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Postgame Script: 10 Minutes, Then Go Home

A short, positive routine for after the game: cooldown, a quick talk, gratitude, clean up, and out the gate on time.

⏱ The whole thing: about 10 minutes or less. 5 minutes between games.

Long postgame lectures lose kids after the first minute, and every extra minute costs families who have dinner, homework and siblings waiting. Say the important things briefly, save the rest for the next practice, and get players to their families on time. Our suggestion

POSTAfter the game: 10 minute script

Times are minutes after the final out. Our suggestion

Another team waiting? Clear the dugout first

The next team needs that dugout to get ready, and tournaments run on a tight clock. Out of respect for them and the schedule, pack up and clean up right away, then hold the cooldown and talk in the outfield or another spot away from the next teams. Ground Up coaching cue

First2 minTeam waiting? Clear the dugout now
  • Only when another team is waiting: every player grabs all their gear, the dugout gets cleaned, and everyone walks to the outfield or another spot away from the next teams. Then start the clock below; the last step becomes just head out.
0:003 minCooldown and arm care
  • Easy jog to the outfield grass, then the mobility cooldown, gentle and unhurried. Water for everyone.
  • Pitchers and catchers: write down today's pitch count and check the rest days it requires under Pitch Smart and your league rules [Pitch Smart] (ArmRules calculator). Share it with parents.
  • Anyone with arm pain or soreness that is more than normal tells a coach, and the coach tells the parent. No extra throwing to "work it out."
0:032–3 minQuick team talk
  • Positives first: two or three specific plays or efforts, by name.
  • One thing the team works on next. One, not five.
  • Next game: time, field, arrival time and uniform. Then stop talking.
  • Corrections for one player happen privately, later, never in front of the team.
0:062 minGrowth begins with gratitude
  • Each player thanks a family member (see the cue below).
0:082 minClean up and go
  • Every player picks up their gear, plus one team item: balls, bases, buckets or the bat bag.
  • Dugout spotless: bottles, wrappers, sunflower seeds and tape.
  • Players leave on time. Families are waiting.

Between games (5 minutes): water and shade, pitch counts written down, one positive and one focus for the next game, then rest and refuel. Save the full talk for after the last game. Our suggestion

Hustle standard

The team knows this from day one: if we did not hustle, we run the bases after the last game of the day or tournament, never between games. It is a standard we hold together, not a punishment. Keep it short and controlled, a few steady trips around the bases (about 3 minutes extra), with water first. In the heat, shorten it or skip it: CDC advice for athletes in heat is to pace activity, drink water before you get thirsty, and stop at signs like cramping, faintness or weakness [CDC heat]. Our suggestion

Growth begins with gratitude.

A Ground Up coaching cue: before leaving, each player says thank you to a family member for three things:

  • Driving you to games and practices.
  • Supporting you in a specific way (name it).
  • Challenging you in a specific way (name it).

It takes a minute, and families notice. Our suggestion

groundupbaseball.net/coaches/postgame-script/ · Times are Ground Up suggestions. Pitch counts and rest: Pitch Smart and your league rules. Play Hard, Stay Grounded.

More for coaches

Start the day with the pregame script, plan the week with the practice plans, and check pitch rest days in ArmRules.

Sources

Sources retrieved Oct 24, 2026. Everything marked Our suggestion (timings, drills, rotations, checklists and coaching opinions) is our own coaching advice, not a rule or a published prescription.