AAA Baseball Drills

Question
Coach, I am moving up with my son to the AAA level of Little league this spring. I wanted to ask you about which drills are most effective in keeping the kids attention and making practices fun. In the past (AA) I have used cut off drills, pepper, Intrasquad (6 versus 6), baserunning races, BP and pitching drills. I know moving to AAA there is an emphasis on basestealing. I was going to add bunting, situational baserunning (fielding-where to throw, backing up plays) this season: with an emphasis on pitchers and catchers (blocking balls, throwing to bases).

Any ideas that you have would be appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Rick

Answer
Rick,

The key is to make practice instructional and it sounds like you are doing that. You have to keep their attention and fun is the way, but the primary focus for the kids, and the desire of the parents, is to provide quality instruction.  If a kid doesn't come out of a practice better off than when he went into the practice, then the coach has failed.  

My goal was always to provide the drills and repetitions to help a player improve.  I also work hard to add the cultivation of desire, motivation and baseball knowledge.  In my opinion, baseball knowledge is  forgotten aspect of coaching.  I feel that a player who is less talented but has a higher baseball IQ will turn out to be a better ballplayer than the kid with all the athletic ability.

I had a standard practice that I used at that age level.  If you want a practice plan, send me your email address to [email protected] and I will forward it to you.  

Have fun and teach some baseball.