| atching a little bit of a little league baseball practice | | | | style plays out in real time, but let me illustrate |
| last week and couldn't help but notice the speed in | | | | with the example my college coach used. |
| which the players were working on their baseball | | | | Practice would begin promptly on time. Meaning, all |
| drills. It was like watching a video tape in fast | | | | athletes were fully geared up, prepared, and |
| forward. Kids were scrambling everywhere, | | | | waiting for coach to say "go" at the time practice |
| harried coaches were issuing directives like it was | | | | was slotted to begin. Every day practice plans |
| a battle scenario and his "troops" were under fire. | | | | were posted in the locker room for us to see |
| I couldn't believe it. There is a fine line between | | | | prior to practice. They were complete with times |
| efficient practice and aerobic practice. I'll explain | | | | and additional notes for directing the focus of the |
| both below. | | | | day. Once practice began, everyone had an idea |
| Aerobic Practice: Practicing at the pace where the | | | | of what was being worked on that day as well as |
| focus becomes quantity rather than quality. | | | | individual responsibilities for taking care of gear, |
| This form of practice, much like the example in | | | | cleaning up the field, etc. |
| the opening paragraph, is employed usually | | | | After we started, coach would move us around |
| because coaches feel that it's important to keep | | | | based upon time. After 20 minutes we may |
| athletes moving around when working on youth | | | | move from our live full team defensive drills and |
| baseball drills. The more players stand around, the | | | | break into our designated infield and outfield |
| less productive they are is the thought. While I | | | | groups to work on different skills. This type of |
| agree that many times there are giant chunks of | | | | scheduled work would continue for the remainder |
| time wasted and unused in many practices, | | | | of the practice. During these timed pockets we |
| baseball aerobics is not the answer. | | | | knew we needed to be efficient before we |
| If this strategy is employed, many younger kids | | | | moved on. However, because the focus was on |
| will begin to shift their focus from learning and | | | | precision and not speed, we got a ton |
| developing to hurrying and scurrying. Little | | | | accomplished. Coach would circulate and work |
| effective baseball instruction can occur at this | | | | with different groups (or our team as a whole) in |
| pace. | | | | a relaxed fashion and spend the necessary time |
| Efficient Practice: Practicing with the focus on | | | | needed to work on skill development. |
| organization, precision, and fluidity. | | | | I would strongly encourage you if you coach to |
| Good coaches understand that this is the ONLY | | | | work on and put in place the strategy of an |
| option to building a successful team. It's a balanced | | | | efficient and well oiled practice without attention |
| approach between speed and precision of | | | | on speed. Your athletes, and parents will love you |
| instruction. There a many different ways this | | | | for it. |