One of the most challenging hurdles for a new baseball coach is one of the first problems you’ll need to tackle, baseball practice. When, where and how are questions that demand immediate attention and can bring a new coach to the brink quickly if he lets them.
Naturally, drawing on your own experiences is the first set of assets on which to start putting together a practice schedule and drill program. If your experience is limited, follow the advice of your trainers, but think very, very carefully before asking another trainer.
The minor leagues are notorious for being a gossip factory, and you really don’t need tongues wagging about “how you took a team and didn’t even know where to start.” It’s nobody’s business, unless you’re a pedophile, why you decided to train.
With that in mind and the fact that I train and help others train, I’m going to put together a sample practice programming guide for you to use, refer to, or throw away.
Keep in mind that practice is important throughout the season, but particularly important before the season starts. This is where the building blocks are laid out on which you will build your team’s skill as the season progresses and they gain more experience in real game situations. So you will practice more before the season than during.
I always set a 3 day practice schedule, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, trying to stay away from weekends for the benefit of my parents. However, if inclement weather curtails practices, feel free to schedule practices on Saturday and Sunday.
Monday practice:
1. Players warm up by stretching and playing catch. Don’t let players throw long pitches until the third or fourth practice, even though their arms are young, “too…too soon” injuries can still occur.
2. Infield: Position all players in the infield positions. You will obviously see that certain players will not be suitable for the field game, but it is wise for players to be exposed to different positions in case they are forced to play the position for some unforeseen reason.
Hit ground balls to everyone (at least 4 each) and have them throw to first, where the ball will be passed to your catcher, who will throw the ball to you to hit again.
3. Batting Practice – Have players spread out to fielding positions, catcher will catch BP with full gear, have 1 batter hit while another stays in cover.
I strongly suggest a coach pitch batting practice for control purposes.
Have each batter hit 10 hits and finish with a bunt. Continue to rotate batters and player on deck until all players have batted. Hopefully you will have two receivers, who will hit and then rotate to catch, gaining experience hitting and catching.
wednesday practice
1. Always start practice with stretching and playing long catch-toss after a couple of practices.
2. Outfield: Put a player at each base, one you probably have playing that position, and have a catcher with you. Have the remaining players spread out across the outfield.
Spinning, hit flyers at the fielders and have them throw to a base, again, in a rotating fashion. Have that infielder throw the ball to the catcher.
Hit at least three fly balls to each outfielder.
3. Take batting practice.
Friday practice:
1. Regular warm-up routine, your players should be used to the drill and start shooting automatically as they arrive.
2. Place the players in the designated positions where you think they will play during the season. Never hesitate to change or change positions and players, but you have to start somewhere.
3. One coach practices infield while another hits fly balls to the outfielders. All struck balls must be struck hard and not directly towards the player as he is trying to push them into play condition.
4. Friday was always a day for new skills. We would teach runs, steals, openings, there are 100 different topics to vex. This is done with the participation of the entire team.
5. Batting practice.
This is a very simple but effective program and practice routine, which you will of course modify as the skill level of the team grows. It addresses the basics of avoiding injury, fielding skills, both ground balls and fly balls, and hitting.
Start the season with good practices like these and you will have a good year with your youth team.