Practice Plans

[DP3816]

How many of you coaches have practice plans? Do you have a plan or do you just wing it?

I guess most practice plans would be confined to defense.

I'd like to put together a good plan for defense, 2 hours 3 coaches

2 coaches working infield, one working outfield.

Any thoughts on the plan should include?

Thanks in advance

[AlwaysImprove]

I have an individual plan for most kids on the team. I know what I want to improve, what I want to work with on them. I then work a mixture of drills that can present an opportunity to work on those items.

For instance you have three kids that can speed up their feet, or get their feet into position, and two that need to work on transfers, a turn two drill is a great way to work on both. Have an assistant or parent count to 3 as the play develops.

In the fall I am looking more at gross mechanical skills. Perhaps working on something that is a bit beyond their current skill level so we can show them areas of growth. It is also a great time to teach them to take big risks. A throw down that may have been too risky in the past, in the fall we let them throw it.

Late spring to summer, it is more about confidence, believing in what we have learned, repetition on what has been learned, and some game situations. Game situations are more to speed the clock.

[DonnieS]

I had what teachers call a lesson plan with drills, points of emphasis, time needed, etc. If something came up during practice, we would adjust.

[ontheblack]

I have an individual plan for most kids on the team. I know what I want to improve, what I want to work with on them. I then work a mixture of drills that can present an opportunity to work on those items.

For instance you have three kids that can speed up their feet, or get their feet into position, and two that need to work on transfers, a turn two drill is a great way to work on both. Have an assistant or parent count to 3 as the play develops.

In the fall I am looking more at gross mechanical skills. Perhaps working on something that is a bit beyond their current skill level so we can show them areas of growth. It is also a great time to teach them to take big risks. A throw down that may have been too risky in the past, in the fall we let them throw it.

Late spring to summer, it is more about confidence, believing in what we have learned, repetition on what has been learned, and some game situations. Game situations are more to speed the clock.

What age?

[Kool-Aid]

I prefer the 3 hour round trip drive to practice, then you get to practice and coachs are last to arrive.

Then its the FOUR hour marathon practice

Then, its 45 min of conditioning (like a pop warner football practice), you know you have to get those kids that never work out in shape in that 45 min span twice a month, really! ( i will never get that)

Then its, the 45 min typical in and out, where one coach hits fly balls to the fence and yells at outfielders for not catching ball at fence and/or fighting off the sun, without ever giving instruction. Then its the infielders turn where same coach hits back spin short hops all day and cant figure out why his kids cant make a play, and yells at them, while never giving instruction or figuring out he cant freakin hit ground balls.

Then out rolls the pitching machine for the two hour marathon batting practice, with everyone shagging in the outfield, and a couple going through the motions in the cage off the tee, while the others are shagging for the one or two balls that will be hit in the outfield, as the coach cant get the machine to throw a strike.

Then its the 30 minute post practice circle time meeting, where all the coachs that stood around for 3 1/2 hours chew out the kids for a crappy practice.


gotta love it

[ontheblack]

I prefer the 3 hour round trip drive to practice, then you get to practice and coachs are last to arrive.

Then its the FOUR hour marathon practice

Then, its 45 min of conditioning (like a pop warner football practice), you know you have to get those kids that never work out in shape in that 45 min span twice a month, really! ( i will never get that)

Then its, the 45 min typical in and out, where one coach hits fly balls to the fence and yells at outfielders for not catching ball at fence and/or fighting off the sun, without ever giving instruction. Then its the infielders turn where same coach hits back spin short hops all day and cant figure out why his kids cant make a play, and yells at them, while never giving instruction or figuring out he cant freakin hit ground balls.

Then out rolls the pitching machine for the two hour marathon batting practice, with everyone shagging in the outfield, and a couple going through the motions in the cage off the tee, while the others are shagging for the one or two balls that will be hit in the outfield, as the coach cant get the machine to throw a strike.

Then its the 30 minute post practice circle time meeting, where all the coachs that stood around for 3 1/2 hours chew out the kids for a crappy practice.


gotta love it

Classic.

[GIMNEPIWO]

I prefer the 3 hour round trip drive to practice, then you get to practice and coachs are last to arrive.

Then its the FOUR hour marathon practice

Then, its 45 min of conditioning (like a pop warner football practice), you know you have to get those kids that never work out in shape in that 45 min span twice a month, really! ( i will never get that)

Then its, the 45 min typical in and out, where one coach hits fly balls to the fence and yells at outfielders for not catching ball at fence and/or fighting off the sun, without ever giving instruction. Then its the infielders turn where same coach hits back spin short hops all day and cant figure out why his kids cant make a play, and yells at them, while never giving instruction or figuring out he cant freakin hit ground balls.

Then out rolls the pitching machine for the two hour marathon batting practice, with everyone shagging in the outfield, and a couple going through the motions in the cage off the tee, while the others are shagging for the one or two balls that will be hit in the outfield, as the coach cant get the machine to throw a strike.

Then its the 30 minute post practice circle time meeting, where all the coachs that stood around for 3 1/2 hours chew out the kids for a crappy practice.


gotta love it

Classic.

I agree ! ... Classic ! ... So Kool-Aid, when parents complain about the practice you just ran, what do you tell them ?

[DonnieS]

I had a book, with a vhs tape , made by a stud softball player, don't remember her name, she may have been an Aggie, but it had sample practice plans, as well as pages and pages of drills that were broken down so that even I could understand them. I have given it away or I would list who did it. As the girls progressed, I would plug and play new and better drills over the years.

My assts. and my helper parents would usually show up 30 minutes before practice while I was setting up and I would run through the drills that I wanted each to help with. The kind of parents I had over the years, I asked many parents over the years to come out and help with drills, I never had a parent hesitate to help.

[ontheblack]

HB question: which TB coach your kid has played for runs the best practice?

[DonnieS]

HB question: which TB coach your kid has played for runs the best practice?

My sense of humility precludes me from answering.