Practice Plans - Fun League Coach Training

Stittsville Minor Softball Association

Fun League Coach Training

Sample Practice Plan

Not to be reproduced or copied without the consent of the Stittsville Minor Softball Association


Table of Contents

Practice Guide 3

Warm-up 4

Diamond Orientation 6

Activities 7

Softball Skills 10

Receiving 10

Throwing 10

Fielding 12

Hitting 13

Base Running 16

Pitching 16

Feedback 19


Practice Guide

Three Parts:

1. Warm-Up

a. Very fun and offers a lot of moving and running around

2. Diamond Orientation

a. Important for the kids to begin developing an understanding of

their playing area (the diamond)

3. Activities

a. Slightly more sport-specific, but still incorporates many elements

of fun

Always remember:

Keep things FUN!

Don't be afraid of trying something new and creative

These are simply guidelines - adapt as need be

Contact me without hesitation if you ever have any questions

whatsoever: [email protected]


Warm-Up

Blob Tag

o A player is deemed “it” and tries to tag others

o Once tagged, other players link arms

o Only outside person(s) can tag others

Shadows

o Two players are “chasers”

o Rest of the players try to run away as chasers try to step on their

shadows

o Count how many shadows were caught

o Change chasers often

Smiles And Making Bridges

o Smiles

Tell the kids to:

Wobble like jello on a plate

Skip like a giant with big boots

Pop like a bursting bubble

Float like a balloon… then POP!

Walk like a giant with a stiff neck

Fly like superman

Wiggle like a worm on the hot ground

Melt like an ice cube in the sun

Move your legs like a pair of scissors

Shake like a wet dog

o Making Bridges

Can you make a bridge with your body keeping both hands and

feet on the ground?

Can you make it high?

Can you make it low? Wide? Narrow?

Can you make a bridge keeping both hands and only one foot on

the ground?

Then continue like the first bridge


What Time Is It Mr. Wolf?

o One player is deemed "Mr. Wolf" - sometimes a coach needs to start

to get things going

o Players line up, while Mr. Wolf stands in the middle (players need to

run 20,30, 40 feet to another line (distance determined by age and

skill level)

o All the player yell out "What time is it Mr. Wolf?"

o Mr. Wolf then says various times (one o'clock, three o'clock, etc.) - the

hour = how many steps

o Players then take that many steps towards Mr. Wolf, who has his/her

back turned to everyone

o Eventually Mr. Wolf turns around and runs after all the players

o Anyone caught becomes another Mr. Wolf and the game continues

Partner Tag

o Create a playing area of size appropriate for your kids

o Partners face each other from opposite ends of the area

o When the designated person yells "Go!" the "It" partner attempts to

tag the other (attempt to have gender/skill matched)

o When the other partner is tagged, roles switch

o The partner that is now it must perform a series of a given task (e.g.

after you are tagged you must do 3 jumping jacks or star jumps) to

give time for the other to run away and be more active

Monsters Keep Away

o You will need a couple of coaches/parents

o Depending on the size of your team, split everyone into groups of no

less than 4-5, and no more than 6-7. Most FL teams can be split into

two teams of 4-6 according to our current numbers.

o Each team gets a ball and a MONSTER! (coach/parent)

o The team passes the ball to one another trying to stay away from the

monster

o Stop play momentarily if the monster touches someone when they are

holding the ball - and then start over again

o For more fun, really take the role of the MONSTER!


Candle Tag

o Pick a few players to be "It" and have everyone else scatter

o The chasers will attempt to tag the other players and when they do

said players must put their arms out to the side and slowly melt like a

wax candle

o If a friendly player runs under their arms, they are free to run around

again - If not, the melted candle will join the chasers

Diamond Orientation

especially for the younger kids, always leave a small amount

of time for this for each session

Get the parents involved by having 2-3 kids per adult – try to have parents

with different kids than their own

Have every group start at a different base

Simply discuss the main bases and their names – keeps have short attention

span

Have them run to bases that you call out


Activities

Pert Gert Or Pert Bert

o Give each player a ball

o Try to see which girl (Pert Gert), or which boy (Pert Bert) can get

under their ball and catch it

o Have them self toss it up in the air

o Give occasional feedback (not every throw)

o Emphasis getting feet under ball, glove up and turned properly

o See if they can throw it higher each time

o Ask them to count how many they catch in a row

o Ask parents to join in and help them count (always match parents with

other children)

o If they are older or advanced, have them throw it up in the air away

from themselves so they have to run more

Powerball

o Give every 2-3 players a ball and have an adult with each group

o First have the players safely throwing to each other – focus is on

throwing

o Teach throwing progression, but try not to overload kids with

information and feedback

o Then have the kids try to BLAST the ball by throwing it to the coach as

hard as they can – with safety in mind. This is the fun part!

