| Practice techniques | | | | more productive practices. Productive practices |
| Your team will play like they practice. This age old | | | | lead to more productive game time |
| saying is still true today. In the heat of battle, late | | | | performances. As stated earlier in the article |
| in the game, or when they are tired or rattled, | | | | these two things go hand in hand. |
| they will revert back to whatever skill level you | | | | Good practice habits by coaches are the result of |
| have coached them to. | | | | some pre planning .Have a couple of midwinter |
| For example, if your practice regimen does not | | | | meetings with your coaches to go over what you |
| include a lot of footwork on grounders, during a | | | | want to accomplish in your late winter and early |
| rally inning against a good team, it will show with | | | | spring practices. Up north where I am from, we |
| errors on routine plays. In the same scenario, if | | | | begin our practices indoors. This presents |
| you don't stress the importance of staying calm | | | | obstacles right away. Practices must be designed |
| under pressure, or to stay positive and focused, | | | | for indoor situations. Some outdoor drills aren't |
| your team may crumble. | | | | effective indoors. Having a meeting with your |
| If you neglect hitting practice in the preseason in | | | | coaches will help you plan an agenda to make |
| favor of defense, your team may struggle | | | | your indoor practices more productive. |
| offensively early. Or the opposite could be true. | | | | The type of practice that I have seen most |
| These are just examples of how your team may | | | | effective for indoors and outdoor practice is the |
| reflect your practice system. What most coaches | | | | use of player stations. This involves splitting your |
| don't realize is that this also reflects your level of | | | | players up into groups of two to three players all |
| preparedness as a coach. You cannot suddenly | | | | separate from each other. This will serve several |
| demand your players to increase their | | | | functions. |
| concentration level at game time when you have | | | | It prevents players from goofing around as much. |
| not required it in practice. | | | | You can keep friends or siblings in separate |
| At the same time, we do not want practice to be | | | | groups. |
| drudgery the team is going to dread. Practices | | | | It will increase player focus on drills. |
| should be instructive, competitive, and fun. Your | | | | You can put any skill level group together that |
| coaching style is up to you, although I'm a | | | | you what. For example, you can put all |
| proponent of being a builder. By a builder, I mean | | | | left-handed hitters together. |
| being more positive, encouraging your players, | | | | Allows for closer examination of player technique |
| than negative and criticizing. | | | | or form. |
| I don't mean that a coach should never raise their | | | | Allows for extra repetition if needed for any |
| voice or get excited. Youth baseball coaches | | | | player. |
| should always show their enthusiasm in a positive | | | | So now that the holidays are close to being over, |
| manner, not by yelling negative comments. I want | | | | baseball is quickly approaching. Take a few |
| to be constantly urging my players on, telling | | | | moments to sit down with your coaches, and plan |
| them that they are good players. All your players | | | | out your practices. It is an investment of your |
| do something well enough to warrant praise, you | | | | time that will pay dividends in the upcoming |
| must find it, as a coach. | | | | season. |
| So all this talk about practice leads us to how to | | | | Keep an eye out for some indoor drills in my |
| plan practices. This much is true. Good instructive | | | | upcoming articles that you can use for productive |
| practices are preplanned the majority of the time. | | | | indoor practice sessions. Also use your indoor |
| This method takes time and imagination most | | | | practice sessions to promote positive thinking and |
| coaches don't have. Coaches can fall into the habit | | | | sportsmanship. As coaches you can use this time |
| of using the same practice program over and | | | | to develop a more positive attitude yourself. |
| over. This can lead to a loss of focus and | | | | Work at becoming a builder of your players. Being |
| boredom by your players. | | | | a positive coach may take more effort on your |
| Almost everybody likes some type of a variety, | | | | part but it is well worth it. You can put notes on |
| and baseball players especially youth baseball | | | | your clipboard to remind yourself to stay positive |
| players, are no exception. Keeping your practices | | | | and constructive. Have some fun with your |
| varied and fund will increase concentration and | | | | players and they will enjoy practice more. |
| focus by your players. This in turn will lead to | | | | Thanks again for your time and interest. |