Planning a practice

Question
I have a fair knowledge of the game of baseball but being a brand new head coach, I haven't the foggiest idea on how to plan a practice for a group of 9 year olds. How should it be organized and what types of drills should I incorporate. I am really trying to coach situations but am unsure of which ones to teach and how to teach them while keeping the whole team involed and interested. Any insight? Thanks.

Answer
Hello AJ

The practice plan will be determined by the level of skill that the players have, of course.  Usually, 9-10 y/o teams require a start from scratch. For this age, I recommend keeping the intense work to an hour and having several activities of no more than 10 minutes in length. Otherwise, they will become antsy.

I have used a plan similar to the one below for boys aged 8 to 16 with good results:

1. Players arrive and stretch well.  Nothing else is done untill all have stretched.

Hint:  Make players responsible for calling you when they will be absent or late.  Otherwise, you'll be waiting for players every practice.  Also, tell them that weather will not cancel practice unless they get a call from you.  Usually it is best to meet under shelter and talk baseball for awhile when it rains.

2. Players short toss to long toss

3. Review verbal instruction/demostration of skill taught  previous meeting.

4. Practice/implementation of skill taught previous meeting

Break

5. Verbal instruction/demonstration of new skill

6. Practice/implementation of new skill

7. Drill work defense

8. Drill work offense

9. Running bases

10. Fun activity to end practice

Of course, you will need to use your assistant coaches for work with pitchers and catchers.  It may be wise to schedule additional practice time for them.  I can tell you that a LARGE percentage of runs scored against you will be the result of passed balls and wild pitches.  Solve that problem, and you will have a winning season. Also, once you have established your skill set, you can break into stations for each skill to get more done in each practice.

Please see www.webball.com for some goood ideas and also see the official Little League site.

Good luck.

Pete