The Foundation of a Great Team is Their Practice Plan

Dec '25 • Pack Baseball Softball Academy

Here’s a framework to help you structure your practices effectively, maximize development, and build a competitive edge with limited resources:

1. Practice Structure Overview (2–2.5 hours max)

Here’s a sample practice flow you can adapt based on your needs:

A. Dynamic Warm-Up & Throwing Progression (15–20 min)

Prioritize movement quality, quick feet, and arm care.
Add short reactive drills (e.g., cone touches, tag drills) to mentally engage players early.

B. Defensive Development (30–40 min)

Early week focus: Fundamentals (footwork, glove work, communication)Late week focus: Game speed, situational defense, team defenseStructure:

10 min: Individual groups (infield, outfield, catchers)
10–15 min: Partner drills or rotations (e.g., short hops, slow rollers, feeds/turns)
15 min: Team defense (e.g., bunt defense, 1st/3rd, relays, cuts, double plays)

Tip: Use station-based circuits with limited space and rotate groups quickly. Assign leaders or assistant coaches (even student helpers) to run stations.

C. Offense & Hitting Progression (40–50 min)

Structure:

Front toss or tee work for feel/mechanics
Machine work (if available) or short-overhand BP for speed
Situational rounds: hit-and-run, move runner, bunt for hit, squeeze
Compete at end: live ABs, team challenge rounds (e.g., 21 outs, barrel games)

Tip: Run two hitting groups at once: one in the cage, one doing defense or baserunning. Use a whiteboard to post daily hitting focuses so players are accountable.

D. Live Play / Controlled Scrimmage (20–30 min)

6-out innings, start with runners on, or create chaos drills (e.g., 2-outs, bases loaded)
Rotate players into unfamiliar positions occasionally to build depth
Use these reps for lineup assessment and competitive mindset training

2. Weekly Rhythm (3–5 practice days)

Monday – High rep defense + fundamentals

Tuesday – Offense focus + machine/live hitting

Wednesday – Situational defense + small-ball reps + bunting game

Thursday – Controlled scrimmage / game-like reps

Friday (pre-game) – Light reps, review signs, mental prep, confidence boosters

3. Offensive & Lineup Strategy Ideas

Lineup strategy: Speed at the top, bat control in the 2-hole, your best hitter in the 3rd or 4th spot, and someone gritty at 9 to turn it over.
Use roles: Define roles like table-setters, damage dealers, and pressure players (bunt, run, etc.)
Small-ball integration:
Use small ball with specific goals, not just because the book says do it. Every out is valuable, so don't waste an out because you randomly want to incorporate "small ball" into your game.

4. Defensive Playbook Tips

Keep it simple but detailed: Focus on 3–5 core defensive systems (e.g., bunt D, 1st/3rd, PFPs, relays).
Repetition builds speed. Run 10-minute "install" blocks daily and rotate scenarios.
Use walk-throughs when short on time or arms—don’t underestimate mental reps!

5. Small-School Coaching Hacks

Lean into multi-skill athletes—cross-train them.
Use stations to maximize reps and minimize waiting.
If short on coaches, designate player leaders or create peer-coaching rotations.
Record reps on phones or iPads for review and growth—video is a force multiplier.