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Learn To Play Best PracticesAs the Learn to Play Program continues to grow and evolve, coaches, coordinators and parents have come up with unique ways of making the initiative more fun and accessible for all. These resourceful and imaginative ideas are called Best Practices. Minor softball associations from across the country are encouraged to share their Best Practices with rest of the softball community through the Softball Canada website. Emailed submissions will be posted under the Learn to Play section of the website and shared with the public.
It is our hope, that visitors will read and become inspired by these creative Best Practices and in turn modify their own LTP program for the better. If you would like your Best Practices to be featured on our website, please email a brief written submission (maximum one page in length) to ltp@softball.ca. Here are our favourite Best Practices . BEST PRACTICES:Best Practice: Hacky Sack Catching PracticeSubmitted by: Julie & Paula Feddema MSA: Kitchener When we start a new season, and we are teaching the girls to catch, we have incorporated hacky sacks instead of the mush balls. As you know, getting hit in the head or face area is the scariest thing about throwing to the girls. However, if they miss the hacky sack with their glove, there is no injury factor. This is also good for practicing "pop" flys. After the girls feel comfortable about catching, we switch back to the mush balls for catching drills. It is very cheap (you can get them at most dollar stores), but an effective way to give the girls the confidence it takes to catch a harder ball. Best Practice: Monthly Newsletter Submitted by: Mike MacKinnon MSA: Trenton Minor Softball Association “We do a monthly newsletter with reminders, important dates, and use this resource as a venue for publicly thanking our sponsors.”
Best Practice: Sticker Giveaways Submitted by: Sharon Falk MSA: Camrose Minor Softball Association “Incentives programs can be created easily and affordably. Camrose Minor Softball in Alberta created inexpensive stickers and gave them out to children for learning a new skill. The stickers included;
1. I’m in Learn to Play 2. I can Bat 3. I can Field 4. I can Throw 5. I can Run Bases 6. I can Catch These stickers were a great hit with the kids and their families.” Best Practice: PLTP Fun Day at Elementary Schools Submitted by: Tom Park MSA: Alyinston Minor Softball Association “We contacted Brooke Central Public school and arranged to hold a Parmalat Learn to Play Session for the Grade 1 and Grade 2 classes. Session Length: The sessions ran from 35-40 minutes. Sessions can be altered to match the group’s allotted Physical Education time. Volunteers: Parents of the participating children were invited to volunteer along with the regular LTP Coaches. Equipment Used: gymnasium, bats, balls, batting tees, bases, blastbases, Buckets, Pylons, Hoola Hoops (as a throwing target). Session included: Warm up, throwing, hitting, fielding, and a wrap up. All activities were from the LTP manuals. Promotion: Following the event information packages were distributed to all students, teachers and parent helpers. Promotional packages included; description of the LTP program, promotional material (poster, brochure, magnet, stickers, tattoos), registration information Advertising: Following the event, photos and a prepared article was submitted to local newspapers and the free press.” Best Practice: Youth and Senior Mentoring Program Submitted by: Mike MacKinnon MSA: Trenton Minor Softball Association Youth Mentoring Program “We approached the Trenton Middle School (grades 5-9) students and asked for any student volunteers that may be interested in helping out the Learn to Play program over the summer. We received 5 or 6 students who came out to the field and helped out with various activities and have found that the young players respond well to students who they look up to…The volunteer students, in return, are able to not only add this experience to their resumes but they can add this volunteer work to their school portfolio which requires so many hours of community work. It’s a win-win for all involved.” Seniors in the Program Best Practice: Water Balloon Target Practice Submitted by: Mike MacKinnon MSA: Trenton Minor Softball Association “On those hot summer nights where everyone would rather be in a pool, make some water balloons and attach them to a piece of plywood. The players line up and practice their throwing skills by trying to pop a balloon. You can have a volunteer stand next to the balloons and when one is popped they can make a big deal out of getting soaked, which the kids really enjoy and provides them incentive to aim at the balloons. At the end of the day, the kids can stand next to the balloons and get soaked by the volunteers.” Best Practice: Cool-Down PLTP Bingo Submitted by: Donna Ross MSA: Manitoba “I made up a Parmalat Learn to Play Bingo card. At the end of a practice, around the middle of the season, we had a little cool down and sat in a circle going over the bingo card. The kids put a sticker on an activity they had completed at some time during the season. It also provided them the opportunity to evaluate their skills and determine where they need more work. Parents really liked it as well.” Best Practice: Stuffed Animal Target Practice Submitted by: Paul Tobin, Anthony Skanes, Stacy Novack MSA: Whitby Girls Minor Softball Association “Equipment - 2 or 3 balls for each 2 children |