Practice Schedule Model

Hey Guys,

As promised here is the practice schedule model for a YOUTH baseball team.  In no way am I saying this is the only way to practice, but if you're a first timer or are thinking of ideas here you go:

*Hypothetically your practice starts at 5:00

5:00- Run, Stretch, Throw
*The first step to having a good team is to make them disciplined.  Have them warm up the exact same every single day.  Make it routine.  Doing the little things right will lead to the big things being done correctly.

5:15- Short hops, and Rocket Relay
*Short hops are self explanatory.  Do them from the knees and from your feet.  For a rocket relay split the kids into two teams and have them get into two lines.  The balls start at one end of the line, travel to the other end and back.  You can go down and back as many times as you like.  Make sure that your players are using two hands and lining up in correct relay position.

5:45- GROUND BALLS AND FLY BALLS!!!
*You can do this any way you want, but don't have them throw..... yet.

6:00- 21 Outs
*There are 21 outs in a baseball game.  Stand in as the hitter and hit balls to all the different positions until 21 outs are recorded.  They need to be a mixture of grounders and fly balls.  Start over after every error or "should've been" out.

6:30- Hitting
*Young kids don't need to waste their time bunting and doing hit and runs and all of that.  Teach them to stay inside the ball and focus on squaring up every ball.

End your practice with some form of conditioning.  Do not make it a punishment!  This is the quickest way to lose the focus of your team.  Have them do some type of relay or competition so that they forget they are even conditioning.  

This is only one practice schedule.  There are literally thousands of different things you can do at practice, but this is one I like to go to because it pounds the fundamentals of the game.  Whatever you're doing, make sure that it keeps the interest of your players.  That is the most important thing.  At any level, the moment you lose the focus of your players you might as well just end practice right then.  The picture below shows when it is time to end practice:)

Tip of the Day: High expectations yield better results.  If you expect more from your team you will get more from your team.  Too many coaches expect nothing from their kids and it shows out on the field.  Push them, but only as far as they can mentally go.  There is a line.  Don't cross it!

Until Next Time!