1. Practice and Program Organization
Chris Sperry, Head Baseball Coach
University of Portland

2. Organizing Your Program
Parent Letter
Parent Meeting
Philosophy
Expectations
Assistance

3. Principals of Youth Coaching
Conduct developmentally appropriate practices.
Be brief. Be clear. Be relevant.
Move from simple to complex.
Be sure you have a safe training area.
Include decision-making in your practices.
How does this activity fit into the game?

4. What Kids Want Fun Variety and Organization Building Skill Friendships
Action and Excitement
Attention
Competition

5. Some Considerations Fear of being hit by the ball Attention span
Skill level
Over coaching

6. The Coach’s Job Teach fundamentals Keep it fun Give them “homework”
Number of groundballs in a row
Watch a game and comment
Explain a rule
Explain a strategy
Did I mention keep it fun?

7. What’s a Practice Plan?
A written plan that outlines what you want to accomplish and when you want to do it.
Practice plans can be written on almost anything, as long as it helps you move through a practice in an organized way.

8. What’s IN a Practice Plan?
Time guidelines
Details of each phase of practice
Key coaching points
Names of assistants to help

9. Establish Priorities
Many coaches find that there simply is not enough time to accomplish everything. Therefore, identifying the areas that are most important to your team’s success can help you make the most of your practice time.

10. Elements of Practice Warm-Up Throwing Skills and Drills Team Defense
Team Offense/Base Running
Individual Defense
Hitting and Bullpen Drills
Conditioning

11. Conditioning Drills Thunder Ball Speed Ball Whistlin’ Dixie Tag
Base Running

12. Have a Master Plan
Planning the teaching elements that make up your program can be very beneficial, from an administrative point of view.
By referring to a Master Plan you will quickly know what skills or systems you have covered effectively, and which ones still need to be taught or revisited.

13. Establish systems that work for you
Rundowns
Fly ball communication
Daily drills
Bunt defenses
1st and 3rd defenses

14. Maximize BP Time Bullpen Work Base Running Fungo Work
Assistant coaches

15. Frequency of Basic Skills and Drills
Builds retention and speeds up practice
Rundowns
Fly ball communication
Pickoffs
Bunt D’s
1st and 3rd’s

16. Teaching Baseball Successfully
We know that physical learning does not take place through verbal communication. Nobody can learn to play the piano by being told how to do it. They had to be shown (demo) and it took practice (doing).

17. Team Defensive Drills 18 Outs Soft Toss Scrimmage
Coach-Pitch Scrimmage
3-2 or 2-1 Count Scrimmage
Rundown Series
Fly Ball Communication
Hustle and Communication

18. Team Hustle
Establishing “hustle” as part of our style of play (and practice!) happens early in the fall season. When players move quickly in and between drills, a great deal can be accomplished.
Correcting lack of hustle also happens early. Your players need to know what you expect.

19. Discipline
Behavior that disrupts the flow of practice, or is not consistent with our goals, is not tolerated.
Players not giving their best effort are usually sent home immediately so that practice time is not compromised.

20. “Stay at 17 inches.” John Scolinos Cal Poly Pomona, retired

21. Equipment
Balls
Machines
Cages
Throw down bases