Most of what the players learn, they learn through practices. Most of their throws, most of their swings, most of virtually everything is done at team practices and not games. Therefore, make them productive. Try to preplan your practices. Think of what your team needs to work on and create a plan or schedule for each practice (see example below)

As best you can try to split your team up into smaller groups so that there is less standing around

of the players. It will get very boring for the players and they will lose interest and you will lose

their attention.

Also, usually making drills competitive (small group vs small group) will keep the boys interest.

Coaching assignments during games usually consist of 3^rd base Coach, 1^st base coach and dugout coach.

1^st base coaching responsibilities include encouraging the batting/runner in getting to 1^st base. Alerting the runner of any errors, overthrows or grounders that get through the infield. Informing the runner to either run through or ‘take two’. Helping the runner with any attempted pickoffs. Helping the runner with any tag ups on fly balls. Reminding them to look at the 3^rd base coach to pick up any possible signs. Reminding the runner of the situation (# of outs, where runners are, etc.)

3^rd base coaching responsibilities include giving the signs to the batters/runners. Responsibility for all runners past 1^st base. Give visual arm signals and use a load voice. To indicate stop or don’t slide to the runner, hold up both arms and hands with palms facing out and use the phrase ‘Up. To indicate slide to the runner, bend at the knees and place hands and plams face down and use phrase ‘Down’. To indicate that you want the runner to advance swing one arm in a windmill motion with the other arm pointing to the base you want them to advance to (as shown in the above picture). All other 1^st base advice applies to the 3^rd base coach as well with regard to informing the runner of pickoffs, tag-ups and situations.

Generally when giving signs to the batter and/or runners, an indicator is used. The indicator would signify that the next live sign given would be the sign that you want to execute. Any signs given before touching the indicator would simply be a decoy. For example lets say that you have established that touching the ear is the indicator and touching the wrist is bunt, then the coach may start by touching the bill of his cap (decoy) , then he touch’s his belt (decoy), then he touch’s his ear (indicator) , then he touch’s his wrist (bunt) , then he touch’s his Chin (decoy). This makes it more difficult for the other team to figure out what you are going to do. You may also want to create a sign from the batter/runner to indicate that he understands the sign (for example he grabs the bill of his helmet).

It is important to teach the batters to look for their signs before every pitch and for the runners to look for their signs right away. For runners, upon getting to the base immediately look for a sign before taking your lead. You do not want to be off the bag and looking at the coach for your sign, as the pitcher may turn and throw at any time.

It is important to maintain a pitch count for all your pitchers during the game. One way to do this is to purchase a small device that you can ‘click’ after each pitch and it increments by one. I prefer to use a chart that shows each pitchers pitch and whether it was a ball or strike as well as being able to see patterns. I have attached an example of one below.