Champ

o Give every 2-3 players a ball and have an adult with each group

o Have the players throw to each other – focus is on catching

o Every time a partner catches the ball that team gets a letter from C-H-

A-M-P

o Competition can be added, but emphasis is on technique and having

fun – not winning

o Make bigger words, or harder words, to increase difficulty


Gimme 5

o Set up groups of 3-4 and mark out typical base distance: 30-40 feet

apart

o Players take turns doing an imaginary swing, dropping the bat safely,

and then run AS FAST as possible to the base and give the coach a

HIGH 5 as they run through (akin to first base)

Frozen Target Pitching

o For this, if you don't already have some sort of item like pylons I

recommend you contact your team and ask them all to bring in 1-2

cereal boxes (or something similar). To make it even more fun have

them paint their boxes and personalize them for an added bonus

o I will give more details on pitching later on in the Pitching Section

o Divide team into partners

o Have on partner throwing and one retrieving

o Use all sorts of fun targets, such as cones and boxes, while placing

balls (or another object) on top to aim for

o Have all the pitchers throw at once, and then FREEZE!

o Then, have the retrievers run after the ball and reset the targets

o Have the partners keep track of how many they knock over

Don't make them compete against each other - make them

compete against their own score

Kill The Mosquito

o Tell all the players there is an imaginary mosquito (or bug) that needs

to be squished - it lives on the inside corner of the bag


o Place a player at each bag with a bat

o Ask the kids for a funny (but appropriate) word, vegetable, fruit,

whatever

o When you yell that out, all the kids take an imaginary swing, safely

drop their bat, and run to the next bag

o As they approach the bag they should make a small loop out so that

they can cut the corner and squash the bug as they round the bag

This teaches them to round the bags and touch the inside corner

o Once they have rounded the bag, they should stop and wait

o Repeat

Freeze Runner - Freeze Hitter

Do this game after they have had a chance to play Kill the

Mosquito

o Split your team into two groups

o Place one team in the field defensively - one team up to bat

Good chance to remind the players of fielding positions

o Have the team up to bat hit the ball

The goal is to get the ball hit, so use the technique that will

most likely get the ball out to the fielders:

hit off a tee

pitch the ball to the batter

have the batter throw the ball out into the field

o Using the techniques learned in Kill the Mosquito have the batters run

the bases cutting the corners and squashing the bug

o The defensive team needs to throw it around so that all the players

touch the ball

o Once every player has touched the ball have them all yell "FREEZE!"

o Once it has been called have the runner stop and stay where they are

They get a point for each base touched


Softball Skills

This section is to help teach your kids how to do various

components of softball

Receiving

Show the kids an athletic position o Feet shoulder width apart o Knees slightly bent o Weight on the balls of the feet o Glove and throwing hand slightly out to their respective side

Place the glove in front of the body as a target

When the ball comes in it will either be above or below the belly button: o Bellow - pinkies together to create a basket to catch o Above - thumbs together to receive the ball

When the ball hits the glove the arms and elbows should soften the contact

by moving slightly towards the body (don't extend outwards)

Throwing

Depending on the size of their hand, use two to four fingers across the seam

of the ball - the "horseshoe"


Hold the ball with the fingers, not in the palm of the hand o Mechanics

Before Stride

Point feet towards target Stride

Step towards target with foot opposite throwing arm Trunk Rotation

Rotate trunk about 90 degrees away from target (same

direction as throwing arm)

Use the back foot (same foot as throwing arm) to push off

"Unwind" like a corkscrew back towards the target in the

following order: hips, shoulder, arm, wrist, and finally

fingers as the ball is released Arm Movement and Position

First, arm moves parallel out from the shoulder and then

creates a 90 degree angle at the elbow

Then arm reach straight back perpendicular to the

shoulder

As the arm moves forward to throw the ball make sure

their arm comes "over the top" with elbow leading and

hand following through Wrist Snap

The wrist should be directly under the ball

Wrist snaps forward to release the ball Follow Through

The shoulder and arm should continue moving forward

after the ball is released

Body should finish with the shoulder of the throwing arm

pointed at the target

The pivot (back) foot should swing forward slightly off the

ground


Fielding

Ready Position o Before every pitch fielders should take this stance o Essentially, this is the athletic position o Legs shoulder width apart o Knees slightly bent o Head up and watching the batter (or wherever the ball is) o Keep back fairly upright (don't slouch/hunch over)

