1. Planning The Perfect Practice Pittsford Little League - 2008

2. Agenda: -Introductions -Youth Coaching Overview -Why A Practice Plan Is Essential -What Makes A Perfect Practice -Sample Practice Plans -Baseball Fundamentals -Hitting -Fielding / Outfield -Drill Examples -Ford Practice Area -Habecker Batting Cage

3. Double-Goal Coach: Winning & Teaching Life Lessons A Third Goal (For Youth Sports)… Every Player On Our Team Wants To Play Again Next Year. - It is not our job to ‘weed out’ players at the youth level. - It is our job to build a love of the game and a feeling of belonging to the team. Tools To Help: - Practice The Principals of Double-Coach Coaching. - Become A Student of The Game - This Workshop, Pitching Clinic, Al & Al - Web Resources (there’s a TON!) - Engage Peers - Plan Perfect Practices. This is where… - Skills Are Built - Goals Are Achieved - Fears Are Overcome - Camaraderie Is Learned - The “Team” Is Formed

4. Why A Practice Plan Is Essential Forces Evaluation of Your Team & Your Players Throughout The Season –What skills are lacking. What drills can address them. How do we improve? Instills Confidence In Your Players and Your Parents An Organized Practice Keeps Players Under Control An Organized Practice Maintains Focus On Baseball (not the airplanes) Perfect Practice Makes Perfect (Ripkin) –Practicing The Wrong Way Doesn’t Help –You Play The Way You Practice

5. What Makes A Perfect Practice Pre-Planning –Build a Practice Plan in Sections: Warm Up; Skill Building; Team/Situations; Batting; Wrap Up –Write It Out, Make Copies/Email To Coaches, and Live By It – Every Practice –Vary Skill Building & Team/Situations Based On Need And Team Competency Organization –Create a Beginning/Warm Up Routine Players Will Take Ownership & Begin Practice Without Direction –Create an Ending/Wrap Up Routine Players Re-Energize Knowing The End is Near Suggest Ending With A Scrimmage –Organize For Efficiency –Expect Focus & Discipline –But…Allow For Fun Station Based (KEY – Keeping Kids Moving Is Critical To Any Practice) –Small Groups and/or Individual Stations –Each Station Runs Concurrent With All Other Stations –Kids Rotate Through Stations (Coaches / Parents Run The Stations) –Have as many stations as possible (usually limited by # of Coaches or Parents available). –Stations = More Reps = Efficiency Baseball is a game of repetition. More swings = Better Hitter. More Pitches = Better Pitcher. More Grounders = Better Fielder

6. Sample Practice Plan (Little League International) Basic Practice Practice Meeting (5 min) Go over team goals and practice objectives Team Stretch and Short and long toss (12 min) Team Jog one pole (5 min) this time is to think about having a positive practice and what needs to be accomplished. Hitting Stations: Two Soft Toss Station (8 min) Two Tee Station (8 min) One Cage Station (8min) (Once Coach pitch) Two Bunting Station (8min) Fielding Drills: Drill A Y Ground Ball Drill Left/Right side of infield (10 min) 2 Coaches hit to the infield. One hits to 1B and 2B, other coach hits to SS and 3B. Drill B Outfield groundball drill (10 min) Drill C Charging a Bunt (8 min) 3B and 1B Drill D 3 man relays in outfield (8 min) Group 1. OF-SS-OF Group 2. OF-2B-OF Round of infield/outfield with one coach hitting (pre-game warm up) (10 min) One pole to cool down (5min) Wrap-up Meeting (3 min) * * Drills A and B are done at the same time. * * Drills C and D are done at the same time. 90 Minutes

7. Sample Practice Plan (Little League International) Defensive Practice Plan Practice Meeting (5 min) Go over team goals and practice objectives Team Stretch /Short and long toss (12 min) Team Jog one pole (5 min) this time is to think about having a positive practice A. Y Ground Ball Drill Left/Right side of infield (15 min) 2 Coaches hit to the infield. One hits to 1B and 2B the other coach hits to SS and 3B. The ball is returned to the catcher for the appropriate coach. A. Out Field Ground Ball Drill (15 min) B. Infield Drill at all positions (15 min) B. Outfield Fly ball drill (15 min) C. 2B/SS feed drill (15min) C. 3 man relays OF-3B-OF OF-1B-OF (15min) Round of infield/outfield with one coach hitting (pre-game warm up) (10 min) Situations: Play like a live game with 9 fielders and have a coach hit. You can have four runners with helmets and go over game situations. (15 min) Wrap-up meeting (5min) * * Drills A are done at the same time * * Drills B are done at the same time * * Drills C are done at the same time 97 minutes

8. Sample Practice Plan (Little League International) Offensive Hitting Practice Practice Meeting (5 min) Go over team goals and practice objectives Team Stretch /Short and long toss (12 min) Team Jog one pole (5 min) This time is to think about having a positive practice Hitting on the field with Coach pitch (10 min) three fielders to shag balls.(4 players) Soft Toss Station (10 min) (2 players) Two Tee Stations (10 min) (4 players) One Cage Station (10min) (One Coach pitch with 2 players) Bunting Station (10 min) (2 players) Each player rotates through each hitting station Base Running Drills (15 min) Wrap-up meeting (3 min) 90 Minutes

9. Warm-up - 10 minutes Slow Jog / Stretch Legs / Stretch Torso / Stretch Arms Base Running - 10 minutes Infield Hit (Through First) Round First (Single) Run for a Double Run for a Triple Throwing - 10 minutes One partner should be on foul line and the other in the outfield. Stations - Total of 40 minutes (10 minutes each) Ground Balls Pop-ups / Fly Balls Hitting on field or in batting cage/s Tee Soft Toss Team Work Examples - 50 minutes Scrimmage Cut-offs / Relays Run-Downs Pitching Drills Base Stealing Base Running - Tagging up etc. Sample Practice Plan (Web)

