Many adults can't wait to start coaching their kids' youth baseball teams--some even stay on and coach long after their kids have grown up and gone off to college. Other adults, though, get drafted into coaching with very little idea of just how to go about it. If you fall into the latter category, don't worry! Running a successful baseball practice isn't too difficult once you get a general idea of how it's done.
Step 1
Start the practice off with a warm-up. As the kids arrive, have them play catch with each other, with a parent or even by themselves, throwing a ball up in the air and then catching it again. Once the team has all gathered, assemble everyone and have them warm up with a few simple stretching exercises, such as jumping jacks and toe touches.
Step 2
Have all of the kids take batting practice. Practice with aluminum bats and regulation baseballs, or use plastic bats and Wiffle balls. Either have a coach or volunteer pitch to the batter, use a pitching machine or have the kids hit off a tee.
Step 3
Incorporate a few fun drills. One way to make drills enjoyable is to structure them in the form of games, such as the "500 Game." Have one player at bat, and the other players taking their positions on the field. If a fielder catches a ball on the fly, he gets 100 points; on one hop, 50 points; a grounder, 25 points. If the ball rolls to a stop, or a fielder attempts a catch and misses, no points are awarded. The first fielder to get 500 points wins, and is awarded a turn at bat. To speed things up, just bump up the point levels--so a fly ball is an automatic 500 points, a one-hopper 250 and a grounder 100, for example.
Step 4
Divide the team in half and have an intra-squad game. If you have a 60-minute practice, allow at least 20 minutes for the game, as these games tend to be the most enjoyable part of the practice for the kids. These intra-squad games can also give most, if not all, the team members the opportunity to play in the infield. Intra-squad play is the time to instruct kids on baseball fundamentals (batting stance, fielding techniques, etc.), as it is not appropriate to do so during an actual game.
Step 5
Wind up the practice by having all of the kids run the bases once or twice. After everyone has run, gather the team members together one last time to remind them of your next practice or game, inquire about any possible absences and just generally check in to see how everyone's doing.
Tips and Warnings
- Make sure to have water on hand, or ask kids to bring their own. Stop practice every so often to give kids a one- or two-minute water break, particularly during hot weather. Try to draft as many parent "helpers" as you can. A number of parents may be reluctant to take on the responsibility of actually coaching a team, but will be happy to help pitch, run drills, provide water and/or snacks, keep track of equipment or help out in any other way.
Things You'll Need
- Practice field
- Bats
- Baseballs
- Practice tee
- Pitching machine
- Bases
References
- "Fundamentals of Coaching Youth Baseball and Softball"; Gary Weinstein; 2009
- "Coaching Youth Baseball"; Cal Ripken; 2006
- Youth Baseball Basics: Playing the Game of 500
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