PRACTICE 1  Focus: Understanding the Game, Agility, Catching, Throwing, Base Running

 

Game Introduction  (10 Min)

• The dugout and it’s purpose

• The bases, their purpose, and direction to run the bases

• The positions on the field, where they stand, and the difference between infield and outfield

• In game basics: What’s an inning, 3 outs per half inning, What’s an out, How is a runner safe, What’s a strike, What’s a ball

 

 

Agility Warm Up  (10 Min)

• One foot in each moving forward

• Two feet in each moving forward

• Two feet in each moving laterally

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Player starts at bottom left cone with glove and sprints forward

• Once past the top cone, the player back pedals in the opposite direction

• Player continues until through all cones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catching  (20 Min)

• Take the fear out of catching by using tennis balls or Jugs Light Flight Balls!

• Get athletic by bending at the knees and having the feet outside the shoulders

• Give a target using two hands

• Catching the ball finger tips up or finger tips down

• Attempt to catch the ball center to the body moving the feet

• Forehands/Backhands

  • Coaches start close and lightly underhand toss balls to the various 9 catching zones

  • Player’s start with no glove and in an athletic position

  • In a stationary position, player’s move their catching hand to the ball finger tips up/finger tips down

  • The focus isn’t on catching the ball, but to get to the ball the correct way

  • Slowly move back as the players get comfortable with getting to the ball

 

 

Base Running  (10 Min)

• Running with proper mechanics

  • Running on the balls of the feet

  • Elbows in, arms pumping

  • Head up looking at the base ahead

• Running through the first base bag, touching the front of the bag

• Break down after touching the base by taking short choppy steps and getting the bottom closer to the ground

• Rounding first base touching the inside of the bag

• Focus on taking proper angles when rounding

• Time players running from home to first and home to second

• Log the times and time them throughout the season to see their progress

 

 

Throwing  (10 Min)

• Player’s throw to coaches

• Start with wrist snaps on the knees

  • Glove knee up, throwing hand knee down

  • Throwing arm is at 90 degree

  • Glove hand supports throwing elbow underneath

  • With ball in hand, wrist starts forward, comes back, and forward to snap

  • Arm does not move, just the wrist

• Throwing from the feet in an athletic position

• Start with glove shoulder facing target

• Glove to ear, ball separation behind throwing shoulder, elbow up

• On the throw, glove is tucked, wrist is snapped, throwing hand finished at opposite pocket

• Attempt to get the player’s to go from shoulder to shoulder with their throws

• Using towels are effective to start

• Targets can be used for fun, i.e. Hulu Hoops or Buckets

• Start close and slowly move back

 

PRACTICE 2   Focus: Understanding the Game, Agility, Catching, Throwing, Fielding/Footwork

 

Game Introduction Review  (5 Min)

 

Agility Warm Up  (10 Min)

• One foot in each moving forward

• Two feet in each moving forward

• Two feet in each moving laterally

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Running with their glove tucked in and out of cones

• Every other time, have the player drop step around the cone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throwing  (15 Min)

• Player’s throw to coaches

• Start with wrist snaps on the knees

  • Glove knee up, throwing hand knee down

  • Throwing arm is at 90 degree

  • Glove hand supports throwing elbow underneath

  • With ball in hand, wrist starts forward, comes back, and forward to snap

  • Arm does not move, just the wrist

• Throwing from the feet in an athletic position

• Start with glove shoulder facing target

• Glove to ear, ball separation behind throwing shoulder, elbow up

• On the throw, glove is tucked, wrist is snapped, throwing hand finished at opposite pocket

• Attempt to get the player’s to go from shoulder to shoulder with their throws

• Using towels are effective to start

• Targets can be used for fun, i.e. Hula Hoops or Buckets

• Start close and slowly move back.

 

Fielding/Footwork  (15 Min)

• Discuss and demonstrate the proper fielding position

  • Feet a little wider than shoulders

  • Weight is on the inside of the balls of the feet

  • Bottom is down almost as if sitting on a chair

  • Back is straight

  • Glove is reaching out touching the ground with the arm still flexed not straight

  • The palm is towards the ball, not the sky

  • Throwing hand is over the top of the glove

  • Head is up

• Lateral Shuffle

  • Set up two balls 7-10 yards apart

  • Have the player start in the middle of the two balls in an athletic position

  • The player will shuffle laterally until they get to the ball which will be in front of them

  • The player will break down into the fielding position that was demonstrated earlier

  • Have them shuffle twice to each side and then rotate

  • Multiple stations can be setup for this footwork

 

• Fielding Footwork

  • Setting up in an athletic position with a ladder directly in front and a ball placed in front of the ladder that’s running horizontal.