Similar to squating stance o Throwing hand and glove hand slightly out to the side (can also lean

on knees momentarily if need be)


Shuffle Side to Side o Move left or right without crossing feet or turning body o Move the foot that is closer to the position of the ball first by sliding

that foot over, and then slide the trailing foot back under the body

Ground Balls o Move in front of the ball o Drop glove so that the tip of the glove is touching the ground with no

space between the glove and ground o Have the glove wide open to receive the ball o As the ball enters the glove squeeze it shut

Fly Ball o Run to where the ball will land and position yourself facing up with the

glove above your head and thumbs touching o Have your throwing hand behind the glove ready to help close the mitt

around the ball o Catch the ball above the head with arms stretched up and elbows bent o As the ball enters the glove absorb the impact by gently moving the

glove towards the body

Hitting

o Holding the Bat Fingers around the bat, don't hold in the palms Have the knuckles lined up Choke up appropriately if the bat is too long

o Stance Feet shoulder width apart

Weight on balls of feet

Knees slightly bent Arms relaxed and form an "A" with the elbow up and back

Hands at shoulder height Head turned and facing pitcher, looking straight Perpendicular to pitcher and alongside home plate


o Swing Stepping Towards the Ball

Front foot steps forward slightly and in a straight line

1. Don't turn foot towards pitcher (or only very slightly)

Head and eyes remain fixated on the ball the whole way Trunk Rotation

Hips start facing towards home plate and "open" up through swing

and finish facing towards the pitcher

Push towards pitcher off back foot and move directly forward (no

body swaying) Upper Body

After trunk starts "unscrewing" then comes shoulders, arms, and

finally hands through the swing

At point of contact, arms should be fully extended out front the

body

Final part of swing is a snap of the wrist - "breaking the wrists" Follow Through

Top hand on the bat rolls over as the wrists "break"

Body follows through with the momentum of the bat

Body continues to rotate until it is facing out into the diamond

Bat is safely dropped on the ground


o Initially, it is better to focus on a small stride forward. Eventually this should be

extended to generate more power, it is important to focus on the mechanics of

the upper body o Far too often players use entirely their arms to swing the bat and generate

power. The "snap" of the hips as they rotate is a HUGE component to work on

Hitting Activity o Piñata!

Tell the kids they are trying to hit an imaginary piñata right in

front of them Have them all spread out without a bat There are three main components to focus on:

Have them take a short step (stride) forward and then

twist (rotate) their hips forward - "slamming the door

shut!"

Hold the bat with fingers around the handle (don't hold it

in the palms) and knuckles lined up

At the end of the swing their bat should be in the middle

of their back (follow through), and they need to keep

their eye on the ball the whole way in from the pitcher o For those in T-ball. Setup the tee in front of home plate and not on top

of home plate. Contact should be made at the front of home plate, not

in the middle

Safety o Always remind players to wear helmets ANY TIME they are swinging

the bat o Always look where you are going and avoid those swinging the bat o And for those swinging the bat, always look around before EVERY

swing o These points need to be repeated throughout the season, and

specifically at the start


Base Running

High knees to generate power (doesn't need to be an over exaggerated "high

knees" drill)

"Chug" your arms around like the wheels on a train to propel yourself

forward

Have the arms bent at 90 degrees at the elbow through the running motion

Lean forward as you run, especially after you have hit the ball (don't run

upright)

Run full speed through first (unless rounding for extra bases) - REALLY

emphasis this as many kids want to slow down as they approach. RUN

STRAIGHT THROUGH THE BAG! o After they have made it past the bag slow down, turn right and quickly

return to the bag (once you emphasis running through the bag some

kids will then take that too far and keep running :P)

When running to first, emphasis they focus on first base and not on where

the ball is

Run to the safety side of the bag (orange-colored section)

Use the techniques from earlier games to round bags o Squash the imaginary bug on the inner corner of the bag

Pitching

All players should learn to pitch. Just like hitting, fielding, base running, pitching

the ball is an important skill to acquire.

