Day 1 - Practice Plan, Coach Pitch

Equipment in First Base Dugout; make this a habit. Most of the game is played on the First Base side of the field. Player logistics are more efficient when using he First Base dugout. (If your league does not assign dugouts, always try to get the First Base Dugout. Exception: the Sun makes the First Base Dugout less comfortable.)

***(9/14/25) Links to pages with detailed descriptions of each activity will be added soon.

                                     

(0:10-0:00) Pre-practice       

Whiffle Ball Batting

                       

                                                          

0:00-0:10           

Introductions/Get to Know (foul territory, in grass beyond 1B):

1) Name    2) School    3) Team played for last season (if you played) 4) Review all names

0:10-0:20           

Teach:  (a) Glove Fold   (b) The Pocket   (c) No ‘Tacos’

Receiving Throws:

  1. Ready Position

  2. Move Feet to Catch

  3. Reach Forward to Catch

Drill: Move Feet to Catch

 

 

0:20-0:35

Movement Instruction                                                                                                                  

  • The Base

  • Catcher = ‘Fourth Baseman’     

  • BBB (‘Baseball/Softball is a Game of Movement’)

Drill: Infield Base Coverage

(‘Ball or Base’ …have 2 mini diamonds, bases 25’ apart, set up in advance)               

 

0:35-0:55           

Playing Catch Practice

Throwing Instruction - Arm action

‘No Ball’ Drills

Turn & Pull   x5 (Upper arm and torso work as One Piece - see image) 

Drive & Pull   x5 (Anchor awareness)

Wrist Action   6-7 seconds x2 (emphasis on fingers)

 

 

0:45-0:55           

Play Catch: 25’-35’ (start in a Power Position – Palms away)

Focus:  

  1. Upper arm moves ‘Sideways’; elbow remains at shoulder height. 

  2. Following release, arm remains at shoulder height.

— Emphasis on Wrist Snap (fingers) - 4 min

— Emphasis on Driving off back foot/leg - 4 min

Skill Segment: Replay the Ball (‘Pick up Both Sides of the Ball’…2-3x; we’ll review this a lot during the season)

 

 

 

0:55-1:00   <Break>               

 

 

 

1:00-1:10       

Teach: ‘Bat By the Barrel’

Batting Instruction

  • Stance (feet wide)   

  • Weight Shift (Drill)

  • ‘See Ball, Turn Back’ (Drill)

  • Elbow Drive (Drill) — Explain: Swing sequence is ELBOW, then WRIST

 

 

 

1:10-1:30           

Whiffle Ball Batting - Timing: Players verbalize, “Pitch”-“Hit”

(no concerns, or talk, re: mechanics; just timing today)