North Wake County Baseball Association

1. North Wake County Baseball Association Coaching

2. Practice Plan • Always come prepared (only takes a few minutes the day of practice) • Limit Standing Around • Small Groups/Stations • Reps/Reps/Reps (50,50,50) • Utilize Parents • Train Assistants • Let players/parents know that they can not learn everything they need to know and get enough reps in 12 practices and 12 games at NWCBA. Work on your own!

3. ThrowingMinimum 50 Reps each Practice • Use entire body • Athletic stance • Separate “thumbs down and away” • Fangs point away on backside, look out “across watch” • Throwing arm elbow above shoulder • Tuck glove side • Shuffle or box step • Finish

4. FieldingMinimum 50 Reps each Practice • PFP (perfect fielding position) – Heel to toe, spread, elbows to knees, reach, cradle, separate, pop • Glide to ball. We are not charging bulls. Be on time every time with soft hands when you get there • Grounders without gloves. Use paddles as well. Do not smash balls (creates bad habits). Create proper technique/muscle memory.

5. HittingMinimum 50 Reps Each Practice • Athletic stance • Feet wider than shoulders • Front foot closed • Bottom half load (slight weight shift) • Back foot pivot • Belly button to pitcher • Hands A to C not A-B-C (direct line to ball) • Extend through the zone to pitcher

6. Base Running • Through the bag and chop. Do not “peel off” to right • Look right for ball • Lead off - Both feet on bag, left step, right, shuffle, shuffle. Do not jump/dance • Dive back in right hand to left corner looking away from throw • Secondary lead – shuffle, shuffle, land as pitch crosses plate • Get conditioning work in at end of practice by running bases.

7. Pitching • Small movements • Eye(s) to mitt • Eyes, lead elbow, shoulder, hip and knee • Separate down, out of glove • Stride 5 foot lengths minimum • Shoulders & chest out over lead leg • Trail foot- heal to sky • Finish to field position

8. Closing • Make it Fun! • Reps, reps, reps • Multiple stations - 80% of practice rotate small groups from station to station; 20% team, situational (see sample practice plans for suggestions) • Drills - There are 100’s to choose from. Find those that are age appropriate and do them often to build muscle memory (PFP). See sample practice plans for suggestions. • Use drills to warm up. Ex.-Around the horn works on pivots, footwork, transition and loosens arms. • Most of all remember that we are here to teach fundamentals, teamwork and “life lessons.” Do not make it about the grown ups or just your son. Teach baseball the way it is meant to be played. Just because the 9-year old at 3rd base can’t catch very well and the 2nd baseman cutting the ball off in shallow right field doesn’t throw very well doesn’t mean that you, as the 3rd base coach, should wave a kid around that hasn’t even made it to 2nd base yet. Don’t take advantage of a 9-year old, help him get better.

9. Contact Call anytime with questions or concerns Steve Arnold – 919.464.6603 Joe John – 919.606-8900 Jason Martinez – 919.395.4342 Joe Sande – 919.426.8886