There just isn't enough time in the day to get everything done, let alone plan practice. Like just about everything else, however, being prepared ahead of time helps coaches make full use of their time.
Coaches should sit down and jot down ideas of what they would like to go over at practice. Probably, the most common practice schedule consists of warm-up, defense, batting, and running. This format has been around for years, but coaches need to pay more attention to detail in order to have the most efficient practice with the limited amount of time they have to teach a game that takes years to learn.
Let's start with what the objectives of practice are. The things that a good practice needs to accomplish are:
• Teach fundamentals – An obvious thing that needs to be done, but sometimes can be difficult if a coach doesn't know exactly what needs to be taught and how. A lot of skills need to be built on each other. For example, coaches can't teach double plays until they have taught how to field a ground ball. By planning practices a head of time coaches can build on skills already learned and players will understand how everything relates to the overall game of baseball..
• Keep em moving – It's almost impossible to have a good practice if players are standing around. The players that stand around are the ones you have to tell to quit throwing dirt. Good coaches will separate the players in to equal groups. The groups will be working on a specific drill planned ahead of time. Each group should have a coach running a drill. If there aren't enough coaches, enlist parents and have them listen to you while you are demonstrating the drill to the players so they can supervise.
• Have Fun – Something a good coach can't forget. Younger players aren't always interested in winning as much as having fun. If they are having fun it makes players work harder because it's fun not work. Coaches should find ways to make competitions out of drills. Our website can give you some ideas. Oh, let's not forget practice needs to be fun for coaches too. Coaches want to feel like they accomplished something with the team when they go home. If a coach is spending too much time controlling player's attitudes and cutups, they aren't having fun. Those coaches need to refer to objective #2.
Coaches should take a few minutes and jot down on paper, ideas as to what they want to accomplish that day at practice. E-Train Sports has worksheets coaches could use to help plan practices. If coaches really want to draft a detailed plan try our “Practice Planner Software”. Successful teachers write lesson plans, successful businesses write business plans, and successful coaches write practice plans. |
