NSPL 2015 – PRACTICE

WELCOME to NSPL

T-BALL

This packet is designed to help provide Coaches and Assistant Coaches guidelines for practices and games for NSPL. The overall goal of the packet is to help maintain consistency throughout the league and checkpoint the players and theirdevelopment.

This packet includes:

Practice Outline

Drills

Game Outline

Roster Sample – for games

Snack Bar sign-up Sample (for your Team Mom)

If you have any questions please contact

Liz Chiliberti or Kim Biddle

Thank you –

Have a GREAT season!

Practices

Practices are schedule once a week. Your team will also have time for 15-20min practice before each game.

Pre-Game Practices-

Home team shouldwarm up in the Infield/home plate

Away team warm up- Out field.

Week 1–WARM UP

MEET & GREET

Introducing the girls to each other!Huddle up go around the circle and introduce themselves

BASES

Run the bases to warm up, make sure girls are tagging EACH base as they run. Warm up, jumping jacks stretch, RUN!

WARM UP – ON THE FIELD

Walk through the field and show them each position.

Position Game-

If you like pizza, run to 1st base, if you like ice cream run to Short Stop, etc. This is a great way to get the girls comfortable on the field.

BATTING/FIELD

You can break the group into 2

Batters go with Coach and line up on bench

Fielders go with Assistant Coach to throw and catch

Group 1 BATTING PRACTICE

Coaches stand behind the T, load about 5 balls per player, have them run all bases on their last hit.

FIRST explain to the girls if you are NOT batting you are NOT to be

holding a bat. Batters should be lined up and sitting on bench…CHEERING…

At the T-ball level we want to teach throwing to first base to make a play.

Start by picking 2 players from your batting group. One player to be an outfielder and one player to play first base. Have the outfielder retrieve the balls and throw to first. Rotate these players evenly so everyone has a turn throwing to first and batting. #throwing to first

Group 2FIELD PRACTICE– Coach to player throwing

Line the girls up arms length apart. Grab the bucket of balls. Roll them or toss them to the girls. Girls should catch it and throw it back to youor try to hit the bucket when they throw it back. Grounders are a great ice breaker, teach the girls to trap the ball with their glove and stay low and ready.

TBALL SCRIMMAGEFill the field with all the correct positions,

Use remaining teammates to bat.

OR

MICRO T - GAME

Week 2 - WARM UP

MEET & GREET- Names are important!

RUN THE BASES – must tag the base!

WARM UP

Review the game, talk about the first game and explain anything you think is important – go over positions,

DRILL - place infield players in the field and have all the rest at bat/rotate.

BATTING/FIELD

You can break the group into 2 and SWAP after everyone in has had a turn at bat.Batters go with Coach and line up on bench

Fielders go with Assistant Coach to throw and catch

Group 1 BATTING PRACTICE

Coaches stand behind the T, load about 5 balls per player, have them run all bases on their last hit.

**Work on “position at the plate”

Hands back, feet shoulder length apart, emphasize good hand positioning, don’t over grip

**Work on the bat coming through the hitting zone

Group 2 FIELD PRACTICE– Coach to player throwing

Line the girls up arms length apart. Grab the bucket of balls. Roll them or toss them to the girls. Girls should catch it and throw it back to you or try to hit the bucket when they throw it back. Grounders, pop ups, tosses.

Coaches throw back and forth.

TBALL - SCRIMMAGE– Coach Pitch –

OR

MICRO T - GAME

Week 3-4-5 – WARM UP

RUN THE BASES

WARM UP

DRILLS – PICK 1 or 2 DRILLS FROM DRILL SHEET ATTACHED

…..AFTER WEEKLY DRILLS……

BATTING/FIELD

You can break the group into 2 and SWAP after everyone in has had a turn at bat.

Batters go with Coach and line up on bench

Fielders go with Assistant Coach to throw and catch

Group 1 BATTING PRACTICE

Coaches stand behind the T, load about 5 balls per player, have them run all bases on their last hit.

**Work on “position at the plate”

Hands back, feet shoulder length apart, emphasize good hand positioning, don’t over grip

**Work on the bat coming through the hitting zone

Group 2 FIELD PRACTICE– Coach to player throwing

Line the girls up arms length apart. Grab the bucket of balls. Roll them or toss them to the girls. Girls should catch it and throw it back to you or try to hit the bucket when they throw it back. Grounders, pop ups, tosses.

Girls throw to each other. Pair up.

SCRIMMAGE– Coach pitch introduction on last hit.

Fill the field with all the correct positions. Use remaining teammates at bat. Each player should have at least 2 turns at bat.

TBALL - SCRIMMAGE– Coach Pitch –

OR

MICRO T - GAME

Week 6-7-8 WARM UP

RUN THE BASES

WARM UP

DRILLS – PICK 1 or 2 DRILLS FROM DRILL SHEET ATTACHED

…..AFTER WEEKLY DRILLS……

BATTING/FIELD

You can break the group into 2 and SWAP after everyone in has had a turn at bat.

Batters go with Coach and line up on bench

Fielders go with Assistant Coach to throw and catch

Group 1 BATTING PRACTICE

Coaches stand behind the T, load about 5 balls per player, have them run all bases on their last hit.

Group 2 FIELD PRACTICE– Coach to player throwing

Line the girls up arms length apart. Grab the bucket of balls. Roll them or toss them to the girls. Girls should catch it and throw it back to you or try to hit the bucket when they throw it back. Grounders, pop ups, tosses.

Girls throw to each other. Pair up.

TBALL - SCRIMMAGE– Coach Pitch –

OR

MICRO T - GAME

DRILLS

Trapping

2 groups

Group 1 at 1st BASE

Group 2 at 3rd BASE

Coach throws balls to first and third, girls trap ball and tag base, then throw it in

Throwing

Pair them up by 2 or 3

Grounders to each other. Catching a throwing

Numbers

Give each player a number- toss the ball on the field, call the number have player run

onto the field get the ball and tag closest base.

Position Game-

If you like pizza, run to 1st base, if you like ice cream run to Short Stop, etc. This is a great way to get the girls comfortable on the field.

GAMES - TBALL

Home and Visitor sides are labeled. Attached is a sample roster for games. You will notice a sample rotation – ANY questions do not hesitate to ask.

*If you are short some players it’s best to eliminate your outfield positions first.

Teams that are short 3 or more players, BAT 2 rounds an inning to keep the game even.

There are 3 innings in a game.

Coaches can talk with each other and decide on adding COACH PITCH the last inning and then maybe even the last 2 inning as the season continues. Teams will still play a pitcher next to the Coach that is pitching. Coaches do not make field plays.

First Base Coach usually is a great place for a volunteer parent. This is a huge help to coaches to keep the first base players running and fielders focused.

Game Reminders

THROWING TO FIRST

Get the girls throwing to first and as the season goes on, ORyou can have them tag the nearest base if they have a runner.

STAYING OFF THE BASE

Infield players should be positioned next to their bases to give runners a clear path, and avoid as many collisions as possible this season.

STAYING ON THE BENCH

We are a team and we want to be as supportive to our teammates as possible, let’s try to keep all players on the bench while their team is at bat,

…..reminder no players should be holding a bat till they are up to bat.

Coaches will be in charge of raking the field and collecting ALL trash after each game.

HAVE FUN & CHEER!