10. Sample Practice Plan (Ripkin Baseball) 20 MinutesStretch, Run, Throw 20 MinutesGroundballs and Flyballs – use buckets & systems to minimize throws and maximize repetitions. - Not taking infield - Two Infield Fungo Stations (Y Drill) - One Outfield Fungo Station 20 MinutesTeam Fundamentals - Bunt Defenses - First and Third Defenses - Cutoffs & Relays - Pickoffs and Rundowns - Baserunning 60 MinutesTeam Batting Practice (4 Stations, 15 Minutes Each) - Tee, Soft Toss, On-Arm Soft Toss, Live Hitting - Pitchers / Catchers Work on Sidelines

11. Warm-up: (20 Minutes) Throwing (one partner on foul line and the other in outfield) One Knee Down 10 yds Catch 10-15 yds Long Toss 20 yds + Fielding (one partner on foul line and the other in outfield) No Glove Ground Balls 15 yds Quick Toss (30 second reps – Who can get the most?) Conditioning Drills To Right (Players Always Follow Their Throw) Stations: (40 minutes) Live Hitting Soft-Toss and/or Tee (Wiffle Ball if necessary) Fly Ball (Coach Throws Football Patterns From Foul Line) Pitchers & Catchers (Full Gear – challenge catchers to no passed balls) Team: (15 minutes) Situations (8 man defense, Coach hits and calls situations with Runners) Run-Downs Base Stealing / Tagging up / Advancing Cut-Offs & Base Coverage Bunt Coverage 1 st and 3 rd Plays * End With A Scrimmage (15 minutes) (4 on 4 on 4) Team A & B in field while Team C Hits. Batter starts with 2 strikes. Max Runs = 4 per Team/Inning Sample Practice Plan (PLL) X X X X XXXX X X XX X X X X X X XX

12. Hitting Fundamentals Bat Selection Too Heavy = Long, Slow, Lag Swing Ideal Swing is Short and Compact The Grip Line Up The ‘Door Knocking’ Knuckles. Loose hands/wrists = throwing the bat at the ball (a good thing) The Stance Balanced & Square (so you can see the ball) Cover The Plate It’s Here Where 1000’s of Techniques Begin… Stride, Hands, Head, Hips, Shoulder Turn, etc. Fundamental Keys To Hitting See The Ball (Keep The Head Still) Get The Bat On The Same Plane as The Ball As late as possible. As long as possible.

13. Stance – Square, toe-in, hands back, Barrel Up. Both eyes on pitcher. Load – Hands above the ball & back. Eyes tracking pitch. Short/Soft Step Swing – Head Down, Arms Extended, Front Leg Planted, Back Hip Driven Forward. Finish– Head Still, Hit Against Firm Front Leg, Rotate Hips

14. Infield Drills No Glove Ground Balls (6-3, 4-3) – Coach on Mound, Rolling Balls to SS & 2B. Players Change Lines No Glove Double Play (6-4-3, 4-6-3) – Coach on Mound, Roll To 2B. 2B tosses to SS for DP. Change Lines. Glove Double Play (5-4-3) – Coach at Home, Roll To 3B. 3B Tosses To 2B for DP. (Each above are rapid fire. Kids will catch, throw, change lines. Put a Coach at 1B so poor throws can be caught and returned to Coach on Mound quickly. Run these drills as fast as possible. Reps = Efficiency) Keys: Focus On Getting The Out at 2B. Teach Proper Foot Placement for 2B & SS Teach Toss vs Overhand Field GND Balls w/ 2 Hands Receive Toss With 2 Hands Up Work on Quick Transfer & Throw To 1 st But…Make The Out At 2B!!!! C C X X X X XX X X

15. “Triangle” Position Butt Down, Head Up, Two Hands – Out Front

16. Outfield Drills Turnaround Drill – Player faces away from Coach who throws Fly Ball. Coach Yells Turnaround and Player Locates Ball Strike At Home – Place a Bucket or Bag at Home Plate. Hit GND balls to OF. Player Tries To Hit Object At Home. Shoestring Drill - Player Runs Toward Coach Who Tosses Ball So Player Extends Out and Down To Make Catch. Relay Drill – Below Make it a race. First Team to Go From Home To Fence and Back First, Wins. Angles & Backup Drill – Coach hits gapper. Closest OF’er fields while other backs up. ** OF is all about BACKUP & Throwing 2 Bases Ahead Of Lead Runner ** XX X X XX XX X X X X X X

17. Star Drill Skills: -Hands in receiving position -Quick Catch/Transfer/Release Key Point: -Catch as feet are moving to base they are throwing. Chase Drill Skills: - 6-3 Grounders - Slap Tag at 2B/3B/Home Key Point: - Players Follow Their Throw Bunt Drill Skills: - Bunting 3 rd or 1 st Base line - Pitchers Charge Key Point: - Focus on Getting The Bunt Down

18. Station Set Up Pitcher/Catcher Tee Station Soft Toss Station Fly Ball Or Outfield Ground Ball Station On-Deck/Foul Balls

19. Ford Field – Practice Area 2 Pitchers 2 Catchers Juniors/SeniorsMinors/MajorsSoftball Tee Station Soft Toss Station Ford A Quick Toss Ground Balls Fly Balls No Glove Gnd Balls Turn Two (DP) Cut-Off Relays Short Infield Drills Baserunning Cage