Weekly Practice Plans for T-Ball Coaches - Youth Sports YMCA

YMCA of Greater OmahaTHE MISSION OF THE YMCA“To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit,mind, and body for all.YMCA PHILOSOPHY OF YOUTH SPORTSPlayers will gain body, mind, spirit, and social development by learning basic sports skillsand improving fitness and conditioning, learning to control their emotions and developingpositive feelings of self-worth, and by learning how to be part of a team and displayappropriate sportsmanship.TEACHING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENTCommunicate to your players that sportsmanship is an important part of the program.Teach the four values (caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility) to players so they knowwhat those values mean. Give them examples.Include the values in each practice session.Consistently model those values in your behavior so players can see what those values looklike.Celebrate those values and hold them up to players as what is right; this helps them learn tobelieve in the values.Ask players to practice the values, over and over again.Consistently reinforce and reward behaviors that support the values, using the specific valueword that is relevant.Confront a player whose behavior is inconsistent with the values, but do so in a way that doesnot devalue him or her.Be prepared to talk to parents about the character development portion of the program.Be a good role model. Set an example with your words and actions.Know what level your players are capable of understanding and applying values. Children donot think about moral decisions the same as adults.Learn to identify situations during practice (teachable moments) that relate to the fourvalues.

Use the team circle discussions to focus on character development, emphasizing the corevalues and making players think about themLEADING TEAM CIRCLESHere are some tips for leading team circle discussions:Use the team circle discussions to focus on character development, emphasizing the corevalues and making players think about them.Begin discussions by reviewing the YMCA House Rules: speak for yourself, listen toothers, avoid put-downs, take charge of yourself, and show respect. (Repeat this in yourfirst few team circles; after that, reinforce these House Rules occasionally.)Be yourself. Children respect an adult who listens to them and who talks honestly.As a role model for your players, be willing to admit mistakes. It will make players morelikely to be open about themselves.Give players a chance to respond, but allow them to pass if they want to. Reinforce theirresponses with a nod, smile, or short comment like “Thanks,” “OK,” “That’s interesting,” or“I understand.” Give the player speaking your undivided attention.After all players have had a chance to respond to your team circle questions, brieflysummarize the responses and add your own comments.

YMCA of Greater OmahaMighty SluggersWeek 1Practice Plan:00 - :10 Jersey pass out:10 - :15 Team circle – introduction of parents and players:15 - :25 Throwing*Remain at a close distance from the player to the parent. (about 10 feet)*Players begin sideways to the parent (glove shoulder pointing at the parent)feet should begin a little more than shoulder width apart.*Throwing motion (on the parents three commands)1. Ready commandPlayers stand sideways to the parent with the glove andthrowing hand together in front of the chest.2. Load commandPlayer points glove toward the parent or target. Throwing hand(with ball) points in opposite direction. Both arms are slightlybent. (Focus point – parents you should see the back of yourchild’s throwing hand)3. Throw commandPlayers bring the arm through and throw the ball to the parent.* This is a slow throwing process; it allows the parent to control the pace theplayer throws at. It also allows the parents to make sure the player is in thecorrect throwing motion and make corrections before the ball is actuallythrown.:25 - :30 Water Break: Coach stress the importance of drinking water and ensure allplayers bring water on a weekly basis.:30 - :50 Let’s Play Ball:Scrimmage time. This scrimmage should last no more than 20 minutes. Eachteam should get to bat 2-3 times. All players on your team bat each inning.Runners advance one base at a time. The exception, when the last player to bat inyour half of the inning hits, the runners on base and the player who just hit, willrun all the bases. When playing in the field, all players from your team will be inthe field. The field is marked off in a grid, this will help with positioning players.:50 End of practice & treats

