Rookies, A Baseball Minors and Majors Softball Practice #2

1. Rookies, A BaseballMinors and Majors SoftballPractice #2

2. Goal = Stiff Front Leg Hitting • 1. Teach the upper half of the swing • Align the door knockers • Put the bat on the back shoulder • Step in the box back foot first • Then the front foot • Ten toes toward home plate • Inside to outside • Confirm the correct foot spread by placing the bat on the inside of the back foot and outside of the back knee. • When he’s ready, we’re ready • When the pitcher is on the mound with the ball, lift the bat off the shoulder 2 – 4 inches • Bat angle should be 45 degrees • Imaginary line out the bat hits the ground in other batter’s box • Get your rhythm • When he starts, we start • Load by shifting weight to back foot – 60% back, 40% front • “stretch the band.” • When he plants, we plant (from week #1) • Shine the flashlight inside the ball • Bottom hand pulls the butt of the bat inside the baseball like playing the violin • Front elbow goes to centerfield • Bottom hand moves like we’re playing a violin • Top hand is “going for a ride” • We’re leaving the bat barrel on the back shoulder as long as possible • Extension • Top hand reaches the belly button, bottom had at the front hip • Top hand takes over the swing, punches to center field • Both hands are going to centerfield 2. Cage Drills 1. Basic soft toss from the side for both stations; emphasis is on the stiff front leg 2. Because of the teaching time required, only 5 swings on live pitching this week • 3. Tee Drills • Bat across chest (VIDEO) • Place the bat handle across the chest • Spread feet as though you have strided • About a bat length apart • Rotate hips & hit the ball off the tee w/ the barrel • Rotate so the bat is pointing @ pitcher • From stride (VIDEO) • Spread the feet as though strided • About a bat length apart • Hit against a stiff front leg • Full Swings • Load – “stretch the band” • Stride • Hit • Coach tips: • Remind players to keep good hand work, no casting or looping ; shine the flashlight • Memory Aids: • “Rotate on the center Axis” • “Heel to the sky, laces toward the pitcher” • “We hit against a stiff front leg” • “Lock the front hip” Coach Key Rotating on a center axis; vertical line from knee to hip to shoulder Heel to sky, laces toward pitcher Stiff front leg; locked front hip

3. Infield Goal = Right, left, down • 1. Individual Drills • Stationary Ball (Whole team @ same time) (VIDEO) • Place the ball on the ground 6 ft in front of the player • Start from an athletic position • Run toward the ball & pick it up with the proper technique • Get to a throwing position & stop; Don’t throw • Rolled ball (With partners facing each other from 30 ft) (VIDEO) • Player rolls ball to his partner • Partner runs toward the ball & pick it up with the proper technique • Get to a throwing position & stop; Don’t throw • Ground Balls (VIDEO) • Split team up into 4 groups • Put one team @ 1st, one @ 2nd, 3rd & SS • Hit soft ground balls @ center of player • Player fields ball and throws it back to coach • 1 coach works SS & 3rd; the other works 1st & 2nd • Coach Tip: • Coach can work w/ glove on one hand & bat in the other. Hit them w/ one hand. • Bring a whole bucket of balls out so you’re not wasting time retrieving balls • Memory aids: • “Right, left, down, right, left, throw” • “Stay low to throw” • “Close the gap” • “Brown on the ground” • “Protect your chin” • “Alligators eat baseballs” • 2. Teach infield base coverage • SS & 2nd base • Rule = “Not to you, cover 2…” • Draw imaginary line from home plate through CF • Right side of infield is “to” the 2nd baseman – If ball is hit NOT on right side, 2nd baseman cover 2nd base • Left side of infield is “to” the SS – If ball is hit NOT on left side, SS cover 2nd base • Rule = “…if it goes through, be the cut off man” • If it goes through on your side • Cut off man plays “monkey in the middle” between the ball and 2 bases in front of the lead runner • Cut off man has 10 toes toward the ball, athletic position, both hands in the air • 3rd base • Rule = “Not to me, cover 3” • Not to me means, if I don’t have to field the ball • 1st base • Rule = “Not to me, cover first – coach doesn’t have a rhyme for first” • Not to me means, if I don’t have to field thee ball Coach Key Alligators eat baseballs Brown on the ground Left is in front of right

4. Goal = Throw with a long arm Outfield • Individual Drills • Note: Always warm up with one player on the foul line and his partner in the out field • Warm Up Joint Drill (from about 15 ft) (VIDEO) • Cement Feet Catch (from about 3/4 way between 2nd & foul line) (VIDEO) • Teach first base footwork (VIDEO) • Ten toes toward your partner • Take knee of glove leg to the ball • Glove leg foot hits the ground @ the same time as the ball hits the glove • Play Catch using first base footwork (VIDEO) • Distance from 2nd base to foul lines • 15 ft past 2nd base • 30 ft past 2nd base • Long Toss - Extend beyond their limits for 5 throws each • Clap Drill (VIDEO) • Coach Reminders • The Long Infield Throw -“right, left, throw” • Coaching Tips: • Use the Power line • Straight line from back shoulder, through front shoulder to the target • Don’t come out of your legs (stand up) – stay low to throw • At release elbow above shoulder, wrist outside elbow • Joint sequence – hips, shoulder, elbow, wrist • Back shoulder replaces front shoulder • Memory aids: • “Pray position” • “Jump on your skateboard” • “Thumb to thigh, reach to the sky, wave bye-bye, look down your scope, break some glass, grab some grass” • “Stay low to throw” • “Replace shoulders” • Receiving the Ball • Coaching tips: • Balls below the waist are received with fingers down • Ball above head are received with fingers up • Between waist and head, received with fingers toward your partner • Memory aids: • “5 fingers toward your partner” • “Knuckles to the sky” • “Nose over knuckles” • “Extend your arm” • “Thumb to thumb” Grab some grass Look down your scope, break some glass Coach Key Thumb to thigh, reaching to the sky, wave bye-bye