Coaches...So how do you plan and design your practices?

[Quake Softball]

In the fall even when we were running out of sun, we still got BP (all three pitchers in) and two different fielding drills in, so not sure what you are talking about. It does not mean take 10 whacks while others watch.

My team lost a few games (other issues) but we put up the most runs of any other team in tourneys except for the winner (public record) and my team record of an exceedingly high batting average.

Not sure how pitchers or hitters can be good in games when they never practice that level of intensity, unknown situations, visual distractions, etc. in practice.

You have ONE pitcher and ONE batter involved in that unless the batter hits the ball. So you are telling me that your hitters hit EVERY pitch? Well, if they don't everyone else is just standing around.

 

[softballphreak]

You have ONE pitcher and ONE batter involved in that unless the batter hits the ball. So you are telling me that your hitters hit EVERY pitch? Well, if they don't everyone else is just standing around.

One of the D1 teams we watch has a pitcher/catcher pair work 3 batters at a time. One bats, one is on 1st reacting to the result of the pitch (but not running all the way), the other is on deck. The head coach stands behind the pitcher calling balls/strikes, critiquing the pitcher and/or batter. I forget the rotation key, maybe 3 outs/hits? The runner at 1st gets the head coach's serious attention real quick if she slacks at 1st.

The assistant is simultaneously working the infield/outfield from behind a screen at 3rd. The infielders/outfielders are also fielding balls hit by the batter in addition to activity in between pitches.

 

[SnocatzDad]

I would love to hear more ideas about this. Above was one approach with a coach behind a screen at third base. But even that has too little detail to implement well -- what is that coach doing? How does he address right side of the infield from there? etc? How to keep it safe?

I'd love some options with one field (how to organize, safety, etc) and even two fields (how to split the girls, how to not have picking up balls slow things down).

I agree with softballphreak etc. but would love to steal any good ideas for "organized practice plans" that include live pitching! Would be very valuable.

TKS.

PS - We had a varsity high school pitcher come in and pitch to our 13Us last summer, and I agree it was great. But I'm not sure we organized it as well as we could have : >

Whether it was live pitching or front toss when we did hitting we had stations, usually 2 kids per station

Station #1 Pitcher/catcher live
Station #2 Hitter and on deck hitter
Station #3 2 fielders to shag balls to a coach standing behind pitcher behind a screen
station #4 Tee work
Station #5 Side toss or drops (similar to Mauer hitting device)
Station #6 Next pitcher and catcher warming up.

We usually had 12 kids and 3 pitchers and catchers. Each pitcher catcher combo would pitch to 10 batters which isn't that taxing and these were real at bats with catcher keeping the count. First pitch to next pitcher/catcher with groups 2&3 shagging, then pitch to group #2, then #2 and #3 switch. Then 2/3 swap with 4/5. Then next pitcher comes in and pitches to 3rd pitcher/catcher.

Usually I will let the pitcher/catchers pick one pitcher to hit twice so that all kids get three live at bats.