My first practice is scheduled. Now what do I do?

A new season, a new team and everyone is chomping at the bit to get started. The first practice is always a little tricky because of a manditory parents meeting that I hold for the first half hour of practice. To accomplish this, I gather everyone (players, parents and coaches) together for a quick introduction. I let everyone know what my goals for the team are this year. This first part of the meeting is about 10 minutes. After that, I excuse the players to start practice with one of the assistant coaches. The things that I talk about with the parents are detailed in the coaches checklist portion of coaching-fastpitch. While I spend about 20 more minutes with the parents, the players will be going through warm-up, dynamic stretching, and a throwing/catching set of drills. The timing of this portion of practice is detailed below and, as always, the specifics about each drill can be found on Fastpitch Drills link on the Practice Plans page of Coaching-Fastpitch.com. If you do not have a password for the fastpitch drills, you can get a password by signing up for the Coaching-Fastpitch Practice Plan newsletter <> has forwarded this e-zine to you because <> felt that you would be interested in this information. If <> thought enough of you to send this to you, shouldn't you at least check it out? This newsletter is FREE, so are the fastpitch drills and the other information on www.coaching-fastpitch.com.

I want to take some benchmark records for each player on throwing speed and speed on the base path during the first practice. I do not do this to show every player who is the fastest or throws the hardest. I want a way to show each player how they have improved by the middle and by the end of the season. To get the benchmark readings on throwing, I will have someone using a radar gun record the information during the first part of practice. The base path speed will have to be recorded one player at a time away from the regular practice. To do this, we will set up a tee at home plate. The batter/runner will hit the ball off the tee and run through first base. The second reading will be from home to second base. The stop watch will start on the crack of the bat and stop when the base is touched. I will take these readings in the middle of the season and again at the end of the season. I will review with each player individually their results only so that they can see that they are improving. Again, I will not compair other players to them. I want them to know that they are getting better and build their self esteem. I do not want them thinking that they are slower than Sue or Jane and now everyone else knows it too. Other benchmarks will be noticed during the course of the season such as batting average, on base percentage and however many other stats you keep.

Enough on individual benchmarks. Here is the first weeks practice schedules. I like to keep practice to one and a half hours beginning at 6:00 PM. You may have some other start time or want to run longer. Again, feel free to adjust the plan to your needs. We hold two practices a week until the season starts. Once the season starts, we have two game nights per week, we hold one practice a week. The important thing is to keep the players involved and busy while covering all that needs to be covered. Doing a shorter and more engadging practice will have your players looking forward to the next practice insted of dreading it.

Practice Plan #1

Introductions

Season goals

Individual goals

6:10 Warm up jog to fence and back, Dynamic stretching (this will take less time in the future as the players understand how it's done)

6:20 Wrist Snap Drill

6:25 Throwing Form Drill

6:30 Work on catching form

Glove position Soft hands

6:35 Throwing Relay Race

Do several races and after each race explain how they can improve. After first race, explain how a accurate throw is most important. After second race, explain how throwing to the glove side makes it easier for the next player.

6:50 Soft Toss Hitting (two coaches makes it twice as fast)

Allow players to get a drink of water after batting, before returning to field.

7:00 V-Drill

7:15 Fly Ball Drill

7:25 Team meeting

Have the players do some Static stretching while they listen to you giving a quick review of what was accomplished in practice When and where is the next practice Any special instructions for the next practice (example: wear long pants for sliding) What they can do on their own time to improve End on a positive note (example: I saw a lot of hustle, great job)

7:30 Practice is over on time

Practice Plan #2

6:10 Wrist Snap Drill

6:20 Throwing Form Drill

6:25 Work on catching form

Glove position Soft hands

6:30 Throwing Relay Race

Do several races and after each race explain how they can improve. This should become a friendly compitition and you should see great skill improvement

6:40 V-Drill

6:50 Fly Ball Drill 7:00 Sliding Drills

7:15 Soft Toss

7:25 Team meeting

Have the players do some static stretching while they listen to you giving a quick review of what was accomplished in practice When and where is the next practice Any special instructions for the next practice (example: wear long pants for sliding) What they can do on their own time to improve End on a positive note (example: I saw a lot of hustle, great job)

7:30 Practice is over on time

I'm sure that you have figured out that I am trying to cover a lot of basic individual skills. Everything is new to players at the youngest level. Take your time, be patiant and the skills will improve. The next step is to teach some some of the basic strategies. We will do that a little bit at a time in the next few weeks, however, our main focus will remain improving the individual skills.

Good luck with your first practices and I'll be sending you a new set of practice plans next week. See you on the field

Dan Knutson

P.S. Feel free to forward the Coaching-Fastpitch Practice Plan newsletter to whoever you think might be interested in it.