Structured Practices

[AMoore]

I am in my first year as a head coach, and I am looking to keep my practices very structured. I feel that this is the best way to keep the kids focused and get the most production out of a practice. Can any of you guys that have been around offer any tips on the best way to set this up? I have an idea of what I want to do, but it definitely needs some fine tuning.

[ColonelCrazy]

Start with the same thing every day.

 

Have the players meet at a certain time every day, after school. Then, have your captiains lead the team in stretching...after that, have the captains lead the team in a jog. Then, every player (except for yesterday's pitcher) tosses out in left field. Once the players get loose, it is up to you as a coach to take over and control practice, at least for a while.

 

A coach can only do so much - hopefully, as a head coach, you can trust a few seniors or players to lead your team, both in games & in practices. If not, you'll need some very good assistants...

[BaseballFan13]

Start with the same thing every day.

 

Have the players meet at a certain time every day, after school. Then, have your captiains lead the team in stretching...after that, have the captains lead the team in a jog. Then, every player (except for yesterday's pitcher) tosses out in left field. Once the players get loose, it is up to you as a coach to take over and control practice, at least for a while.

 

A coach can only do so much - hopefully, as a head coach, you can trust a few seniors or players to lead your team, both in games & in practices. If not, you'll need some very good assistants...

 

Sounds like our practices to a T! After this routine, it might be good to start with a round of infield.

[Theoldguy]

Sounds like our practices to a T! After this routine, it might be good to start with a round of infield.

 

 

I alway liked while having live batting practice, to take a kid who was up next or so, for some indivuial fielding practice. This way I could see if he was using proper techniques.

 

I also always tried to keep the players busy... There is nothing worse than just standing around in the ourfield just waiting and talking...

[Powerhitter]

The key to having a good practice is to write a practice plan up before every practice. You may have to eliminate some things from that plan as the practice goes on but at least you have a script of things that you want to work on in front of you. When you plan your practices, it eliminates dead time.

[KIDS FAN]

Post practice shedules everyday so that your players and assistants know what the time schedules are and what is on tap for the day. Informed teams get prepared and prepared teams are informed. I have seen so many coaches try to run a practice by the seat of their pants or not be specific in items to work on that drills and situations are not effective because all involved don't understand the reasoning behind what is being done daily in a practice. Start and finish times are important to your kids. I know you can't finish on the dime but general finishing times are very important to young athletes and parents who can make your life a lot easier with practices. Lastly make practices game time situations as much as possible. It is amazing that a kid can keep his attention span in a 2 -2 ballgame for hours but 15 minutes of practice and they are in LA LA land.

[STRIKE3]

Have your practices pre-planned, either typed or written out and along with the amount of time to spend on each. You can adjust or include other items, as needed from your list. This will eliminate idle time and over-looking an important aspect you want to work on.

 

Also have your Drills printed out, that you want each group/player to work on if you want to include "stations" in your routine, which rotate. Your assistants should clearly understand the purpose of your practice, drills and use the same instructional language, that will be used in a game that way everyone is on the same page.

 

Include the following:

Talk w/team/Goal of Practice

Warming-Up

Stretching/Running/Conditioning

Loosening Arms

Hitting

Infield

Outfield

Pitching

Catching Drills

Cage Drills

Station Work

Baserunning

Bunting

Game Situations

Signs

Practice Review

[nees1212]

Depending on facilities and weather, you can hold practices in the morning prior to the start of school. We had pitchers, catchers, and firstbasemen come in Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Pitchers would throw X amount of times and work on the pick-off moves with the first basemen. Then, everyone else came in on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These practices were moreso to work on techniques and fundamentals. Plus, this insured that your players would make it to school on time. Then, for practices after school, we could concentrate on hitting and situations. Our practices always ended in conditioning (baserunning or poles) and a solid round of infield.

[BaseballFan13]

The key to having a good practice is to write a practice plan up before every practice. You may have to eliminate some things from that plan as the practice goes on but at least you have a script of things that you want to work on in front of you. When you plan your practices, it eliminates dead time.

 

Sounds good! :thumb:

 

You can't go wrong when your nice and organized!

[STRIKE3]

You can't go wrong when your nice and organized!

A must to organize, if an individual player wants to improve in many facets of baseball.

 

A organized practice allows the coaching staff to also evaluate their talent, to see weaknesses and strengths of each player, while helping the overall team improve.

 

Player interest and focus will wain, if time is not properly accounted for,

[WebGems37]

Great suggestions guys. I am currently playing college baseball right now and the practice plan is up everyday for us. It has helped me tremendously. Having it all planned out definitely works. It is very beneficial and we get so much more done.

[STRIKE3]

Great suggestions guys. I am currently playing college baseball right now and the practice plan is up everyday for us. It has helped me tremendously. Having it all planned out definitely works. It is very beneficial and we get so much more done.

Keep up the hard work WG and you are correct.

[sixtyfeetsix]

I try to always incorporate different types of drills. This keeps the kids "on their toes" and keep them from getting bored. I actually write down the practice schedule and will post it so everyone can see what we are going to accomplish. This way everyone knows what to expect and can mentally prepare themselves for it. Time management is essential in baseball. I always get mad when I see team taking BP and they have the rest of the team shagging the balls. Those guys are just standing around, they could be taking infield or working on baserunning, or whatever else you need to work on. Time is the enemy, and when you can't start until Feb 15th, you have no time to learn them what you need to.

[sixtyfeetsix]

You must remember how many balls your pitchers and catchers have thrown at practice. Always be planning on who will be your starting pitcher the next game, and make sure they don't throw too much in drills, etc. I always challenge the players that play for me, and I will even show them how I want it done. That way if they see this "old guy" hitting a golf wiffle ball with a broom handle, then they sure as heck had better be able to do it. I like to play right with them, I really think the players will respect you more if they see you can do it. A lot of coaches coach things that they could never do. I like the "lead by example" style of coaching. I'm sure as the years go by, I will have to change. For now it seems to be working.

[futurecoach]

Have batting practice almost for every practice. You cant expect the kids to hit the ball good in games if they never get batting practice! Every day you should have them involved in some type of hitting. Have them hit off tees, soft toss, and just regular old batting practice. Also while your having batting practice you should have a coach hit like 20 ground balls to a player and keep rotating the players, and also have a coach hit fly balls to a small group of players. This way it keeps everyone busy and just not standing around plus you get to work on everything and just not one thing.