:00 - :05 Coach Gathers TeamYMCA of Greater OmahaMighty SluggersWeek 2Practice Plan:05 - :10 Team Warm-Up* Coach stress to the players the importance of stretching. Have them jog,skip, hop, etc and then run them through some real basic stretches.:10 - :20 Catching – creating a positive and successful situation for your players*Begin with parent standing in front of the player*Player beginning with their glove up at shoulder height (fingers up)*Parent puts ball just above the glove and drops the ball into the glove*Parent after about 5 drops increases the height the ball is dropped from,until the parent is standing with arm extended above their head.*Parents take 2 steps back and toss the ball into the player’s glove. The ballshould have a slight arch to it and should be tossed underhanded.*As the players get comfortable have them move their glove in front of theirchest (keep the fingers pointing up) and begin catching the ball there.:20 - :25 Water Break: Coach stress the importance of drinking water and ensure allplayers bring water on a weekly basis.:25 - :45 Let’s Play Ball:Scrimmage time. This scrimmage should last no more than 20 minutes. Eachteam should get to bat 2-3 times. All players on your team bat each inning.Runners advance one base at a time. The exception, when the last player to bat inyour half of the inning hits, the runners on base and the player who just hit, willrun all the bases. When playing in the field, all players from your team will be inthe field. The field is marked off in a grid, this will help with positioning players.:45 End of practice & treats

:00 - :05 Coach Gathers TeamYMCA of Greater OmahaMighty SluggersWeek 3Practice Plan:05 - :10 Team Warm-Up* Coach stress to the players the importance of stretching. Have them jog,skip, hop, etc and then run them through some real basic stretches.:10 - :20 Fielding a ground ball* Player position* Player starts with their feet a little more than shoulder width apart. Bendat the knees and hips. Glove and throwing hand should be just above theground in front of the legs.* Parent (begin about 10 feet apart) rolls the ball to the player. Roll the ballright at their glove (give them success and confidence). The players catchthe ball with the glove and place the throwing hand over the ball (theAlligator game of keeping the ball in the glove). As player’s field the ballthey need to turn their feet and get into the correct throwing motion (ready,load, throw on parents command).* As players feel comfortable increase the distance and speed of the ball.:20 - :25 Water Break: Coach stress the importance of drinking water and ensure allplayers bring water on a weekly basis.:25 - :45 Let’s Play Ball:Scrimmage time. This scrimmage should last no more than 20 minutes. Eachteam should get to bat 2-3 times. All players on your team bat each inning.Runners advance one base at a time. The exception, when the last player to bat inyour half of the inning hits, the runners on base and the player who just hit, willrun all the bases. When playing in the field, all players from your team will be inthe field. The field is marked off in a grid, this will help with positioning players.:45 End of practice & treats

:00 - :05 Coach Gathers TeamYMCA of Greater OmahaMighty SluggersWeek 4Practice Plan:05 - :10 Team Warm-Up* Coach stress to the players the importance of stretching. Have them jog,skip, hop, etc and then run them through some real basic stretches.:10 - :20 Base Running* Have players line up single file at home plate.* Have one coach at home plate and one at first base.* Each player on coach’s command runs to first base. Then returns to theline at home plate.* After all players have run to first base have the coach from first base moveto second base. Have the players run from home to second base. Playersreturn to the end of the line.* Coach moves to third base. Players run around to third base and return tothe end of the line.* Keeping the coach at third base, this time players are going to run all theway around the bases. The coach at third will help guide those players tohome plate. Be very enthusiastic.:20 - :25 Water Break: Coach stress the importance of drinking water and ensure allplayers bring water on a weekly basis.:25 - :45 Let’s Play Ball:Scrimmage time. This scrimmage should last no more than 20 minutes. Eachteam should get to bat 2-3 times. All players on your team bat each inning.Runners advance one base at a time. The exception, when the last player to bat inyour half of the inning hits, the runners on base and the player who just hit, willrun all the bases. When playing in the field, all players from your team will be inthe field. The field is marked off in a grid, this will help with positioning players.:45 End of practice & treats

