Youth Baseball Practice Plan: 90-Minute Template for Rec Coaches
A complete 90-minute practice plan for rec ball coaches - time-blocked stations, coaching cues, and a structure that keeps 12 kids engaged for the full practice.
The biggest mistake rec ball coaches make at practice is not having a plan. When you show up without a structure, you spend 20 minutes getting organized, kids lose interest, and you end up doing whatever feels right in the moment. Here is a complete 90-minute template you can use or adapt for your team.
Before Practice Starts
Set up your stations before players arrive. For a 12-player rec ball practice, you typically want 3-4 stations running simultaneously so no one is standing around. Assign a parent volunteer or older player to each station if you can - it frees you to move around and coach.
The 90-Minute Practice Plan
0:00–0:15 - Warmup and Arm Care (15 min)
Dynamic warmup first, then throwing progression. This is non-negotiable - cold arms get hurt.
- High knees, butt kicks, lateral shuffles, arm circles (5 min)
- Partner throwing - start at 30 feet and work to 60 feet (10 min)
- Coaching cue: "Crow hop before every throw. No standing throws."
0:15–0:50 - Skill Work Stations (35 min)
Rotate through 3 stations every 10-12 minutes. With 12 players, put 4 at each station.
- Station 1: Tee work - 2 tees, players rotate through. Focus on contact point and staying through the ball. Equipment: 2 tees, bucket of balls, net or fence.
- Station 2: Ground balls - Coach or parent feeds ground balls. Fielders work on ready position, glove angle, and throwing footwork. Equipment: bucket of balls, open field or infield.
- Station 3: Baserunning - Players work on leads, reads on contact, and rounding bases at full speed. Equipment: bases, open space. No ball needed.
Coaching cue during stations: walk to each group for 2-3 minutes, give one specific correction, then move on. Do not stand at one station the whole time.
0:50–1:15 - Live Reps (25 min)
This is the most important part of practice - live reps in game-like situations. Options depending on your field access:
- Batting practice with baserunners - Coach pitches, batters hit, baserunners run on contact. Gives everyone reps in multiple roles simultaneously.
- Scrimmage - Split into two teams and play 3-4 innings with coach pitching. Keep score. Kids play harder when it counts.
- Situation work - Set up specific game situations (runner on second, one out) and rep the proper execution. Great for teaching without a full scrimmage.
1:15–1:25 - Baserunning Sprints (10 min)
End every practice with baserunning. It is conditioning disguised as baseball. Run the bases in game situations - first-to-third reads, tag-up situations, double steals.
Coaching cue: "Every sprint is a real game sprint. No jogging."
1:25–1:30 - Team Talk (5 min)
Bring the team in. Give one thing the team did well and one thing to work on. Keep it short - kids have been at practice for 90 minutes and attention is going. End with a team cheer or motto.
Common Practice Mistakes
- Too much standing around - If a player is standing for more than 3 minutes, something is wrong with your plan
- Same drills every practice - Variety keeps kids engaged and develops more skills
- Skipping baserunning - Most rec ball games are decided by baserunning mistakes, not pitching or hitting
- Ignoring the short attention span - Switch stations every 10-12 minutes maximum for younger age groups
- Not ending on a high note - A bad ending to practice is what kids remember. End with something fun or competitive.
The 60/30/10 rule: Aim for 60% of practice time in active reps, 30% in instruction and setup, and 10% in transition. If you find yourself talking more than players are moving, reset the plan.