Coach pitch · Printable practice plan
60-minute coach pitch first practice
Learn names and team routines. See what players need next without making the first practice a tryout.
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Pack the bag
- Tees, bats, and helmets
- Soft training balls and baseballs
- Cones and bases
- Coach notebook
- Water
Set up before players arrive
Set up separate hitting and fielding areas with one coach at each. Use soft balls for fielding while hitting is active. Keep skill notes private. All helpers must meet league requirements.
Bring this to the field
Your practice, minute by minute.
Names and expectations
Learn names and explain three expectations: listen with equipment down, encourage teammates, and give a good effort.
Say it simply: “You belong on this team.”
Warm-up and easy catch
Warm up and start easy partner catch. Use a distance each pair can handle. Watch receiving skills and give one instruction at a time.
Say it simply: “A throw your teammate can catch is a good throw.”
Two groups · 10 minutes each
Split into two groups and swap after ten minutes. Hitting: short tee turns, then coach pitches if ready. Fielding: stop a rolled ball and return it to a ready target. Keep waiting players clear of the hitter.
Say it simply: “One useful adjustment at a time.”
Water and reset
Stop for water. Collect equipment and explain the next activity.
Say it simply: “Equipment down when we talk.”
Run the bases together
Show home-to-first running, then a lap through all bases. Stagger runners. Explain your league's first-base rule.
Say it simply: “Find the base, then listen for your coach.”
Mini inning
Play a short inning with soft-ball coach toss or tee contact. Rotate roles and teach one point at a time.
Say it simply: “Ball in play: everyone has a job.”
What happens next
Recognize teamwork. Explain the next practice and one skill the team will work on.
Say it simply: “We get better by coming back and trying.”
Make it work for your team
- With 14 players, keep turns short. Add partner rolls within the supervised fielding area.
- Use soft balls for players learning to catch.
- Start a nervous hitter on the tee. Offer moving pitches when ready.
What success looks like
Players know the routines. Coaches have two or three priorities for the next practice.
Ask before the team cheer
“What is one thing you want to learn this season?”
Before you take the field
Follow your league’s equipment, supervision, weather, and player-safety requirements. Separate hitting and throwing lanes, keep waiting players clear, and pause for water or conditions as needed. Stop throwing when a player reports pain. Pitching work must fit that player’s workload, required rest, and eligibility across all teams—not just this practice.
Additional official resources: Little League coaching resources and MLB Pitch Smart guidelines. These original example plans are independent of those organizations.
The Dugout Dad™ · thedugoutdad.com/coachs-corner/coach-pitch-first-practice