These insights were shared during a virtual coaching clinic with Grant Park Baseball coaches.
Q: With only an hour for practice, how can coaches structure an efficient session?
Dickson: You’re not going to please everybody. There’s no chance that you’re going to get done everything that you want to get done in an hour. Start by teaching eye contact and emphasizing “Be a good teammate” – that’s foundation stuff that everything else falls under. I don’t waste time with traditional warm-ups since kids are like rubber. Instead, use base running drills to warm up while teaching them how to run through first base the right way or break down on the base path.
The best thing about Grant Park is the amount of coaches that are trying to help out. Use stations instead of long lines – break into smaller groups for ground balls rather than having one kid take a ground ball while a bunch of kids watch. If you want to lose a kid fast, make baseball boring by having them stand around. Rotate groups quickly and prioritize game-like reps over long explanations.
Q: What’s your ideal 1-hour practice routine?
Dickson: There isn’t a single ideal routine, but consider incorporating these elements: start with baserunning as a warmup, then move into throwing drills, fielding work, and finish with a team activity. Embrace a bit of chaos – you won’t have perfect order with young players, but keeping them moving is most important.
Q: What’s the best way to teach proper throwing mechanics?
Dickson: For throwing drills, make sure the arms are parallel to the ground at 90 degrees for all throws. Whether they’re throwing sidearm or doing crazy arm actions, if we keep them up high with the elbow 90 degrees parallel to the ground, they’ll be alright eventually. That position helps prevent arm injuries and develops stronger throwing ability.
The “Rock and Fire” drill is great for momentum and proper mechanics – position players with a slight stride distance, then practice rocking back and throwing with proper follow-through. No stride, straight lines, square shoulders – this really helps break down throwing mechanics.
Q: How can coaches help players improve their hitting?
Dickson: For T-work, I always try to use high tees with young kids. Get them up higher so they’re getting out forward without dropping the barrel back down. I also set up the tee and have them take the bat and just rotate to the baseball so they feel that action of rotating instead of swinging or jumping at it with their heads.
Make them hit by standing there and slapping the ball or rotating into a ball with a wide stance. They’ll start to learn how to stay back a little bit better that way. Try using two tees to reinforce proper bat path and focus on direction. The key is keeping barrels up while developing a feel for rotation.
Q: How much should coaches adjust a kid’s mechanics without making them overthink?
Dickson: Keep it simple—focus on one cue at a time. Fix major inefficiencies like arm path, balance, and direction, but avoid too many changes at once. The best approach is using drills that reinforce good habits naturally without overwhelming them with technical details. Kids can only process so much information at once.
Q: What about outfielders? How do you keep them engaged?
Dickson: Teach them the “three B’s” – Ball, Base, Backup. Left fielders, as soon as the ball’s been put in play, have to back up third base. Right fielders have to go back up first base. Center fielders do the same thing. Create a race to get into position.
Assign specific “jobs” per play and encourage movement on every pitch, like practicing drop steps or prep steps. Organize outfield relay competitions to make throwing fun and meaningful.
For practice, use tennis balls for outfield drills. They’re easier to catch, and kids will get behind the ball rather than pulling away when they’re afraid of getting hit. You can even have them take off their gloves and catch with two hands. Fly ball tennis ball drills and mass fungo drills with roll outs are great for building skills while keeping everyone moving.
Q: How do you run a practice for 4-year-olds in T-ball and Rookie divisions?
Dickson: Everything has to be a game. Keep it fast-paced and interactive—games over drills, always. For priorities, focus on making contact off a tee, knowing where to run after a hit, and establishing a basic ready position for fielding.
Keep in mind that any game you play can involve somebody catching and throwing a baseball. If you want to teach them how to throw to a target, put a ball on a tee and make them hit it off, but don’t have another player trying to catch – it’s just not going to happen at that age.
Break it down where there’s a small group and teach them basic skills with wiffle balls. Use simple instructions – one or two words max, like “Swing hard!” – and celebrate effort over skill with plenty of high-fives. The creativity I see from Grant Park coaches with games blows me away – that’s exactly what you need for those youngest players.
Q: What’s the right balance between building confidence and constructive criticism?