The following games should be played between 5-10 minutes

Extra parents and/or coaches will be needed

o Over the Rainbow

Focuses on proper grip and flick of the wrist

If their hands are too small, use the smaller balls; otherwise, it is

good to practice with the standard 11" softball

Use proper grip - same as the over hand throw from page 10

Have everyone in a line with at least a few feet between

themselves and facing out


Each player should stretch their throwing arm out in front of

themselves with the ball

They should throw the ball up using their wrist so that it spins up in

the air - try to have them get it as high as possible

Younger kids can have an adult catch it

Once they are experienced enough they can stretch their arms out

to the side and try to toss the ball over their head into their glove

hand - "Over the Rainbow"

Wear a helmet if necessary

o Knee Claps

Focuses on bringing the knees together at the end of

the pitch, and some arm movement

Have everyone in a line with at least a few feet between

themselves and facing out

Have everyone stand on one leg and then take a big step sideways,

slide their legs and knees over, and finish standing on the other leg

only

After they have become good at the lower body, add the upper

body in by having them clap as their legs come together

Say "Step-Clap, Step-Clap" as they do this at least ten times

o Soft balls and Targets

Focuses on release point at the hip, and begins

learning the windmill pitch

Start with softer/smaller balls and progress to standard 11" softball

If you can use targets hanging on the fence, such as hula hoops or

pie plates

Have the players kneel on the ground several feet away from the

targets and perpendicular with their glove on

Have them make an arm circle (windmill) and throw the ball at the

targets

Focus on releasing the ball at the hip

o Slingshot or Whip-It!

Focuses on slingshotting the ball from the top of the

arm circle


If you can get some tube socks place a small soft ball inside,

otherwise follow the instructions with just a ball

Grab the sock far enough away from the ball so they can feel a

whipping motion while still feeling like they can control it

Use similar targets as earlier and have the kids standing and facing

perpendicular

Ask them to step towards the target with their glove side foot,

while making an arm circle

Have them focus on whipping the ball from the top of the

arm circle

o Pitching at Targets

Focus on throwing the ball through the target, rather

than just hard enough to get to it

Have everyone in partners - one thrower and one retriever

Create a target (e.g. ball on top of a pylon or cereal box)

Pitchers should stand perpendicular to target with partner a few

feet safely behind

Have them all throw at the same time

Once signal is given the retriever will run and reset target

Have them count the number of times they hit the target and have

the partners try to get as a high a score as possible

Switch after every 5 throws

o The Professional Pitcher

Focuses on a game-like situation and sequence

Have them imagine they are in a real game

Receive the ball in front of the pitcher's mound, walk behind the

mound, and take a deep breath.

Once ready, have them step on the mound with both feet, glove-

side foot slightly back and throwing-side foot slightly forward

Have them pause on the mound with ball in the glove and hands

apart

To start, the glove-side leg steps forwards while simultaneously

starting the arm circle with their throwing arm

Mid-step the trunk is rotated perpendicularly, effectively "opening

the hips, while still stepping in a straight line to home plate


As the pitcher's glove-side foot lands back on the ground the ball is

released at hip level

The follow through occurs with the pitcher still facing sideways,

releasing the ball, and continuing the arm to their chest

Feedback

Feedback can be generally broken down into Positive vs. Negative, General vs.

Specific, Evaluative vs. Corrective, and Congruent vs. Incongruent All feedback should be in a positive light (doesn't refer to positive vs. negative) Positive vs. General

Feedback should always be positive - focus on what the player

did correctly rather than incorrectly

Positive

Focus on what they have done correctly

"You really stepped into your swing"

Negative

Focuses on what the individual is doing wrong

"Don't drop your elbows"

This should be limited, if not entirely removed

If you feel you need to focus on an aspect that is being done

incorrectly try stating, "this is the problem - this is what you

should be doing..." General vs. Specific

Specific should be used in most situations; however, general

can be used to help motivate younger kids or those having a

significant amount of troubles acquiring a skill and

motivation/encouragement is necessary o Specific

Information is given on how to improve performance "Step into your swing, and twist your hips"

o General


Used to motivate, but doesn't provide helpful information to

improve performance "Good job!"

Congruent vs. Incongruent Relates to feedback that deals with an aspect that is currently

being taught (congruent) or to another component

(incongruent) For instance, if we were working having a child step towards

(stride) the pitcher while swinging:

Making a statement referring to the stride would be

congruent

Making a statement referring to the twist of their hips

would be incongruent o Congruent

Feedback is consistent with cues that are currently being worked

on "Good job stepping towards the pitcher" while working on stride

o Incongruent Feedback isn't consistent with current cues "Your hips aren't twisting completely" while working on the

stride

Evaluative vs. Corrective A combination of both evaluative and corrective should be given

o Evaluative A statement referring to something that was already done in the

past and conveys an assessment on it "Your hips didn't fully open to face the pitcher at the end of your

swing" o Corrective

Makes reference to a future action, whether it be something to

do or to correct "Next time have your hips fully open and twist so that they face

the pitcher at the end of your swing"

Date post:	28-Dec-2015
Category:	Documents
Upload:	phil-thomson
View:	5 times
Download:	0 times

Practice Plans - Fun League Coach Training

Documents