PRACTICE 14

Congratulations, Coach, you've done a good job of teaching your kids the fundamentals. Now it's time to introduce a little trickery to your team.

First 15-20 Minutes (Warm-up)

Use the standard warm-up routine: stretching, moderate jog to a finishing sprint. Then, catching, throwing and ground-ball lines. Always stress mechanics. If the kids have become proficient enough at throwing and catching on their own, it's time to add a little 'rapid fire' drill to the warm-up. You can try this after their arms are loose:

Have the kids on one side of the line hold the balls. On your command, they throw and catch as quickly as they can for a minute. The key is to quicken their transition from glove to hand. Get the throwing hand near the glove and focus on their footwork. Make sure you leave plenty of room between each girl. If they struggle with this, you can go back to the two or three lines with coaches tossing them the ball.

Next 2 Minutes (Water Break)

Keep your players hydrated with a water break. But have them hustle back on the field.

Next 10 Minutes (Review Bunt Plays)

Review bunt plays 1, 2 and 3 from the previous practice. Rotate all the kids through all the positions.

Next 2 Minutes (Water Break)

Keep your players hydrated with a water break. But have them hustle back on the field.

Next 20 Minutes (Special Plays)

OK, it's time to introduce a little trickery into the game. Assign colors or numbers to the trick plays because that will make it easy for the kids to remember.

First Trick Play: Let's call it 'pink': There's a runner on third base with less than two outs. You set the kids up for Bunt 2. The batter bunts the ball to the third baseman, pitcher or catcher. The player fielding the bunt picks up the ball, 'checks' the runner (that means they look the runner back, but only for an instant, because you want them to think you're going to first). The fielder turns to first base, steps and fakes the throw. Teach the girls to 'sell' the fake throw. As their arm comes down, they spin (toward their glove-hand side) around, hopefully, to find the runner with their head down heading home or hung up between third and home. A simple throw and tag ends the play.

Second Trick Play: Actually, here are three variations to this play. There's runners on first and third with less than two outs, and you know the runner on first is stealing. As the catcher receives the ball, the shortstop cuts over and in behind the pitcher who ducks out of the way, The catcher jumps up and throws the ball to the shortstop. If the runner breaks for home, the shortstop throws her out at the plate. We'll call that Play Number 6, because it corresponds to the shortstop's number. You also can run the play with the second baseman, instead of the shortstop. That can be Play Number 4 (the second baseman's number). Then there's Play Number 5. As the catcher receives the ball, the shortstop cuts over and in behind the pitcher, just like Play Number 1. The catcher jumps up, fakes the throw to the shortstop, turns and fires the ball to the third baseman, who has positioned herself behind the runner. Hopefully, you catch the runner napping (Play 5 corresponds to the third baseman's number).

At the younger ages, you may never use these plays, but it's good to have them in your arsenal and it's enjoyable to start teaching kids how to really play the game.

Coaching Point

Only implement what applies to your league or tournament.

Remaining Time

Congratulate the kids for adding a little trickery to their arsenal. Give them the next practice time (or game time) and follow up with an e-mail to the parents.