This segment highlights Dugout Captain’s practice absolute #6 – Drills / Station Instruction. This segment is the traditional baseball activity: Drills to work on infield and outfield, pitching and hitting. This is the nuts and bolts of most youth practices. Here, the goal is to teach something and make the most of time spent on the field. For that reason, divide the team into groups and run two drills at the same time.
Depending on the number of assistant coaches, practices can involve three simultaneous drills. After a pre-determined amount of time, groups rotate from one coach to the next, completing all drills in the time block. Dugout Captain practice plans utilize two coaches running two different drills at the same time… and do this twice (two blocks).
EXECUTION – There are three main points to understand during the Drills / Station Instruction portion of practice:
- Time Blocks & Stations – DC plans call for two Time Blocks, with each set involving a minimum of two drills (or stations). Two drills at 15-minutes each equals a 30-minute Time Block.
- Instruction vs. Repetition – Great practices balance both of these. Challenge and teach fundamentals, while ensuring that every athlete receives the necessary number of repetitions to improve. Questions to consider: Which coach will lead which drill? And what is the goal of that drill (instruction or repetition)?
- Water Break – Push the kids hard, and then insert a five-minute water break between the two 30-minute blocks. This allows the athletes to rest and get a drink of water, but also provides the coaches time to switch their equipment and field set up for the second round of drills.
- Side-by-Side Cones – Use two cones as Side-by-Side cones. Athletes arrive at a station, place any extra gear down, and line up (side-to-side) between these two cones.
- Use Time Warnings – 5-minute warning = wrap up instruction and ensure athletes all get enough reps. 2-minute warning = pick up balls or equipment. Rotate stations when timer goes off.
- Defense then Offense – Plan defensive stations during Drill Block #1 and offensive stations during Drill Block #2. Athletes always have energy to hit!
- Connect It – Can you tie station instruction to any of the other Practice Principles: Early Baserunning, Quick Defense, or Baserunning/Conditioning?
- TIME BLOCKS & STATIONS
- INSTRUCTION VS. REPETITION
- INVOLVE WATER BREAKS
- SIDE-BY-SIDE CONES
- USE TIME WARNINGS
- DEFENSE THEN OFFENSE
- CONNECT IT
- Baseball Buckets1