jbolt_2000
12-20-2007, 09:55 AM
Hi All,
Well, I am getting ready to start the season with our Little League (9-10 yr old) and practice starts in February.
Last year I used a practice plan for each day of practice. I found that it was very helpful and kept me on track so I wasn't spending precious practice time thinking of what to do next.
I will continue to use this plan this year, but I was wondering what the other coaches hear do on a daily basis during practice. Do you use a practice plan, if so what does it look like. If you don't, what do you do to keep practices moving and keep the kids interested?
Here are the basics of my plan, but they are a bit more detailed and organized (meaning I specify the drills I am doing, or I make a list of the players that I am working on pitching/catching for that day):
- Each action is given a timed amount so that I can stay on track for a two-hour practice.
Action - Warm-ups (including catch)
Team Discussion - Talk about the last practice and what we learned and why, or talk about the previous game. Talk about what we will be learning at this practice.
Action - Position specific Drills, usually split up into Stations (station for outfield, station for infield, station for catching and/or pitching). These drills change every day depending on what I feel the team is struggling in or needs more attention. We will also focus some days on Hitting Stations, so the majority of the day the kids are swinging the bat.
Action - Situational Drills. These drills focus on game situations to get the kids in a somewhat stressed environment to help them think on their feet and implement the drills they just learned previously.
Action - Base running drills
Action - Live Batting
Action - Game Time. Split the team in two and have a mini scrimmage.
Action - Warm-Downs. Usually a relay drill to get the kids to end on a competitive and fun note. This is usually the players favorite part of practice. So I try to come up with different relays or races each day.
Team Discussion - Discuss the day and possible homework (homework includes watching baseball game and pointing out to their parents something in that game that they have learned at practice. Also could be just practicing throwing a tennis ball in the air and catching it barehanded with two hands. Something to keep them engaged outside of just practice).
End Practice.
Of course, Not all of the action plans can be included every day since there is a time constraint, but I usually focus on position drills and situational drills most of the time. Many days I consider it a "BP Day" and the kids do alot of hitting and BP work.
The hardest part I have is finding enough time to work with pitchers and catchers since that takes up alot of attention and I can only work with a few players at a time. On these days I really rely on my Assistant Coaches to run the rest of practices while I work with individuals on pitching/catching.
So what are your plans like?
Well, I am getting ready to start the season with our Little League (9-10 yr old) and practice starts in February.
Last year I used a practice plan for each day of practice. I found that it was very helpful and kept me on track so I wasn't spending precious practice time thinking of what to do next.
I will continue to use this plan this year, but I was wondering what the other coaches hear do on a daily basis during practice. Do you use a practice plan, if so what does it look like. If you don't, what do you do to keep practices moving and keep the kids interested?
Here are the basics of my plan, but they are a bit more detailed and organized (meaning I specify the drills I am doing, or I make a list of the players that I am working on pitching/catching for that day):
- Each action is given a timed amount so that I can stay on track for a two-hour practice.
Action - Warm-ups (including catch)
Team Discussion - Talk about the last practice and what we learned and why, or talk about the previous game. Talk about what we will be learning at this practice.
Action - Position specific Drills, usually split up into Stations (station for outfield, station for infield, station for catching and/or pitching). These drills change every day depending on what I feel the team is struggling in or needs more attention. We will also focus some days on Hitting Stations, so the majority of the day the kids are swinging the bat.
Action - Situational Drills. These drills focus on game situations to get the kids in a somewhat stressed environment to help them think on their feet and implement the drills they just learned previously.
Action - Base running drills
Action - Live Batting
Action - Game Time. Split the team in two and have a mini scrimmage.
Action - Warm-Downs. Usually a relay drill to get the kids to end on a competitive and fun note. This is usually the players favorite part of practice. So I try to come up with different relays or races each day.
Team Discussion - Discuss the day and possible homework (homework includes watching baseball game and pointing out to their parents something in that game that they have learned at practice. Also could be just practicing throwing a tennis ball in the air and catching it barehanded with two hands. Something to keep them engaged outside of just practice).
End Practice.
Of course, Not all of the action plans can be included every day since there is a time constraint, but I usually focus on position drills and situational drills most of the time. Many days I consider it a "BP Day" and the kids do alot of hitting and BP work.
The hardest part I have is finding enough time to work with pitchers and catchers since that takes up alot of attention and I can only work with a few players at a time. On these days I really rely on my Assistant Coaches to run the rest of practices while I work with individuals on pitching/catching.
So what are your plans like?