The following program has been developed over years of experimentation plus trial and error. Each component of the plan has proven successful in not only teaching youth the skill of horseshoe pitching, but doing so in a fun-filled atmosphere. Minor deviations from this plan can be made to suit your community’s unique needs.
Program Length: 3 weeks
Week #1: Clinic (3 days) 1.5 hours each day.
This week is mostly free of horseshoes. What’s that you say, no horseshoes? That’s right! This initial week focuses on the basic mechanics of the pitch. Ironically, once you put a horseshoe into the hands of most kids, they tend to only focus on trying to make ringers (not a bad thing) but they tend to ignore the fundamentals required to do so. This week will be full of balls, beanbags, water balloons, and maybe a few bricks (and a couple horseshoes on day 3).
| Day 1 | Introduction to the game |
| Clinic Topics | Why Horseshoe Pitching |
| The importance of Practice | |
| Winning vs Succeeding | |
| Sportsmanship | |
| Safety | |
| Stretching | |
| The Swing |
| Day 2 | Basics of the game |
| Clinic Topics | The Step |
| The Distance | |
| The Release |
| Day 3 | Basics of the game |
| Clinic Topics | The Height |
| The Turn Shoe | |
| The Flip Shoe | |
| The Open Shoe | |
| The Dead Landing | |
| Painting the Shoe |
Week #2: Clinic (3 days) 1.5 hours each day – Doubles Tournament (1 day) 2-3 hours
Now it is time to start pitching horseshoes at the stake. The drills from the previous week are repeated this week as “Skills Development” except that horseshoes are used on a playing courts. Attention is given to identifying and developing each kid’s individual pitching style. By the end of the week they will be ready to compete in a horseshoe tournament. Paint jobs on horseshoes are judged. Participant photos are taken in League shirts. Bring out the water balloon for a drill at least once this week.
| Day 4 | Paint competition |
| Photos | |
| Skills Development | |
| Clinic Topics | Court Setup |
| Court Maintenance | |
| Rules | |
| Scoring | |
| Judging | |
| Etiquette | |
| Ringer % | |
| Swing – Step – Release – Distance – Height (Live drills) |
| Day 5 | Skills Development |
| Clinic Topics | Shoe Styles |
| Scorekeeping | |
| Team Play | |
| Singles Play | |
| Swing – Step – Release – Distance – Height (Live drills) |
| Day 6 | Tournament Prep |
| Clinic Topics | Warm up (link coming soon) |
| Doubles Play (link coming soon) | |
| Identify Double Partners (link coming soon) | |
| Team Competition Establish Ringer % (link coming soon) |
| Day 7 | Doubles Tournament (link coming soon) |
Week #3: League (4 days) 1.5 hours each day – Singles Tournament (1 day) 3 hours
This Week begins with a review of lessons learned from pitching in the doubles tournament from the previous week. A drill or two may be revisited to help work on problem areas. League competition runs the entire week, which culminates in a Singles Tournament with food, fun and family. The last item is to treat your sponsors to a sponsors doubles tournament.
| Day 8 | Skills Refinement (Back to Basics) |
| Team Competition (link coming soon) |
| Day 9 | Team Competition |
| Day 10 | Team Competition |
| Day 11 | Team Competition |
| Day 12 | Singles Tournament |
| BBQ & Awards | |
| Sponsor Doubles/Awards |
Upon Completing this Youth clinic and league, with the accompanying tournaments, participants will be prepared to continue pitching in local tournaments and mixed community leagues. They may qualify to compete in State Championship or even the NHPA’s annual World Horseshoe Tournament.