:00 - :05 Coach Gathers TeamYMCA of Greater OmahaMighty SluggersWeek 5Practice Plan:05 - :10 Team Warm-Up* Coach stress to the players the importance of stretching. Have them jog,skip, hop, etc and then run them through some real basic stretches.:10 - :20 Coaches review the drills from previous weeks and try to tie them together* Fielding: Alligator Game* Throwing: Ready – Load – Throw:20 - :25 Water Break: Coach stress the importance of drinking water and ensure allplayers bring water on a weekly basis.:25 - :45 Let’s Play Ball:Scrimmage time. This scrimmage should last no more than 20 minutes. Eachteam should get to bat 2-3 times. All players on your team bat each inning.Runners advance one base at a time. The exception, when the last player to bat inyour half of the inning hits, the runners on base and the player who just hit, willrun all the bases. When playing in the field, all players from your team will be inthe field. The field is marked off in a grid, this will help with positioning players.:45 End of practice & treats

:00 - :05 Coach Gathers TeamYMCA of Greater OmahaMighty SluggersWeek 6Practice Plan:05 - :10 Team Warm-Up* Coach stress to the players the importance of stretching. Have them jog,skip, hop, etc and then run them through some real basic stretches.:10 - :20 Coaches review the drills from previous weeks and try to tie them together* Catching:* Throwing: Ready – Load – Throw:20 - :25 Water Break: Coach stress the importance of drinking water and ensure allplayers bring water on a weekly basis.:25 - :45 Let’s Play Ball:Scrimmage time. This scrimmage should last no more than 20 minutes. Eachteam should get to bat 2-3 times. All players on your team bat each inning.Runners advance one base at a time. The exception, when the last player to bat inyour half of the inning hits, the runners on base and the player who just hit, willrun all the bases. When playing in the field, all players from your team will be inthe field. The field is marked off in a grid, this will help with positioning players.:45 End of practice & treats

:00 - :05 Coach Gathers TeamYMCA of Greater OmahaMighty SluggersWeek 7Practice Plan:05 - :10 Team Warm-Up* Coach stress to the players the importance of stretching. Have them jog,skip, hop, etc and then run them through some real basic stretches.:10 - :20 Coaches review the drills from previous weeks and try to tie them together* Catching:* Fielding: Alligator Game* Throwing: Ready – Load – Throw:20 - :25 Water Break: Coach stress the importance of drinking water and ensure allplayers bring water on a weekly basis.:25 - :45 Let’s Play Ball:Scrimmage time. This scrimmage should last no more than 20 minutes. Eachteam should get to bat 2-3 times. All players on your team bat each inning.Runners advance one base at a time. The exception, when the last player to bat inyour half of the inning hits, the runners on base and the player who just hit, willrun all the bases. When playing in the field, all players from your team will be inthe field. The field is marked off in a grid, this will help with positioning players.:45 End of practice & treats

:00 - :05 Coach Gathers TeamYMCA of Greater OmahaMighty SluggersWeek 8Practice Plan:05 - :10 Team Warm-Up* Coach stress to the players the importance of stretching. Have them jog,skip, hop, etc and then run them through some real basic stretches.:10 - :20 Coaches review the drills from previous weeks and try to tie them together* Catching:* Fielding: Alligator Game* Throwing: Ready – Load – Throw:20 - :25 Water Break: Coach stress the importance of drinking water and ensure allplayers bring water on a weekly basis.:25 - :45 Let’s Play Ball:Scrimmage time. This scrimmage should last no more than 20 minutes. Eachteam should get to bat 2-3 times. All players on your team bat each inning.Runners advance one base at a time. The exception, when the last player to bat inyour half of the inning hits, the runners on base and the player who just hit, willrun all the bases. When playing in the field, all players from your team will be inthe field. The field is marked off in a grid, this will help with positioning players.:45 End of practice & treats