9 tips to run a better practice

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Practices are the lifeblood of your team or program. It is difficult for baseball coaches to affect the game much while it is going on, so you have to make sure your players are prepared.

Here's a list of 9 ways you can run better, more efficient practices:

Teach through competitive games - It's one thing for a player to learn a skill in isolation in a very controlled setting. It is quite another for them to learn that skill in a competitive environment that more closely mimics game play.
Use technology wherever possible - Kids LOVE technology, so anything you can do to show them video of themselves, or show them a number, they will respond very well.
Measure, test, train, retest - Everyone likes to see how they are improving and we don't have to guess anymore. With accurate radar guns costing as little as $300 now, players can see improvements in exit velocity and arm velocity. You can track anything like strike %, fielding % in practice, or running times to show improvement and give kids motivation.
Don't set aside a specific time of practice just for conditioning - I think it's fair to say we are all strapped for time. So why take some of your precious time and use it just for conditioning? Instead, keep practice moving so conditioning happens throughout. Use medicine balls to improve rotation, let players work on speed while teaching them base running, let them work on agility during their defensive drills.
Have more baseballs than you think you'll need - You know what really grinds my gears? Having a great flow to practice interrupted by constantly picking up baseballs. Having 2x as many as you think you'll need will help keep practice flowing and minimize downtime.
Make transitions as smooth as possible - Set up as many of your activities before or at the beginning of practice as possible. That way your practice time is your practice time, and it won't be gobbled up by transitions.
Keep segments shorter - Instead of working on 1st and 3rd defense for 40 minutes in one segment, break it up into 4-10 minute segments. Do this especially for topics players don't particularly enjoy.
Have set routines - Your practices all shouldn't be the same. Variety is good. However, there should be certain things you do the same every day so that players know exactly what is expected of them. Things like warm-ups, arm care, throwing program, daily drills are great candidates for set routines that players can get comfortable with and run themselves.
Have a short and long term plan - Having a detailed plan every day that includes the segments, drills, games, and topics you will cover in addition to the equipment you will need and how you will need to set it up, is critical. But not to be overlooked is how each day fits into a larger plan. You should also make sure you are covering all of the topics you want to over a longer stretch of practices.