Month: September 2021

The first session of the season is a significant affair, whether you’re new to coaching minor baseball or have been doing it for decades. You’ll meet new kids (and their parents), and you’ll have to figure out where they belong on the baseball field quickly. You want every youngster to be a stronger player by the end of the season, starting with solid first practice.

Here are a few pointers to help you get the season started right.

WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING?

First and foremost, there are a few essential items you should bring to the first practice:

Items for First Aid
a Gatorade cooler or individual water bottles for the entire team
Baseball bats, balls, and other teaching equipment

PREPARE FOR THE FIRST PRACTICE

The majority of leagues begin the season with a draught in which players are assigned to their respective clubs. You should have a list of each player’s name, address, phone number, and email address once your team is complete. Consider sending a message that contains a brief introduction, your contact information, and any upcoming activities in the form of a letter, email, or even a group text.

CALENDAR A MEETING WITH THE PARENTS

Hold a quick meeting with the parents either before the first practice or on the day of the course. This is, without a doubt, the most critical aspect of preseason preparation. Take a look at the following information:

• What each child will require during the holiday season (directed and optional equipment).
• The locations of the games, as well as directions to each field.
• Assign parent responsibilities for the season, which can range from coaching to concession booth management.
• Inform parents about the kind of actions that will not be accepted during the season (coaching from the stands, coming onto the field, yelling at umpires, etc.). Assure parents that you and your colleague’s coaches will be ready to speak with them privately about any concerns they may have.
• Tell parents how important it is for their children to attend each practice. Players that do not practice should have their playing time reduced.
• Request that parents inform you of any particular requirements their children may have (allergies, medical conditions, etc.).
• Set expectations for the season, perhaps most importantly. Make an effort to explain that children have a variety of abilities. Some will play infield, while others will play outfield. Some will pitch, while others will not. Tell parents that you will do your best to help each child develop but that putting players in particular positions before they are ready is simply harmful.

INTRODUCTIONS

Gather your players and introduce yourselves after everyone has arrived. Tell them how long you’ve been coaching, how long you’ve been playing the game, and a few interesting things about yourself (favorite team, player, superhero, food, etc.) Next, take a moment to introduce any assistant coaches who may be there.

Then go around the room and ask each child their name, age, and a fun question. It will be easier for the youngsters to relax if you keep it short and sweet.

COVER THE ESSENTIALS

The first practice is an excellent opportunity to review the fundamentals. Review the rules that apply to your league and age level, such as stealing, leading, and sliding. Because you’re likely to have youngsters who have never played the game before, take a few minutes to go over each position’s responsibilities.

GETTING STARTED WITH PRACTICE

Consider beginning practice with light stretching for younger players, say those under the age of 12. Not only will this teach the students a great lesson about loosening up, but it will also allow you to communicate the practice schedule for the day. If you don’t tell the kids what’s going to happen that day upfront, they’ll probably spend the entire practice asking you questions about what will happen next. Lay everything down in front of you.

You might wish to incorporate some warm-up routines as well. It may be as simple as jogging the bases for younger kids, and it’s a fantastic way to start and conclude practices.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Focus on fundamental drills at first practice because you will most likely be meeting some of your players for the first time, and some of them may have never played the game before. A little bit of everything is covered.

Consider dividing the children into four or five groups. Send each group off with a coach to work on various fundamentals: ground ball fielding, fly ball catching, and hitting fundamentals are all terrific places to start.

DO YOU REQUIRE A DRILL?

Are you looking for a fun and safe first practice drill? Take a look at the Tire Drill. Set up a tire somewhere on the field and suspend it from a fence with bungee cables or something similar. Set up throwing stations with cones to replicate infield positions such as second base, shortstop, etc. Allow the kids to take turns throwing the ball through the tire. You can even make it a game by assigning points for things like the ball going through the tire, hitting the tire, and so on.

This is an excellent drill for learning a little more about your athletes. You’ll be able to observe who has the most robust and most precise arms, as well as who might need some work.

Check out these baseball training articles for more baseball drills.

FINAL PRACTICE

Before sending the kids home, take a few minutes to go over what you covered in practice that day. Concentrate on one central point (ex: step into the throw).

Remember, these are just a few ideas to begin thinking about what you should do during your first practice session. It’s ultimately up to you how you run it, and you could do something completely different. In either case, the best thing you can do is make a strategy ahead of time to ensure a smooth and efficient first practice. Consider putting together a practice plan and emailing it to the players/parents ahead of time. Everyone will know what to expect in this manner.

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Although Gretzky was a hockey player, his adage about scoring goals applies to any sport, including soccer. Many kids at our EduKick soccer camps and boarding schools are hesitant to shoot at first. We teach them to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way. You’ll never score if you never hit.

