Practice Expectations
- Have a Practice Plan-Be Prepared (4 Phases):
- Dynamic warm-up & strength, speed & flexibility training (develop athletes)
- Throwing practice routine
- Skill development (offensive/defensive drills & stations)
- Game situational breakdowns.
Sample Practices Plans: Indoor, Outdoor with Offensive Emphasis, Outdoor with Defensive Emphasis
- Have a Practice Focus/Purpose: At beginning of practice, let the players know the goal of the day. Choose 2-3 things to concentrate on, not 10.
- Maximize your Time: Utilize all coaches focusing on small group work of 3-4 players so players get repetitions. No more days of 1 guy hitting, 1 guy pitching & everyone else standing around or 1 line of 10 players waiting for a fly ball.
- Attention to Detail: Teach the correct techniques, then work it & demand it. Don’t accept anything less than their best. Practice like you expect them to play. If you wouldn’t do it in a game, don’t do it. Example: field a ground ball and throw a knuckle ball to the first base.
- Develop Confident, Self-thinkers. Teach them the game. Ask them questions, put them through situations, don’t give them all the answers, make them think it out.
- Bring it-Work Hard: Practice should be harder than games. Create that work ethic now.
- Start Practice as Team: Come up with things to do until entire team gets there. Play pepper, flip or create a game or focus. Once team arrives, begin speed & athletic development program, followed by our concentrated throwing routine, etc.
- Develop Complete Players: Have players work on the skills for all positions. We want a team where every player has Shortstop skills.
- Develop Pitchers & Catchers: Practice these skills as a group. Allow kids to try, encourage them, get them excited about trying.
- Repetition is Better than Talking: Teach, show & do. Time is precious, plus kids will lose focus, so keep it brief & get them doing.
** Always consider safety as you set things up! Kids should always be wearing helmets when there is any type of hitting going on. Think things through.
**Keep things fun! Refer to our Pulaski definition of FUN. Compete, high tempo, limited standing around, coaching in a respectful manner, and developing relationships and trust.
AT THE END OF THE YEAR: OUR GOAL IS THAT EVERY KID ON OUR TEAMS, IN OUR PROGRAM, LOVE BASEBALL & WANT MORE BASEBALL & COME OUT NEXT YEAR!