How many coaches is enough?

Four coaches is my preference for both practices and games. Like you, I operate practices with multiple stations. If the team is broken down into groups of 3 or 4 players for drills, then it is practical to have a coach operate each of the drill stations.

I also like to specialize, so the coaches and I divide up various responsibilities. For example, one coach is in charge of conditioning. He gets all the players warm, stretched, and loose before practices. He will also run the pregame exercises. I always have a pitching coach, and I give him complete charge of the pitchers. If no experienced pitching coach is available, then I assume this responsibility. When I do this, I designate one of the coaches assistant manager, and he will assume some of the managerial duties. This allows me to work more closely with the pitchers at both practices and games. Usually, during our normal practices we schedule mini workouts on the side for our pitchers. We usually rotate about 4-5 pitchers through a bullpen area with the pitching coach. Like Jon Toner has described, we also schedule special pitcher as well as pitcher/catcher practices.

I have found separate practices for the catchers to be very beneficial. This is a skill position that gets often overlooked in regular practices. The catchers need specialized drill work, and I have found it easiest to work with them alone on separate days. Sometimes, we will double up at pitcher/catcher practices. In the early season, one coach will work with the catchers, while the pitching coach works with the hurlers. After we have established a good mechanical foundation for our catchers, we have them catch the pitchers in pitching practice. This helps them to work on their receiving and signal calling skills.

I have found that this system of combining team practices with position practices works well. It also helps me to effectively work around the inevitable conflicts that occur with players who are involved in other activities like soccer, track, band, drama, and so forth.