Coaching Checklist:

• Always have ice and a first-aid kit at practice.
  
• Plan out practice; do everything at every practice.
  
• Go with a 1-2 hour practice. Break it down into 15- to 20-minute sessions.
  
• Have at least two coaches at every practice.
  
• Set a goal for each week related to throwing, fielding or hitting, and tell the players.
  
• Arrive early to set up and greet the players; check the field and equipment.
  
• Use a warm-up jog, dynamic and static stretch.
  
• Every week, discuss different rules of the game.
  
• Give water breaks; have it as a station during hitting or fielding.
  
• Play the kids' favorite games; remember, it is their practice, too. Put the skills into games!
  
• Split the team into two groups: one on defense, the other hits, then switch the groups.
  
• Set up stations for hitting and fielding to get more repetitions; each hitting station lasts about four minutes.
  
• Kids learn differently: talk through drills and skills, demonstrate and have the players try them. 
  
• Praise players for doing well and avoid yelling: young athletes are still very sensitive.
  
• Suggest to parents that they throw at home with their children.
  

Safety first: Softball can be a dangerous sports for young athletes, so everyone needs to take care. Make sure players who are not in a drill - whether it's a throwing, fielding or hitting drill - are out of the way of flying balls or swinging bats. Always have the players wear a batting helmet. If there are two players at each station, and the other player is not tossing the ball, have them stand behind a certain line or spot. If players are helping during a hitting drill by putting the ball on the tee, just make sure they know not to grab a ball off the ground while the batter is hitting.