Dickson: For ages 6-10, it’s about 80% encouragement and 20% correction. I don’t even know if it’s – I mean, it might be like 99% encouragement and 1% correction to keep these kids interested. Especially if you’re a dad coach, anytime you give a correction, they think they disappointed you.
Introduce accountability with the mantra “Be a good teammate.” Avoid teaching hitting mechanics during game at-bats; instead, encourage aggressiveness. Focus on the child’s overall experience – be an ambassador for baseball.
Remember it’s about their experience. Some coaches get caught up with the winning and competition stuff – the kids don’t give a crap. Even if it was a big deal, they’ll forget about it five minutes later when you’re walking to the car. If you want to be an ambassador for baseball and keep them encouraged, maintain as much positivity as possible.
Q: What about teams with mixed skill levels? How do you balance attention?
Dickson: Parents have to help out – that’s the reality. If they understand they’re part of a team, they need to improve so they can contribute. Find something that even the worst kid on the team can help out with so they don’t stick out in the group.
If a player wants to get better, they will, and sometimes they don’t care. I use my son all the time as an example – he did not give a crap about baseball until just the last few months. The best kids around are the ones whose parents take an interest and work with them at home. You just don’t have the time at Grant Park with one-hour practices.
Q: How do you know when a player is ready for the next level?
Dickson: They start showing up all the time. They want to be there early. They want to take more swings. They don’t want to leave when practice is over. When they’ve decided to get better, you’ll know – they want to play all the time.
Q: What’s the best way to motivate shy players?
Dickson: Build trust through small conversations and praise for small wins. Give them a role in which they can succeed – find something they can do well, even if it’s simple. Pair them with an encouraging teammate during drills. Sometimes shy players just need one small success to start building confidence.
Q: What are the best online resources for drills and practice ideas?
Dickson: For YouTube resources, You Go Pro Baseball and Dominate the Diamond are excellent for young kids, team practices, and fun games. They both do a really good job of breaking down age-appropriate drills in a way that’s easy to implement. You Go Pro Baseball is particularly good for station-based practice ideas and fun games that teach fundamentals, while Dominate the Diamond offers great progressions for developing specific skills.
Websites like Driveline Baseball and Baseball Savvy also provide free content that’s valuable for youth coaches. Driveline has become the leader in data-driven development, but they also offer simplified versions of their techniques for youth players. Baseball Savvy has some excellent practice templates you can download and adapt.
For analyzing mechanics, the Coach’s Eye app is a free tool that lets you record and break down swings or throws in slow motion. You can use it during practice to give immediate visual feedback to players, which is much more effective than just verbal instructions.
The key is finding resources that match your team’s age and skill level. Don’t try to implement drills designed for high school players with your 7-year-olds. Look for content specifically labeled for your age group.
Q: What are the best ways for coaches to develop their own skills?
Dickson: There are several pathways: certifications through USA Baseball, clinics through Driveline, and ABCA courses you can take. You should also start attending high school and college games to observe their practice methods. Maynard Jackson is starting to get pretty good, and Georgia State is right down the road.
Networking is important – connect with experienced coaches, ask questions, and observe practices when possible. Film analysis is also valuable – watch and break down MLB games with a coaching mindset.
For free online resources, YouTube channels like You Go Pro Baseball and Dominate the Diamond are pretty good for young kids, team practices, and fun games. They do stuff the right way. Websites like Driveline Baseball and Baseball Savvy offer great information, and free apps like Coach’s Eye can help with swing and throw analysis.
Q: How does Grant Park baseball compare to other leagues of the same age?
Dickson: Grant Park is more developmental—with a focus on inclusion and teaching fundamentals. You’re working with minimal equipment compared to other programs, and take a less aggressive approach to development. Travel ball programs are more competitive with structured training and stronger talent pools. Parents should choose based on their child’s goals—whether that’s learning fundamentals versus competing at a higher level.
Q: Any final advice for volunteer coaches?
Dickson: Prioritize game reps over instruction. Say stuff in a hurry, and then move. “In the eyes, we got it, let’s go.” If there’s difficulty in understanding, you can stop and break things down, but get them doing stuff over explaining stuff.
Remember that the kids love it, and that’s what matters. Your job is to keep them engaged and excited about baseball, not to create perfect players in an hour-long practice once a week. Be an ambassador for the game – your enthusiasm and positivity will do more to develop future baseball players than any drill or technique.