Practice Frequency/Questions

[HeinekenMan]

As the fall ball season approaches, I'm putting together a practice schedule for a rec team. I'm not even sure I'll be managing this year. But I want to be ready. I'm curious as to how often you think a rec team should practice. And, in particular, does this vary for you during the few weeks before the start of the game schedule? My thought is that the two weeks prior to the start of the season is a crucial practice period. I would like to practice Monday-Thursday and Saturday. After all, football teams are practicing daily at this time of the year. Do you feel that is appropriate? Is it too much? Will parents grovel?

Secondly, what are your thoughts on scrimmages between teams from different organizations? Someone from another organization wants to scrimmage against my team. It seems like there would be insurance liability issues and the potential for other problems. I told the coach I couldn't do it. I didn't even bother to ask our league. Have you ever tried something like that?

[$tinky]

For a Fall Rec league that sounds like too many practices. I think you meant Monday thru Thursday? and then again on Sat. If you meant Monday, Thursday , and Saturday that sounds about right on the money to me.

[bryan2137]

i coach 9/10 year olds. I held practices Monday, Wednesdy and Saturday. Pitchers/catchers only on thursday. Practices ran about 90-120 minutes, usually had a handfull of kids that would stick around longer. Also there were kids that would come by almost daily asking me to unlock the field house so they could get out bases catchers gear and stuff for them to just play amongst themselves. When they did that I always made sure I stuck around to make sure they were being safe but not do any coaching at all no matter what. So basically I think kids that love the game will practice and play as much as you let them

[HeinekenMan]

For a Fall Rec league that sounds like too many practices. I think you meant Monday thru Thursday? and then again on Sat. If you meant Monday, Thursday , and Saturday that sounds about right on the money to me.

I meant five days of practice. It would be five days for one week and four for the next. We have two weeks between our draft and our first game. So we'd get in 9-10 practices before our first game. I have been practicing for a month with five kids who should be protects on the team. The others will come through the draft. This league is new to me. I'm told there is a high level of talent. It's only fall ball, but I want to make sure my kids don't get stomped.

[skipper5]

HM,
I applaud your energy.
In my town, there would be parental resistance to having more than a single weekday practice for pre-teen fall baseball team that played games on weekends.

[bryan2137]

HM,
I applaud your energy.
In my town, there would be parental resistance to having more than a single weekday practice for pre-teen fall baseball team that played games on weekends.

do they treat football the same way?

[HeinekenMan]

HM,
I applaud your energy.
In my town, there would be parental resistance to having more than a single weekday practice for pre-teen fall baseball team that played games on weekends.

Once the season starts, one practice per week is all that you have time for. Then you're also competing against all of the family's other priorities, including baseball practice for big brother/sister and mom's pedicure appointment. Some of the parents get to where they don't want to be at the field every day. And kids start to miss those in-season practices. And that makes it really tough to work on weak areas exposed during game play.

[$tinky]

I wish our fall rec league was this competitive. They don't even keep score. There are 8 weeks total. 3 practices then 5 games and that's it.

[azmatsfan]

I don't practice 5 days a week with my travel ball team. I can't imagine trying that with a rec league team. Maybe your rec league is more competitive in the fall than ours, but the kids who are serious play travel ball in the fall, while the less serious players will play rec ball. If I were you I'd ask a couple of the other coaches in your league to find out how much they're practicing. Most leagues have a norm, and if a coach varies from that (whether they practice more or less) parents will be upset.

[HeinekenMan]

I don't practice 5 days a week with my travel ball team. I can't imagine trying that with a rec league team. Maybe your rec league is more competitive in the fall than ours, but the kids who are serious play travel ball in the fall, while the less serious players will play rec ball. If I were you I'd ask a couple of the other coaches in your league to find out how much they're practicing. Most leagues have a norm, and if a coach varies from that (whether they practice more or less) parents will be upset.

So, do you think four practices would be enough for a team before the start of a season?

[HeinekenMan]

I wish our fall rec league was this competitive. They don't even keep score. There are 8 weeks total. 3 practices then 5 games and that's it.

Only five games to the fall season? Wow. How much are parents paying for that? Our league will have six teams per division with an expected eight teams in the division I'm coaching. There are 12-15 games. I don't know how competitive things are in the fall. I'm not concerned about the wins. I just want to make sure that I teach my kids how to play the game.

[azmatsfan]

So, do you think four practices would be enough for a team before the start of a season?

No, but with only two weeks, it's going to be tough. You might be able to get five or six in the two weeks, but unless your rec league has families that are more invested in fall baseball than our league, I could see some kids and parents overwhelmed by ten practices in two weeks. To give you a comparison, last fall our Little League had a local HS coach give a couple clinics for the 11/12s. Then I was recruited as the manager right before the first game. The first time I met the team was the night of our first game. Luckily I knew most of the kids from prior seasons, but it was still frustrating. I used the games more as scrimmages where I focused on teaching as we went.

[HeinekenMan]

No, but with only two weeks, it's going to be tough. You might be able to get five or six in the two weeks, but unless your rec league has families that are more invested in fall baseball than our league, I could see some kids and parents overwhelmed by ten practices in two weeks. To give you a comparison, last fall our Little League had a local HS coach give a couple clinics for the 11/12s. Then I was recruited as the manager right before the first game. The first time I met the team was the night of our first game. Luckily I knew most of the kids from prior seasons, but it was still frustrating. I used the games more as scrimmages where I focused on teaching as we went.

Wow. Now that's what I call short notice!

[$tinky]

Only five games to the fall season? Wow. How much are parents paying for that? Our league will have six teams per division with an expected eight teams in the division I'm coaching. There are 12-15 games. I don't know how competitive things are in the fall. I'm not concerned about the wins. I just want to make sure that I teach my kids how to play the game.

Yep, I feel the same way but all the rec leagues around here are the same, I've looked around. I think its like 40 bucks and you get a dry fit shirt. Very lax. Our spring we play 13 games in regular season then there is a rec tourney, then all stars.

[HeinekenMan]

Yep, I feel the same way but all the rec leagues around here are the same, I've looked around. I think its like 40 bucks and you get a dry fit shirt. Very lax. Our spring we play 13 games in regular season then there is a rec tourney, then all stars.

We have Dixie and Little League. The fall Little League season is $60 for about 15 games. The fall Dixie season is $95 for the same number of games. Little League is desperate for players right now. So they're offering a reduced rate. The other league is the opposite. They have more kids than they can handle.