Make Practice Challenging, so Game Time is Easy
By: Tim Thoreson
If you want to prepare your players for game play in the most effective way possible than you must make practice more challenging than anything they will ever encounter in a game. Imagine this, if you practiced running 5 miles, than running 1 would be easy. If you practiced playing Beethoven on the piano, playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star would be a piece of cake. If you could public speak in front of 1,000 people, talking in front to 20 would be no problem. The list of examples could go on and on, playing baseball is the same way!
When players can execute skills in practice that are more difficult than needed in a game, they will have increased confidence and way more success! Here are some ideas how you can challenge your players in practice.
When players can execute skills in practice that are more difficult than needed in a game, they will have increased confidence and way more success! Here are some ideas how you can challenge your players in practice.
Make it More Challenging by Adding a Little Extra
One way of making plays in practice more challenging is by adding an extra piece to the equation. This can be done by having players execute skills in addition to just making a play. Three examples of this drill include, Agility Grounders, Agility Pop Ups, and Behind the Back Transfer. All of these drills challenge players by having them do a little extra in addition to completing the drill. Here are the drills:
One way of making plays in practice more challenging is by adding an extra piece to the equation. This can be done by having players execute skills in addition to just making a play. Three examples of this drill include, Agility Grounders, Agility Pop Ups, and Behind the Back Transfer. All of these drills challenge players by having them do a little extra in addition to completing the drill. Here are the drills:
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Make it More Challenging by Speeding it Up
If players can do things at super speed in practice, then once again, game speed will be easy. Here are a few ideas on how to speed things up in practice:
1. Throw Batting Practice From Really Close
When you have your players take batting practice, throw from a very close distance. This will make your pitches simulate facing a pitcher that throws heat. Players will have the opportunity to work on a quicker reaction time and will realize they can hit those hard fastballs.
2. Have your Fielders Execute Fielders vs. Runners and Give the Runners a Head Start
On a regulation size baseball field the hitter needs to get 90 feet in order to get to 1st base safely. Imagine if your infielders practiced throwing out real base runners that only had to run 85 feet. When game time comes, it will feel like they have an eternity to make a play.
3. Always Incorporate Rapid Fire Drills into your Practice
I wrote a book on maximizing your catch routine, Play Catch with a Purpose, and a major component of this is Rapid Fire Drills. Players should constantly be practicing catching and throwing the ball at high speeds, here are some examples:
If players can do things at super speed in practice, then once again, game speed will be easy. Here are a few ideas on how to speed things up in practice:
1. Throw Batting Practice From Really Close
When you have your players take batting practice, throw from a very close distance. This will make your pitches simulate facing a pitcher that throws heat. Players will have the opportunity to work on a quicker reaction time and will realize they can hit those hard fastballs.
2. Have your Fielders Execute Fielders vs. Runners and Give the Runners a Head Start
On a regulation size baseball field the hitter needs to get 90 feet in order to get to 1st base safely. Imagine if your infielders practiced throwing out real base runners that only had to run 85 feet. When game time comes, it will feel like they have an eternity to make a play.
3. Always Incorporate Rapid Fire Drills into your Practice
I wrote a book on maximizing your catch routine, Play Catch with a Purpose, and a major component of this is Rapid Fire Drills. Players should constantly be practicing catching and throwing the ball at high speeds, here are some examples:
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Make it More Challenging by Making the Task More Difficult
There are plenty of ways that coaches can challenge their players by having them execute skills with increased difficulty, here are just a few:
There are plenty of ways that coaches can challenge their players by having them execute skills with increased difficulty, here are just a few:
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1. Fielding Pad Grounders
If players can field a grounder with a fielding pad in a practice, than using their gloves in a game will seem like a luxury. These fielding pads also promote great fielding mechanics. 2. Reaction Ball Grounders Have your players field ground balls with wicked hops, they will be better prepared for the occasional bad hop they may get in a game. |
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3. Top/Bottom Soft Toss
This is a soft toss drill that makes your players focus and improve reaction time. 4. Mini Ball Soft Toss This drill involves hitting a tiny wiffle ball with a thin hitting stick. If a player can consistently make contact in this situation, pitches will look like beach balls. |
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As a player, one of the worst feelings is that of unpreparedness. When players execute these difficult skills in practice, they will be prepared! Once these drills are implemented into your practice routine, I wouldn't be surprised if parents, fans, and opposing teams tell you that your team makes everything look so easy! Little does everyone know it is because it is easy.
Good Luck Coaches!
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Tim Thoreson
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