  • A right handed player will put their right foot in a ladder square followed by their left foot (it will be the opposite for a lefty)

  • As soon as the player gets their left foot down, they will reach with their glove towards the ball in a good fielding position

  • Right/Left reach for a righty, Left/Right reach for a lefty

  • The two steps into the ladder should be in rhythm

  • Next, move the players back so they have to take multiple steps

  • Focus on short choppy steps until they get to the ladder

           

• Fielding Footwork II

  • Set up three cones as shown below

  • Have the players start outside the far right cone

  • They will run forward with their glove tucked past the cone in front

  • Once past they will back pedal to the far left cone

  • Once past they will approach the ladder, break down entering the ladder and reach for the ball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catching  (15 Min)

• Take the fear out of catching by using tennis balls or Jugs Light Flight Balls!

• Get athletic, give a target, use two hands

• Catching the ball finger tips up or finger tips down

• Attempt to catch the ball center to the body moving the feet

• Forehands/Backhands

  • Coaches start close and lightly underhand toss balls to the various 9 catching zones

  • Player’s start with no glove and in an athletic position

  • In a stationary position, player’s move their catching hand to the ball finger tips up/finger tips down

  • The focus isn’t on catching the ball, but to get to the ball the correct way

  • Slowly move back as the players get comfortable with getting to the ball

 

 

PRACTICE 3   Focus: Agility, Throwing, Fielding/Footwork, Hitting

 

Agility Warm Up  (10 Min)

• Player starts at bottom left cone with glove and sprints forward

• Once past the top cone, the player back pedals in the opposite direction

• Player continues until through all cones

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Player start at bottom right cone with their glove and shuffles feet athletically until outside bottom right cone

• Player sprints forward until past top right cone and shuffles left until outside top left cone

• Player then back pedals to bottom left cone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Stationary feeds to a player with no glove

• Have player get into a proper fielding position and roll balls directly to them so their feet can stay stationary

• Focus is on getting the player into the proper fielding position and reaching out for the ball with their glove hand palm facing the ball and throwing hand over the glove hand

• Roll 3 to each and rotate

 

Throwing  (15 Min)

• Player’s throw to coaches

• Start with wrist snaps on the knees

  • Glove knee up, throwing hand knee down

  • Throwing arm is at 90 degree

  • Glove hand supports throwing elbow underneath

  • With ball in hand, wrist starts forward, comes back, and forward to snap

  • Arm does not move, just the wrist

• Throwing from the feet in an athletic position

• Start with glove shoulder facing target

• Glove to ear, ball separation behind throwing shoulder, elbow up

• On the throw, glove is tucked, wrist is snapped, throwing hand finished at opposite pocket

• Attempt to get the player’s to go from shoulder to shoulder with their throws

• Using towels are effective to start

• Targets can be used for fun, i.e. Hula Hoops or Buckets

• Start close and slowly move back.

• Can add a competition for fun having the players attempt to throw through a hula hoop at various distances starting close and slowly moving back

 

Agility Competition  (10 Min)

• Player starts at front left cone with their glove and shuffles laterally to the right in an athletic position

• Once past the front right cone, the player sprints forward until past the cone ahead

• Once past, the player shuffles to the left

• When the player reaches the front of the ladder, they move forward with quick feet stepping one foot in each

• When player exits the ladder they use the proper footwork to enter the second ladder breaking down into a fielding position and extending the glove to the ball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hitting  (25 Min)

• Athletic stance with no stride approach

• Feet positioned straight or slightly inward with weight on the inside

• Feet are positioned just outside the shoulders with equal weight on each

• With no bat, hip rotation with bottom hand focusing on elbow then hand to ball

• With a bat utilizing a tee, to contact and through to extension starting slow then progressively getting faster maintaining proper form

Focus on staying athletic through to extension with chin staying down

 

 

PRACTICE 4   Focus: Agility, Catching, Throwing, Base Running, Hitting

 

Agility Warm Up  (10 Min)

• This agility warm up is performed with their glove tucked

• Player starts at the top and shuffles to their left or right

• Once outside the cone, player back pedals to the second cone

• Once past, player drop steps and sprints to the centered cone

• They immediately go to the ladder as described below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Repeat and alternate shuffle directions

• Stationary feeds to a player with no glove

• Have player get into a proper fielding position and roll balls directly to them so their feet can stay stationary

• Focus is on getting the player into the proper fielding position and reaching out for the ball with their glove hand palm facing the ball and throwing hand over the glove hand

 

Catching  (15 Min)

• Take the fear out of catching by using tennis balls or Jugs Light Flight Balls!

