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super smash bros
Week 0 focuses on tryouts by running a structured tournament format to evaluate player skill through multiple matches. Coaches should organize round robins, double elimination, or World Cup style brackets depending on roster size, ensuring every player gets ample game time to assess performance and rank objectively for team selection.
Week 1 focuses on character selection by helping players find a character that fits their preferred playstyle and strengths. Coaches should guide players to explore various styles—rushdown, bait and punish, grapplers, and zoners—while encouraging diversity on the team to build a dynamic roster.
Week 2 focuses on basic movement fundamentals by teaching players essential techniques like walking, running, jumping, short hops, and fast falling. Coaches should ensure players master these mechanics to increase speed and agility on stage, setting a foundation for advanced gameplay.
Week 3 focuses on attacking by introducing players to the full range of character moves including jabs, tilts, smashes, dash attacks, aerials, specials, and grabs. Coaches should emphasize precision and consistency in executing these moves, especially differentiating between tilts and smashes.
Week 4 focuses on basic combos by teaching players reliable “bread and butter” combos that rack up damage and set up kills. Coaches should ensure players know their character’s combo starters, progression, and finishers to maximize stock-taking potential during matches.
Week 5 focuses on defensive options by training players in shielding, shield grabbing, rolling, spot dodging, air dodging, and out-of-shield maneuvers. Coaches should emphasize the importance of timing and movement to avoid damage and create counterattack opportunities.
Week 6 focuses on teching by instructing players on hitting the shield button just before landing to recover quickly from knockdowns. Coaches should also teach punishments for missed techs and encourage practice on tech rolls, get-ups, and stage tech jumps for improved survivability and pressure management.
Week 7 focuses on Directional Influence (DI), a critical defensive technique where players control the trajectory their character flies after being hit. Mastering DI helps players survive longer, avoid lethal knockouts, and frustrate opponents by escaping combos and kills. Coaches should encourage players to practice holding directions to live to higher percentages, especially up and out to escape combos.
Week 8 focuses on Edgeguarding, the art of preventing your opponent from returning to the stage after being knocked off. Players should learn how to use spikes, gimps, and safe off-stage attacks effectively while maintaining stage control to secure stocks. Coaches should emphasize knowing which moves work best for edgeguarding and how to safely recover to the ledge themselves.
Week 9 focuses on Ledgeplay, teaching players how to control and contest the ledge — a zone of temporary invincibility but limited options. Players learn to cover multiple ledge get-up options simultaneously and punish predictable ledge recoveries. Coaches should foster creativity in covering ledge options and efficient punishing to regain stage control.
Week 10 focuses on Advanced Combos, pushing players to learn complex kill confirms, zero-to-death combos, and character-specific advanced techniques. Coaches should encourage lab practice mimicking pro combos and mastering situational kill confirms to maximize stock-taking potential.
Week 11 focuses on Crew Battle Tactics and Mental Games. Players learn optimal team order based on matchups, how to protect stocks, and mental strategies like playing every stock cautiously but confidently. Coaches should experiment with lineups and encourage players to treat every stock as crucial to the team’s success.
Week 12 focuses on Baiting and Reading Opponents, teaching players to provoke unsafe options from opponents and punish them effectively. Players develop habits of spacing moves safely on shield, recognizing opponent tendencies, and capitalizing on predictable defensive or offensive habits. Coaches should emphasize studying frame data, practicing spacing, and strategic mind games.
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