Baseball Practice Planner

Last night's practice went GREAT!!

My "twin engines" were back and the team was flying all over the field. The "twin engines" are a set of twins on the team that have two settings...they are either off or the are operating at full speed. I love the energy and enthusiasm that being at "full speed" adds to a situation.

Our park has a limited amount of field space for practice so having a practice plan beforehand is the best way to optimize our opportunities on the field. I like to utilize as many dads to facilitate drill stations as possible.

Here is how we set it up last night:

Stretch/Throw (10 Minutes)

Phase I Fielding Repetitions (20 Minutes)
Group One

• 5 players
• 3 started in RF
• 2 started half way between the 3 in RF and the coach that was hitting balls from the LF foul line
• The player in RF would have to field the ball and throw to the cut-off man (player in CF)
• After they they threw to the cut off man they would go to the back of the line in CF
• The cut-off man would throw the ball into the coach and proceed to the end of the line in RF

Group Two

• 5 Players one at each infield position (w/ 2 players at one position)
• One coach on the 3rd base line hitting balls to the first and second baseman (alternating)
• One coach on the 1st base line hitting balls to the SS and 3rd baseman (alternating)

We ran these groups for 10 minutes. Then the OF group came into their INF postions and the INF group moved into the OF station.

Phase II Game situations with a runner on 1B (20 Minutes)

• Coach hit balls to various players and each player reacted according to their role/responsibility
• Base runners reacted to the ball
• Changed players after 15 minutes

Phase III Specific plays (15 Minutes)

• Implemented bunt coverages
• Basic- Get the out at first
• Wheel- Get the out at 3rd

Phase IV Base running (5 Minutes)

• Runners worked on going 1st to 3rd
• Picking up 3rd base coach before they get to 2nd
• Rounding 2nd properly

The remaining 5 minutes--water breaks; change over

Having a plan is the best way to optimize your practice time on the field. If you are in need of a sample practice plan I hope this was helpful.

Blueprint for Baseball is an e-book that has many more coaching ideas that I have accumulated over the years. Follow this link for more information on Blueprint for baseball and other helpful information on coaching youth baseball.

Tonight we are hitting in the batting cages for an hour and fifteen minutes.

I will let you know how this evening practice goes on the next post!