tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009785802738315488.post7950115383097540955..comments2023-06-16T07:42:09.097-04:00Comments on Hardball Mechanics: What's Better - More Games or More Practice?Brandon Merchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16765419633446699967noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009785802738315488.post-37912080404291895232013-09-17T20:43:25.548-04:002013-09-17T20:43:25.548-04:00Most travel/select teams don't come close to t...Most travel/select teams don't come close to the recommended 3:1 practice to game ratio for young athletes. I do not have any sons, but if I did and we were looking at putting him in a travel/select program, the first question I would ask would be about the practice to game ratio. <br /><br />Great Work!Kyle Nelson, Cornerstone Coaching Academyhttp://www.cornerstonecoachingacademy.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6009785802738315488.post-62380508841615051672012-03-27T11:21:21.258-04:002012-03-27T11:21:21.258-04:00As a U10 Challenge coach, I couldn't agree mor...As a U10 Challenge coach, I couldn't agree more. In fact, I tell parents of my players that I view my role as helping develop them into good players when they are 15 or 16 or 19, not 10. Development takes time, and it doesn't happen during a game. In fact, I believe offering too much instruction in a game is a bad idea -- game situations are times for reactions and muscle memory to take over. One swing thought, not five.<br /><br />The trick, of course, is to make practices as enjoyable as possible, especially for younger kids. If practices are ONLY repetitive drills, kids quickly lose interest and come to view practice as boring and games as fun.<br /><br />That said, drills are vital and should be used to teach and reinforce proper mechanics. But we can also turn drills into games of their own. It's amazing how keeping score in a mini-contest (points for hitting the L-screen; points for throws aimed at head or chest, etc) increases concentration on performing drills well.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00308418665501305264noreply@blogger.com