organizing practice

Question
i am looking for ideas on how to run a practice for 11-12 yr olds.types of drills...hitting,fielding,pitching etc.. Trying to keep their interest while teaching them

Answer
Hi Kevin,

There are lots of drills that can be used for that age group.  Writing them out takes a lot of time and often gets too wordy.  Let me keep it short by simply suggesting that you take the following steps:

First, make stretching and warming up a priority at all gatherings.  There are many drills that can facilitate this.  Also, conditioning drills may very well pay off big dividends as the season progresses.

Always be sure to spend enough time introducing new drills and activities.  Then, at subsequent practices, all you'll need to do is mention the name of the drill and the players
can move into it seamlessly.  

I'd be sure to do the drill at consecutive gatherings to drive it home well.

Finally, use drills and activities that last no longer than 15 minutes.  This is the point at which boredom begins to set in.

For drill ideas, see www.webball.com and conduct a search for basebnall drills on the internet--there are plenty of sources where they have already been written out for you.

Best of luck,

Pete