Oh no. Baseball & softball practice is rained out, again! What do we do?
It has been a spring season to forget, weather wise, for youth baseball and softball teams as rain has left several early season practices and games washed out. Dirt fields often remain in unplayable condition in the days immediately following a torrential downpour, and the temperatures haven’t heated up enough to dry fields faster.
So, what can you do? How can you make the best of a bad situation?
Get together as a team anyway! The day was marked on your calendar. Why waste it? Spend an hour or two together doing something, even if the ballfield isn’t an option. Here are a few ideas for parents and coaches to think about incorporating into your next rain out.
Basketball: When the fields remain muddy, the blacktop dries faster. Gather your team at one of the parks basketball courts for a game. Or a parent’s house with a net in the driveway, a school parking lot after hours. Surely someone has a ball. It will still give kids exposure to playing as a team, practicing teamwork. Get the competitive juices flowing. Providing cardio young kids need as part of a healthy lifestyle. Team building and support are as important as anything else.
Impromptu pizza party: Does someone on the team have the space? A backyard, a deck so your house doesn’t get overrun. Ask parents to chip in a few bucks, order a few pizzas, and get to know your team a little more. Empower the kids to engage with their teammates. Find out what their personal goals are for the season. This will vary based on skill level. For some kids it might be simply being able to get a hit. For others it could be pitching a game without walking anyone. Whatever it is, big or small, celebrate those goals throughout the season. Always be looking to the positive. Pizza parties are an easy way to get kids to interact at the table and build those friendships that translate to the field.
Film session: YouTube might be the best resource for learning the finer points of, well, anything. Coaches, bookmark a few videos for a rainy day. Have your team get together virtually, and together watch videos breaking down something you wanted to work on at practice. What should you do to get more power out of your swing? How to make accurate throws? Who moves where on the diamond based on the situation? Don’t just put on a video and sit in silence for an hour. But engage with your players like they are at practice. Highlight the key points and why they are important. Start your next practice on the field by doing the reps on what you discussed.
Get wet anyway: On a rainy day, with no lightning of course, put on your worst pair of shoes, most ragged clothes, and turn the outfield into “sliding practice”. Practice diving for balls. See who can slide the farthest. Maybe bring out a football, for the same reasons I mentioned basketball as an option. It might be the most fun practice you have all season. Sports are supposed to be fun. Bring plenty of towels for the ride home.