Coaching Guidelines

This document describes in detail the expectation for player development in each divisions.  All players on the team should meet the minimum requirements by the end of the season.

Coaching Guidelines [download]

Practice Plan

This document provides a template for organizing practices.  Coaches are expected to divide their practices into skill specific "stations" in order to increase the amount of reps each player gets per practice and thereby enhance the development of each player.

4,5, 6 U Practice Plan

7u and Up Practice Plan

Sample Drills

Throwing:

Every OPBA play must master the 4-seam fastball. Here's how to teach it: https://youtu.be/VXsM2ALxPWE

Infield drills:

Triangle drill: https://youtu.be/GcklgSL1_Hw?t=1m47s
Knee drill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcpHMWO8Lmc
Repetition: https://youtu.be/yGTqNEyfGRk?t=7s
Footwork: http://www.playsportstv.com/baseball/baseball-infield_footwork-for-fielding-grounders

Proper Hitting Grip

It is critical to the success of any hitter to have the proper grip. The proper grip creates more bat speed and bat control. An improper grip significantly limits the amount of success a player will achieve and unfortunately most children use an improper grip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR-UJKoipFQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmpeh1Y5uWc
https://www.wikihow.com/Grip-a-Baseball-Bat
http://probaseballinsider.com/baseball-instruction/fundamentals-of-hitting/bat-angle-and-grip/M/p>

Hitting drills

Hitting off a Tee with Billy Ripken: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondDemos/videos/166898204028789/
Flaw with hands inside the ball from Justin Stone: https://youtu.be/xpDsN5ENcmo?t=3m31s
Shaft to Shoulder: https://youtu.be/rI1LWtNFuzw?t=10s
2-tee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kekYm8TYok (blilingual)

Pitching Drills

Balanced Delivery: http://www.playsportstv.com/baseball/baseball-pitching_balanced-delivery-drill
Consistent stride: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE-3Thojbh0
Leading with the hip (and more): https://youtu.be/ydBcOcfUjCo