| The word is PLAN | | | | 3:12 to 3:27 PFP (Pitching Fielding Practice) |
| There are many four letter words that baseball | | | | 3:30 to 3:45 Outfield Drill Work & Infielder Drill |
| coaches know, but few are as important as the | | | | Work |
| word for today, PLAN. There are very few | | | | 3:45 to 4:00 Team Defense, Infield, and Outfield |
| volunteer jobs more challenging, time-consuming | | | | Cuts |
| or rewarding than being a coach in your local | | | | 4:00 to 4:45 Team Batting Practice |
| league. There are many four letter words used | | | | (4 Groups, 4 Station, 12 Minutes and Rotate to |
| by coaches that I can not use here. Here I want | | | | the next station |
| to discuss the 4 four-letter words that can and | | | | -Station 1 On-field Batting Practice -Station 2 |
| will determine the amount of success a coach has | | | | Batting Cage Work -Station 3 Bunt Station |
| during the coming season. The four words are | | | | -Station 4 Tee & Soft-toss |
| Goal, Plan, Work and Time. In part one I discussed | | | | 4:45 to 4:55 Break |
| the important of the word Goal and the | | | | 4:55 to 5:15 21 Outs Drill |
| importance of setting a goal to drive a team | | | | 5:15 to 5:25 Base running Drills/Conditioning |
| toward success. | | | | Coaching Note: |
| The Baseball Coaches four letter word of today is | | | | 6 Pitchers will throw after practice bullpens. List |
| P-L-A-N: | | | | Names. The greatest difficulty in having a practice |
| Planning is one of the most important | | | | schedule is staying on time. You must have a set |
| responsibilities of a head baseball coach is planning. | | | | rule that when drill time is up, the drill ends. If the |
| Planning is organization. Planning is delegation of | | | | drill was performed so bad that it needs to be |
| duties and responsibilities to your assistants. You | | | | done again, it will be done over after practice. |
| must plan every practice. You must plan your | | | | Always have a coaches meeting after each |
| season. You must have a game plan going into | | | | practice to discuss what the staff has to say |
| every game. Planning practice after you start is a | | | | about the day practice. You also need to ask |
| sign of bad coaching. If the team has practice at | | | | what they think the next practice schedule should |
| 3:00 PM, and the head coach turns to the | | | | cover. Listen to your assistants and consider what |
| assistant coaches as the team is warming up, and | | | | they say when you make out your next practice |
| says, Well, guys what do you think we need to | | | | plan. Another part of having a plan is the |
| do today? A team with a coach like this is | | | | delegating of responsibilities. You can not do it all. |
| destined to have a difficult year. The coach is not | | | | Recruit some good volunteer coaches to help you. |
| organized and does not have the dedication to do | | | | Good coaches always delegate task and duties to |
| his coaching homework at home before he arrive | | | | assistant coaches. Let certain coaches work with |
| at the field. Have a plan and a schedule before | | | | certain positions. One of the crucial assignments |
| you arrive at the field. The practice plan should be | | | | on every team is the position of pitching coach. |
| in the can! Planning as you go will waste valuable | | | | You must have a coach that oversees pitching |
| practice time that will never be recovered. It is | | | | practice, bullpen work, and that calls the pitches |
| extremely important to have a daily practice | | | | during the game. Another important role is that of |
| schedule written down. You must decide on each | | | | the team hitting coach. The hitting coach is often |
| practice activity for that day, the assigned | | | | the offensive coordinator and 3rd base coach. |
| amount of time to be spent doing each drill or | | | | This coach oversees all batting drills, batting |
| activity, and the objective or reason for doing the | | | | practice and base running practice. Organize you |
| activity. A written practice schedule is a must! | | | | pregame routine. Plan it, write it down, and make |
| You practice plan must be detailed, easy to read, | | | | sure every coach know it by heart. Have a set |
| and easy to understand. Your practice plan begins | | | | time when you start stretching and warming up. |
| with the first minute of practice and ends with | | | | Have a set time that you take pregame |
| the last minute. Every minute is scheduled. Include | | | | defensive infield and outfield warm-up. a set time |
| breaks and transition times from one activity to | | | | that players may have 3 minutes to go to the |
| the next. You should write out the practice plan, | | | | restroom if they need to. Have a set time that |
| run copies, and give each coach a copy. The | | | | you have a team huddle. Plan what you are going |
| schedule will have time slots, each coach drills and | | | | to say during this team moment. Having a plan is |
| duties, and location of each activity. | | | | having a purpose, a time, and a place for |
| A sample practice plan: | | | | everything and everyone. |
| 3:00 to 3:12 Team Stretch and Warm-up | | | | |