FIELD SET UP AND LESSON PLANNING


OVERVIEW
No matter what the teaching environment: a cage, a field, or a backyard, you want to set up to allow the greatest amount of instruction in the time allotted for each student. This requires 1) area planning to utilize the field or cage, and 2) lesson planning to utilize the time.
In this section, I list the steps to use. I also list the changes that allow my students to complete the lesson that 1) follows each student’s goals, and 2) adapts to each student’s issues in games.



FIELD AND EQUIPMENT
Prior to teaching set lessons, I like to look at all the drills that I will be doing that day and to set up my field and equipment so I can run drills without the need to interrupt a lesson. If there is a need to adjust equipment, it should be brief and made without affecting the student’s lesson.
Take the time to look at all the students you will be teaching. Plan to adjust for their levels of skill and for their styles (slap/drag).



LESSON AND SKILLS PLAN
Lesson planning is the most critical area for time management and for achieving preset goals. I start a four-week cycle of lessons by setting goals for each student. I then break the goals into a week-by-week lesson plan. This plan outlines each lesson so we know how to achieve our goals in the time allotted for each lesson.
Each lesson should contain certain elements that will help the student reach her goals for the month. These elements are:

• Basic fundamentals (bunting, hitting)
• Reinforcement of past goals to build the foundation for future goals
• A clear and defined path to the student’s new goals
• Flexibility to address issues that occur during games or between lessons
• Repetitive and consistent steps that a student can use as the basis for warm-up prior to games or team practice.



INSTRUCTORS REPORT CARD
The lesson structure can only be assessed if the instructor does a self evaluation based on 1) the goals set for each student and, 2) the student’s success in reaching her goals. This report card should be in the form of video. Videoing the students at the beginning of a month is an excellent way to document the starting point. Once the instructor has met the old goals, it’s time to make a new video and set new goals. With this data, the instructor can make changes to the lesson plans, the field, and the equipment. This helps achieve the goals that are set for each student.



FIELD AND EQUIPMENT
To read about Field and Equipment, go to:

Practice Field Set-Up

LESSON PLANNING
To read about lesson planning, go to:

Lesson Outline