Efficient Transitions In Practice …it starts with discipline in drills

A big time eater during practices is the transition between activities.  Maximizing efficiency in transitions starts with how we run drills.

Expectations and Enforcement

Each drill needs to have a clear objective and clear points the kids are working on.  'Clear' means the kids recognize what specific actions, within the context of the drill, they are expected to execute exactly as instructed. With the objective and focus points of a drill clear to the kids we next need to make sure the kids stick to the objective and focus points. This means if they don't execute a focus point of a drill properly we stop the drill and start over making it clear to the player(s) that we are not going to allow the kids to 'go through the motions', but that the clear expectations we laid out prior to the drill will be enforced.

As our kids develop the discipline of executing the key points of their drills properly, and recognize we are watching and enforcing, when it comes time for a transition to a new activity, the discipline established in the drill carries over to an efficient transition. "OK, you four line up behind first base, you four behind second base, you four behind third base.  No talking, no touching and eyes on the coaches, who will be at the pitching rubber." A command such as this will be followed and our transition to the next takes only seconds. This is a direct result of our establishing clear expectations and discipline in our drill activity.

NOTE TO PARENTS:  Any effective youth baseball or softball practice involves parents who help the coaching staff on the field during practice.  The info below will help a parent be a more effective helper.  The result is that your child will get more out of each practice and ultimately get more out of their overall experience. (see Parent Helpers)

How Do We Establish Discipline in Drills?

Before each drill:

1. Explain the drill

2. Make the objective clear

3. Point out the key action(s) of the drill.

We’ll use ‘Rundowns - Ambush’ as an example   (The link takes you to the Drills page of the site.  ‘Rundowns-Ambush’ is listed alphabetically in the Table of Contents.)

Explanation

In this drill

1. The two defensive players close in on the base runner from both sides. 

2. The runner allows the defense to get them out on each drill repetition. 

3. The base runner does not change directions. 

Objective

Defensive players learn to position themselves and follow the correct movements to execute the play

Key Actions

1. The player receiving the throw moves to a point 10’ off the base

2. Both players get on the same side of the runner. Player with the ball determines which side

3. After tagging the runner, the receiving player “Looks for other Runners”

If any of these actions are not executed we restart the drill.  The players will not execute these properly, especially early on.  By making it clear to the players that they Must execute these actions properly otherwise we start the drill over.

None of these actions require athletic ability.  Anyone can do these actions as expected.  These actions are required.

It is important to recognize, as a coach, that poor throws will be made and throws will be dropped.  These mistakes are not a concern.  These skills will improve over time.  Our concern of coaches is that the players properly execute the key actions correctly.

Focus on Actions, Not Results

A common mistake youth coaches make is they focus on the ‘results’ of the activity and give feedback on the results rather than focusing on what we are teaching.   We are teaching the kids to learn the actions of the drill.  The objective of the drill is for the kids to learn how to execute the actions.

Through the repetition of coaches or parent helpers) demonstrating that only the proper execution of the key actions of the drill will be accepted and if those actions are not performed correctly, then the players will have to repeat the drill.

After it has been established, in the first few practices of the year, that discipline in executing the key actions in the drills is required and we will not allow the kids to ‘go through the motions’, this will carry over to transitions between drills and activities.

The result will be the transitions between activities will run smoothly and efficiently and we will get more out of the limited amount of time allotted to practice time.

What is the Definition of a Successful Coach?

Being an effective and ‘successful’ coach is less about ‘knowing the game’ and more about establishing a culture of structure of, and discipline in, practice activities.  Important Note: now that you have read this article, do not allow yourself to think that suddenly things will magically work well.  Running a structured and disciplined practice is a skill, just like batting and throwing.  It takes time, repetition and yes, mistakes to develop a skill. 

Stick to your plan, do your best and when things don’t get frustrated when things go sideways, because they will.  Learn from each experience and as the season progresses you, your assistants and the kids will slowly and surely improve in transitioning from one activity to the next during practices.