• Get athletic, give a target, use two hands

• Catching the ball finger tips up or finger tips down

• Attempt to catch the ball center to the body moving the feet

• Forehands/Backhands

  • Coaches start close and lightly underhand toss balls to the various 9 catching zones

  • Player’s start with no glove and in an athletic position

  • In a stationary position, player’s move their catching hand to the ball finger tips up/finger tips down

  • The focus isn’t on catching the ball, but to get to the ball the correct way

  • Start tossing the ball to make the player move their feet

  • Slowly move back as the players get comfortable with getting to the ball

  • Add the glove to the last part of this session

 

Base Running  (10 Min)

• Running with proper mechanics

  • Running on the balls of the feet

  • Elbows in, arms pumping

  • Head up looking at the base ahead

• Running through the first base bag, touching the front of the bag and breaking down

• Rounding first base touching the inside of the bag

• Lead offs emphasizing a step, step, shuffle, shuffle

• After a proper lead off have the player work on getting back to the base and going to the next base

 

Throwing  (10 Min)

• Player’s throw to coaches

• Start with wrist snaps on the knees

  • Glove knee up, throwing hand knee down

  • Throwing arm is at 90 degree

  • Glove hand supports throwing elbow underneath

  • With ball in hand, wrist starts forward, comes back, and forward to snap

  • Arm does not move, just the wrist

• Throwing from the feet in an athletic position

• Start with glove shoulder facing target

• Glove to ear, ball separation behind throwing shoulder, elbow up

• On the throw, glove is tucked, wrist is snapped, throwing hand finished at opposite pocket

• Attempt to get the player’s to go from shoulder to shoulder with their throws

• Using towels are effective to start

• Targets can be used for fun, i.e. Hula Hoops or Buckets

• Start close and slowly move back.

• Can add a competition for fun having the players attempt to throw through a hula hoop at various distances starting close and slowly moving back

 

Hitting  (15 Min)

• Athletic stance with no stride approach

• Feet positioned straight or slightly inward with weight on the inside

• Feet are positioned just outside the shoulders with equal weight on each

• With no bat, hip rotation with bottom hand focusing on elbow then hand to ball

• With a bat utilizing a tee, to contact and through to extension starting slow then progressively getting faster maintaining proper form

• Focus on staying athletic through to extension with chin staying down

• Add the finish to the swing finishing high at the shoulder

• Roll 3 to each and rotate

 

 

PRACTICE 5  Focus: Agility, Catching, Fielding/Footwork, Base Running, Hitting

 

Agility Warm Up  (10 Min)

• With a glove, player shuffles left and when in front of the ball, breaks down into the proper fielding position and then shuffles to the ball opposite and repeats

• Encourage staying athletic

• Do this 3 times to each side

 

• With a glove, player starts at bottom right cone and sprints forward to the cone ahead, back pedals to bottom left cone and approaches the ladder and ball breaking down into a proper fielding position

 

• Stationary feeds to a player with no glove

• Have player get into a proper fielding position and roll balls directly to them so their feet can stay stationary

• Focus is on getting the player into the proper fielding position and reaching out for the ball with their glove hand palm facing the ball and throwing hand over the glove hand

• Roll 3 to each and rotate

 

Hitting  (15 Min)

• Athletic stance with no stride approach

• Feet positioned straight or slightly inward with weight on the inside

• Feet are positioned just outside the shoulders with equal weight on each

• With no bat, hip rotation with bottom hand focusing on elbow then hand to ball

• With a bat utilizing a tee, to contact and through to extension starting slow then progressively getting faster maintaining proper form

• Focus on staying athletic through to extension with chin staying down

• Finish the swing finishing high at the shoulder

• Make necessary adjustments to a player’s swing

 

Catching  (15 Min)

• Take the fear out of catching by using tennis balls or Jugs Light Flight Balls!

• Get athletic, give a target, use two hands

• Catching the ball finger tips up or finger tips down

• Attempt to catch the ball center to the body moving the feet

• Forehands/Backhands

  • Coaches start close and lightly underhand toss balls to the various 9 catching zones

  • Player’s start with no glove and in an athletic position

  • In a stationary position, player’s move their catching hand to the ball finger tips up/finger tips down

  • The focus isn’t on catching the ball, but to get to the ball the correct way

  • Start tossing the ball to make the player move their feet

  • Slowly move back as the players get comfortable with getting to the ball

  • After the ball makes contact with the player’s hand, have them pop to a proper throwing position with their feet

  • Add the glove to this session

 

Agility/Footwork/Base Running  (15 Min)

• Proper leads and footwork, step, step, shuffle, shuffle, go

• Quick feet through the ladder, one foot in each, then two feet in each

• Work on rounding the base getting to the inside

• Shuffling once through the base facing towards the infield, then towards the outfield