Delaney: No two-a-days at VVS

I've always been interested in the psychology of coaching.

How does a coach handle all of the personalities? Which athlete can you push? When does an athlete need a pat on the back?

I'm equally curious about a coach's management of a team. Issues such as scheduling practices, when to go all out in practice and when to rest. In a time of year known for hot weather and two-a-days, I asked one coach about how she schedules pre-season practices.

"I can get a whole lot of work in in three hours," VVS field hockey coach Wendy Seifried said.

Seifried should know. She is in her 31st year coaching field hockey, 25 at VVS. Seifried's VVS teams have been to the state Final Four twice including last year. She knows of schools that do two practices per day. Seifried occasionally goes to double sessions, using an evening practice as a scrimmage. Generally doubles are not practical.

"The kids are used to it, one long session," Seifried said. "These kids have jobs, there are transportation issues. The morning is cooler and you have to re-stretch them in the afternoon."