Here are a few pointers to help you get the most out of every shot:

Shooting advice for soccer:

Keep an eye on the goalkeeper’s position. Have they left a loophole that you can take advantage of?

Choose the most appropriate approach for your shot. A sidefoot shot will be more accurate, but an image from the instep (laces) with proper follow-through will be more powerful.

Alongside the ball, place your non-kicking foot.

When striking, keep your head down and your eyes on the ball.

Maintain your body’s position over the ball.

Make contact with the ball’s middle to the top half.

Maintain a calm demeanor.

Tips on how to increase your chances of getting a good score:

Rather than shooting high, shoot broad. There’s a more significant chance of catching the goalkeeper off guard with a deflection.

Low is the way to go. It’s more difficult for a goalkeeper to reach shots on the ground since they have to travel further. It’s simple for them to jump up and save, but it’s far more difficult for them to crouch down and grab it.

Cross the keeper with a shot. They’ll have a more challenging time holding these shots, which means they’ll have to redirect the ball back into the path of another attacker.

Where Do the Most Shots Get Fired?

Have you ever wondered if a soccer goal has a “sweet spot”? A place where you could kick the ball practically every time it went in?

While there may not be a precise “sweet spot,” a recent study looked at where scored goals were most frequently scored. The following are the outcomes:

8 percent (top left)

4% in the top center

5% on the top right corner

Ouch. As you can see, you are shooting high results in a poor probability of actually scoring.

7% in the middle left.

8 percent in the middle.

6% in the middle right.

While shooting to the middle rather than the top gives you a higher chance of scoring, the odds are still not in your favor.

22 percent at the bottom left

21 percent in the bottom center

19% on the bottom right

Take a look at these numbers: Sixty-two percent of all goals were scored at a low level. This makes sense because goalkeepers find it challenging to get down to the ground, exceptionally tall ones. Jumping high is considerably more accessible and more natural for them.

In addition, statistics show that 67 percent of goals were scored in the corners, compared to 33 percent in the center. You should have a considerably higher success percentage in scoring goals if you mix the two statistics and shoot low into the corner.

If you want to enhance your shooting talents, you must train like any other soccer technique. Fortunately, the shooting skills are comparable to the passing tactics. As a result, you can develop two crucial soccer skills at the same time.

But, most crucial, shoot if you see the goal!

This one piece of advice is worth repeating: You will miss 100% of the shots you never take. Take advantage of any shooting opportunities you come across. These suggestions will only be helpful if you put them into practice and in games.

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1. If you’re still growing, get a baseball glove that fits instead of one that you’ll grow into. Wearing a glove that works well is the best method to develop fielding and catching techniques. Outfielders typically wear giant gloves, whereas infielders typically wear smaller gloves with a smaller pocket.
2. After you’ve purchased a glove, you’ll need to break it in. Playing catch with pals is the most acceptable way to break in a new baseball glove, and it’s also a lot of fun.
3. If you don’t have time to break in your glove, spreading shaving cream into the pocket, inserting a ball in the bag, tying a rope or sock around the glove, and then leaving the glove in a dry spot is one way to speed up the process.
4. Use your glove to practice catching. Keep in mind that you’ll be catching with your weaker hand to free up your throwing arm. If you’re right-handed, for example, you should wear a glove on your left hand. You might not be used to catching with your weaker hand, so it’s a good idea to practice.
5. Make sure you understand the rules of your league before purchasing a baseball bat. There are minor changes in bat size and weight allowed by different clubs, and whether they are made of wood or aluminum, don’t waste your money on something you won’t be able to use.
6. When you’re playing for the first time, don’t put yourself on vital defensive positions like catcher or first base unless you’re entirely sure. If you don’t take advantage of these opportunities, you’ll lose confidence.
7. When batting, avoid swinging at anything below your knees or above your shoulders, as this is the area that the umpire should consider outside the hypothetical “strike zone” — the place where the ball must be pitched to be considered legal.
8. Don’t make the typical error of gazing at the pitcher’s eyes before hitting. Instead, concentrate on the location where the pitcher’s hand will emerge from the sky to deliver the ball.
9. Simply throwing a lot will help you develop your throwing strength. You’ll have some natural arm strength, but you’ll have to work hard to enhance it. Do some throwing drills two to three times a week, during which you should toss the ball for three minutes at various distances, such as 9m (30ft), 18m (60ft), 27m (90ft), and 36m (120ft).
10. When it comes to sports, keep in mind that everyone makes mistakes, even the finest players. If you make a mistake, especially as a novice, don’t get too worked up about it; learn from it and move on with your game.

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