| Today the baseball coaching 4 letter word is | | | | drills such as 7.5 minutes. This emphasizes the |
| T-I-M-E: | | | | value of time. |
| Time Spent Must Be Justified | | | | 5. Have agenda for team meetings. If you have a |
| Wasting time is something that baseball coaches | | | | team meeting without a purpose or agenda, you |
| should avoid. There is nothing more precious to a | | | | may be wasting time. If you have a team |
| player, to parents, or to assistant coaches than | | | | meeting and ramble on and on talking without |
| time. Time spent at the baseball field must be | | | | direction and focus, then you are wasting valuable |
| considered valuable or constructive time. We are | | | | time. |
| coaches because we love the game and we want | | | | 6. Have a designated place in the dugout for the |
| to help young players grow up to great adults. | | | | belongings of each player and coach. Make sure |
| We help nurture that process by teaching good | | | | every player has their name or number clearly |
| morals, good values, and good habits. There is no | | | | visible on their glove, batting glove and bat. This |
| more important thing for a kid to learn than the | | | | saves valuable time when a players has to find a |
| value of time and the importance of always being | | | | glove, a bag, or a bat. |
| punctual. The key to showing that you value time | | | | 7. Do not talk through the fence with a parent or |
| is to have your team practices, meeting, and | | | | friend during practice. Kids should not do it and |
| other activities well planned and organized. | | | | coaches should not either. You are showing a |
| Here are my 10 tips for showing the value of | | | | definite lack of respect for practice time. Make |
| time: | | | | sure that you make it known that you will not |
| 1. Be punctual at all times. If a practice is schedule | | | | have discussions or conversations with anyone |
| to start at 3:00. You should start it exactly at | | | | during practice time. |
| 3:00. Not one minute early or one minute late. If | | | | 8. Set all training equipment up before practice. Do |
| the practice is set to end at 5:00, end the | | | | not waste valuable practice time assembling, |
| practice on time. A coach that constantly runs | | | | locating, or moving practice equipment. |
| practice times over is showing little regard for | | | | 9. Always disassemble and pack the training |
| time and family life. You should also set a | | | | equipment up after the designated practice time is |
| precedent of doing what you say that you are | | | | over. Do not waste valuable practice time packing |
| going to do. Stay on schedule. That includes | | | | way equipment. |
| practice start times and end times. | | | | 10. Do not talk all night after a game. Set a time |
| 2. Stop drills when the allotted time is up. Do not | | | | limit to post-game or post-practice meetings. If |
| run over. | | | | you cannot say it in 5 minutes, they are not going |
| 3. Do not waste practice time having coaching | | | | to remember it anyway. Younger kids have short |
| conference. Have your coaching meeting after | | | | attention spans. If you have more than 5 minutes |
| practice or 30 minutes before practice. | | | | of talk, save some of your talk for the beginning |
| 4. Have a practice schedule. Have every minute | | | | of your next practice. |
| accounted for and planned. Use odd minutes in | | | | |