Practice Plans
Practice 1, May X 20XX 6:30 6:40 introduction of coaches to parents and kids Call us COACH, no need to remember our names We are here to teach o Enforce good sportsmanship More importantly we are here to have FUN Learn the game of baseball o Played baseball and softball for years o Played Pitcher, Catcher, Left Field, 2 nd Base Allergies or injuries that we should know about It is okay to be scared of the ball, it hurts What do if you get hurt Where the bathrooms are, you need to ask before you go No child left behind, I do not leave until all kids are picked up Most if not all practices will be an hour, unless we are having too much fun Outline of how the games will work o Define structure at game time with other coach o May need to move players between teams if they are short Batting order will be a queue organized by last name, first will move to last Fielding will be organized by spreadsheet system, based off ability level Realize what this is at this level o Fielding confidence will come with time o Three areas of drills Catching Throwing Batting Any special requests for kids What to do if you cannot make a game or practice Believe it or not post game snacks are frowned on, as it takes away from the concession stand sales Dismiss parents Hamel Youth Baseball Page 2
6:40 6:50 Field Identification Tour of field Run bases Offence / Defense Who goes where, what is their position name What is expected of you 6:50 7:00 Equipment Identification Names on equipment Respect equipment Who needs what piece of equipment Why do we wear hats in the field, know where your hat it Do we swing bats when we are on the bench? 7:00 7:10 Soft hands Drill Groups of 2 or 3 No glove One knee on the ground 7:10 7:20 Long Toss into backstop Use sock / tennis ball Toss underhand to your partner Introduce Alligator All kids Single Line Show us what you got! Take notes on each players abilities 7:20 7:30 Recap (Field Identification) High Fives o How to o When to Low Fives o How to Hand out Jerseys Field quiz Equipment quiz Team cheer Hamel Youth Baseball Page 3
Practice 2, May XX 20XX 6:30 Re-introduction Recap of last practice Outline of today s events 6:35 6:45 Field Identification Tour of field Run bases Offence / Defense Ready position Who goes where, what is their position name What is expected of you Position Quiz 6:45 7:05 Half squad soft toss Start with bare hands Introduce glove after a few minutes Half squad BP in to net or fence Go over the batting stance checklist Let each kid hit 5 balls then rotate 6:55 rotate Alligator Chomp Tennis balls 7:05 7:10 Short throw into backstop All kids Two Line s close to fence Elbow up Point at your target 7:10 7:30 Game situations 5 kids in field in ready position Remainder bat Structure hits so they learn to run to 1 st What is an out What to do with the ball (promote run to 1 st )??? Listen to base coach HUSTLE Hamel Youth Baseball Page 4
Practice 3, April XX 20XX 6:30 6:35 Recap Tour of field Run bases Offence / Defense Ready position Who goes where, what is their position name What is expected of you 6:35 6:40 Rules of Baseball (fielding / defense) Outs (Fly, Tag, Force, Strike) When you can run 6:40 6:50 Team soft toss What to do when you hit the ball What to do when you get the ball How many can you do without dropping the ball 6:50 7:05 Group Glove Extension Drill Start in PFP then field ball 7:05 7:10 Batter s Box Checklist demo Rules when you have a bat Batting Order 7:10 7:30 Batting and Fielding practice An adult will help you when it is your turn to bat After you hit place bat on the ground Half the team is batting other half is in the in-field Show proper fielding locations Get the ball back to the pitcher Rotate after batting order is complete Have batter hit from tee Hamel Youth Baseball Page 5
Practice 4, April XX 20XX 6:30 6:35 Recap Tour of field Run bases Offence / Defense Ready position Who goes where, what is their position name What is expected of you 5:05 5:10 Rules of Baseball (Running) 5:10 5:25 Colored Ball Drill (Batting) / Small group refresh on throwing mechanics & One Knee Throw to partner (Throwing) 5:25 5:40 Rotate 5:40 5:55 Group Shuffle Glove Extension Drill players in position on field (Fielding) 5:55-6:00 Recap / Home Swing then Run Bases Practice 5, May XX 20XX Practice 3 again Practice 6, May XX 20XX Practice 4 again Hamel Youth Baseball Page 6
Practice Parts Fielding Base Running Perfect fielding position ground balls Perfect fielding position pop flies Knowing the play Using the cutoff man Backing up the play Infield make the play, grounders and pop flies Making the tag Making the double play Run down Soft hands Alligator chomp Situational awareness Run on pop up Running on anything Listening to base coaches Footwork, grapevine, sprints J turns around first base Throwing Wrist toss Upper body toss Long toss Long line toss Around the horn PFP -2- POP -2- Scarecrow Hitting Batting box checklist Soft toss into net Soft toss to fielders (practice defense) Hit from tee into net Hit from pitching machine Soft toss home run derby Hamel Youth Baseball Page 7