Individual Practice Plans
Having a well thought out individual practice plan is important. Players need reps and having a plan to get those reps efficiently can make for very productive workout.
Download these individual practice plans and practice planners if you are serious about getting your reps.
Practice Station Cheatsheet
This chart will help you quickly decide how many stations you want to do based on how many parents show up to help.
Download the Practice Station Cheatsheet here (PDF).
Fun Warmups for Baseball Teams
Here are some fun things to put in your warmup to get your players warm and stretched out.
- Arm Circles
- Rockets
- Stars - Jump up and put arms and legs out like a star
- Run the bases
For Older Players
The First Day of Practice
Wow. It’s finally here, the first day of practice. We’ve waited all winter for this. For some of us, we’ve been practicing for months. For others, we’ve just begun. Either way, that first outside practice is exhilarating. The sound and feel of being cooped up in a cage for seemingly weeks on end hitting into nets, off tees and from coaches throwing from 25’ is over and the world has now opened up. For us Midwesterners, the world is now in equilibrium. Before we begin, it is important to understand a few things to make the transition seemless.
Transitioning From Batting Cage to the Game
Here is a question I got recently from the parent of one of my students: How can I get my son to translate the success he has in the batting practice cage into the game?
To answer this question, I will make some assumptions. One, in batting practice, the coach is closer than normal. Two, he is not throwing as hard. Three, it's practice. No pressure. And four, the fear factor.
Playing Catch & Proper Throwing
How to Play Catch
One of the most overlooked aspects of practice is playing catch. If during the game your team is struggling with making accurate throws, the time to work on it is during practice catch time. Regardless of what throwing program you use, it is imperative that the kids understand what the proper grip is, that they need to throw to a target and that they need to utilize proper throwing mechanics. If your players cannot hit their partner from seventy feet away in the chest consistently during practice, no way they will be able to make a 100-150 foot throw with the game on the line.
Take playing catch very seriously. First, show kids the proper 4-seam grip. You’ll be surprised as to how many do not know. A proper grip will allow the ball to be thrown straighter, harder and farther. Stress that the ball is not to be thrown unless they get the proper grip. Watch them throw all the time and make sure to check their grip frequently. The faster they can get at finding the grip without looking, the better. Seasoned baseball players are able to find this grip in their sleep and are able to spin the ball in their hands as they are throwing to get it. It takes practice.
Second, make sure they are throwing at a target. Start out with the kids trying to hit their partner in the chest, every time. As they progress, have them pick spots: right shoulder, left shoulder, head, etc. The better they can get at hitting spots in practice, the more accurate they will be in the game.
Lastly, make sure they are throwing with the proper form. Hitting your target is all about the release point of the ball. Without proper form, the release point will vary, leading to inconsistent throws. Proper form will also help in utilizing the entire body, put less stress on the arm and will get more on your throw.