The Basic Performance Modes - The Practice Mode

The purpose of the practice mode is to have the kids learn new skills and mechanics and to sharpen up the ones they have already learned. You can teach the skills and shorten Jessica’s stride so she won’t strike out so much – you can teach Gary how to make the backhand pick up at second base, etc. You can teach your players the rules and procedures of the game; the infield fly rule, tagging up after the catch before trying to advance, taking off for second on the pitch when the count is 3 and 2 with 2 outs, etc. You can teach your infielders the strategies that will be used in the games; infielders running down a runner, shortstop getting the relay from the center fielder, outfielders calling each other off to make the catch; etc.

The Practice Mode is also for you to improve yourself on a skill to the point that you will be able to perform when the time comes for the use of that skill. You’re standing on the 12th tee, a par 4 hole with a dogleg to the left, and it simply is not the time and place to think about changing your grip so that you might be able to hit a hook around that big oak tree the way you saw that professional do it on TV. That kind of experimenting must be done on the practice tee (It also ends you up in the middle of the woods). In a like manner, it simply doesn’t make any sense to use a new tactic in a game situation that your players haven’t had experiences with in the practice mode to the point of at least some degree of “automatic.”

Situation – Making a Change without going through the Practice Mode. The winning run is on third with one out and Coach Eager thinks, “Wow, this would be a great time to work a suicide squeeze!” Ken, the batter, is a pretty good bunter and Ronnie is a good runner. His kids have been bunting for hits with some success. So he stops the game and tells his third base coach that he’s going to have Ken lay down a bunt on the first base side on the first pitch and for Ronnie to take off on the pitch. Now, Ken and Ronnie have never heard of this maneuver before. So they certainly haven’t had any practice mode experiences. They have practiced bunting for a hit and that is tucked away in their memory banks.

Well, you know all of the things that might happen and 95% of them are not good for Coach Eager and his team. The most likely possibility happens. The pitch comes in high and inside. Ken has practiced diligently to bunt only pitches that are over the plate and his automatic system has him lay off the pitch – he hasn’t practiced bunting a bad pitch to protect the runner. The opposing catcher is surprised to find Ronnie running up the line to get tagged out.

The Advanced Practice Mode Your Players have grown up – they are now wearing a jersey with the team name on the front and their name on the back. They are representing a school, a high school, a college, a town or church team, even a professional team. They may even be representing only themselves as a professional tennis player, bowler, or golfer.

The Advanced Practice Mode has the same level of excellence as does the playing in The Game. Herb is practicing picking up the 10 pin for a spar with the same intensity and skill he would use in making a spare and winning the bowling match. Danny is practicing winning penalty kicks and his teammate, Mateo, is trying to stop them. Darlene is practicing her second serves so her opponent won’t have an easy return and so she doesn’t double fault.

Harriet is going through the same ritual in shooting her practice free throws as she would if she were at the free throw line attempting to break the tie and win the game for her team. She takes a bounce pass from a rebounding teammate, she steps up to the center of the free throw line. She bounces the ball one time. She takes the ball to eye level, looks at the rim, and shoots. Ellen takes the ball as it goes through the net and bounce passes the ball back to Harriet – she has more practice shots that will end with a “nothing but net” result.

All of the players above have been focusing on their tasks – the coaches are observing and advising.