of passing the Rabble Instructor Training Course and details of the next steps including:
– Adding sessions to your very own booking platform,
– Setting up your location on the joinrabble.com website,
– Acquiring game equipment and insurance,
– Marketing your first session.