Practice organization is a major key to your team, your coaching
success and your sanity for the upcoming season. If you remember to make a plan for your
practice,
your time will be more productive and run smoother. While working for the
legendary college coach Gordie Gillespie, he has stated that "a coach is in a power
position with young people - don’t ever misuse that power." This is a great
lesson to keep in mind. Remember you are not coaching the New York Yankees, you are
coaching the Shabonna Park Yankees. You are there as a facilitator of play. Just check the
rule book--the umpire says "play ball." Keep that in mind every time you feel
like losing control with your boys. If they have a fun and positive experience they will
remember you forever. However, if you get on your players and expect them to perform like
major leaguers and rant and rave they will also remember you forever.
How do you want to be remembered? You may never take part in developing a professional
ball player, but you will be part of creating many men.
Before we can ever set out for the field for our first practice, we need to develop a
philosophy. This philosophy may change throughout the season and from year to
year. You need to prepare as a coach. Maybe you and your staff can attend a
coaching clinic, read a book, or watch a video. You do not need to be a coaching expert,
you just need to develop a working knowledge of the game. We have to remember that just
because we have done something in our lives, does not mean
we will be able to teach it after several years away from this activity. Science and
technology have brought the game of baseball a long way in the past several years.
Developing a basic knowledge of current throwing, fielding and hitting concepts will make
your practices flow smoother, and possibly help prevent unnecessary injury.
After you and your coaching staff have developed this working knowledge, you will want to
set some goals. These can come in many areas. I would suggest keeping them few and simple.
Sample Goals:
Hitting:
•Take 25 dry swings a day
•take 25 swings off the tee each day
•hit two ground outs for every fly out
Pitching:
•Throw 25 pitches on off days to a target or a catcher
•Play catch every day throwing change ups and fast balls to a partner
•Try to get ahead in the count, especially with the first hitter each inning
These are just a few samples, but you can see that these will help you and your
players know what is expected, and it will prepare them for game time.
After you have completed those tasks, it is time to prepare your first practice
schedule. Know what your team needs to work on. You may have some drills
that you will want performed each practice; ground balls, fly balls, hitting,
throwing. I highly recommend writing your practice plan out. This will help to
keep practice flowing and moving along. You will want all your coaches to
know the plan and if your team has older players, you may want to post the
schedule in the dugout so they will be able to move from one segment to the
next quickly. Time is crucial, especially at your local park fields, so keep the
drills short and to the point. This will also help your players stay focused on
the task at hand. If you have something new you would like to introduce that
practice, do it early while you have their attention. Remember to show your
players that mistakes are part of the learning process, and are fine. Finally,
run practice slightly different each day.
A coach is a teacher who constantly strives
to reach greater heights
as a builder of lives…
In glory and victory and yes in defeat
Who sets the example for those who compete…
Who advocates teamwork and proves everyday
that everyone wins
in the game of fair play
Bob Hoppenstedt
SOME COACHING DO’S and DON’T
DO set a good example
DO concentrate on fundamentals
DO attend coaching clinics
DO make sure safety equipment fits properly
DO say something positive after each game or practice no matter what the
outcome.
DON’T be a negative coach
DON’T quit on your team if they go into a losing streak
DON’T be critical of umpires
DON’T try to be one of the players
Remember if your players are standing around, it may not be the players
fault, it may be your own.
Frank Del Medico can be reached at
fdelmedico@niu.edu