Batavia Youth Baseball

2. Batavia Youth Baseball Coaching Overview Instructional & Rookie April 5, 2016

3. Table of Contents • Overview Objective 4 • Throwing Instruction 10 • Throwing Drills 11 • Fielding Instruction 13 • Fielding Drills 14 • Hitting Instruction 16 • Hitting Drills 17 • Position Instruction 19 • Practices 21 • Managing vs. Coaching 22 • Summary 24 • Appendix 25

4. Objectives of Overview • Support coaches development by increasing their confidence, direction/focus, and instructional know-how • Support continuity of coaching, no matter the child, situation, or sport • Support coaches to build players who “play to succeed”; not players who “play not to fail” never fear failure.

5. Playing to succeed means wanting the ball when bases are loaded and the team needs one more out Playing to succeed means taking your swings at the plate Playing to succeed means having the courage to take the mound after giving up 6 runs in the previous inning. Playing to not fail means wanting to sit this inning out Playing to not fail means that you don’t want the ball hit to you Playing to not fail means waiting for a walk Playing to not fail means not wanting to pitch anymore Objective: Playing to Succeed vs. Playing Not to Fail • Coaches who encourage these events, build players who never take the attitude of playing not to fail • Coaches who encourage these events build character, self-esteem, and a love of the game • Turn all negatives into a positive • Success of this objective is measured by the number of players that return the next season

6. Objective: Continuity of Coaching • Create “Baseball IQ” that builds through all levels of Batavia Youth Baseball • Skills that are taught at this level transition to next level. • Players can begin to understand the “language of the game”. • A lot of drills done at this age, are repeated at the next levels. • Skill continuity ensures that no matter who the coach is the next year, the basics have been covered and players will have a common understanding of the game • Develop coaches that feel comfortable and confident in coaching at all levels of Batavia Youth Baseball • Practice is critical; ½ hour before a game and once more during the week if space allows • Adhere to the league rules • Pitches per player • Use of T: the league is instructional • Rotation of players in each position • Batting order line up should vary

7. Objective: Support Coaches Development of Players • A player’s success is usually related to the amount of meaningful practice the player has • Coaches need to prepare programs that are beneficial and enjoyable • Practice should be interesting and varied; never ordinary and monotonous • Players should have fun • Players that stand idle or are not engaged in drills will become bored and will not get much out of practice • Coaches must maintain a lot of enthusiasm by properly reinforcing and encouraging their players

8. Objective: Support Coaches Development of Players (Continued) • All Batavia Youth Baseball Coaches have the following to offer: • When players are coached by “paid professionals” you take away “father knows best” and other automatic child development concepts • Parental perspective allows coaches to know the days when the player “doesn’t show up”, and allows latitude for that player • Parental perspective encourages Value-added comments from players, other coaches, and parents • Parental perspective helps coaches remember their strike-outs, dropped fly balls, and game ending at bats from their youth

9. Objective: Support Coaches Development of Players (Continued) • Know your audience, 6,7 and 8 yr. olds need • Short time spans • Multiple activities • Upbeat environment • Huge amounts of positive motivation • They have limited attention spans • They do not behave the way that they do to annoy; they are 6,7 and 8 • This level requires coaching to the lowest common denominator • Focus on the basics (i.e. teach positions by playing follow the leader) • If the environment is setup to benefit the players, the coach will reap the benefits as well • Be kid focused • Scrimmages do not work at this level • Too much waiting • Activities are fun, activities = drills

10. Grip of ball Across the “Horseshoe” Three Fingers Thumb underneath Feet position Same as Hitting Weight forward but balanced Step slightly past center Shoulder to target Shoulder points to target Don’t open up to early Arms spread apart Relaxed but at shoulder height Elbows bent Hand on top of ball Don’t “Put” the ball Hand/wrist/elbow/shoulder Look glove to target Glove becomes a camera Glove comes back to the chest Objective: Support Instruction Throwing

11. Throwing Skills/Drills • “SET-BREAK-GO” – • Purpose – Focus is on all aspects of proper throwing technique • On “SET” players stand with front shoulder pointing to target with ball in glove, hand on ball at their waist. On “BREAK” arms separate to shoulder height, elbows bent, look through glove to target. On “GO” hand on top of ball, stride forward, pulling glove back to chest, extend arm. (wrist above elbow, elbow above shoulder) • “THROWING MARATHON” • Purpose – Throwing to a target • Mark on area on the fence surrounding the field, players rotate throwing, with proper technique, to the target. When someone misses the target the are out of the game.

12. Throwing Skills/Drills (Continued) • “CROSS-LEGGED SITTING DRILL” • Purpose – to reinforce the ball rotation needed for accuracy • Partners sit cross-legged on the ground 10 feet apart, facing each other. Player holds his non-throwing hand underneath his throwing elbow. Throwing elbow should be at shoulder height. Player should move throwing arm forward and throw to the partner. (Wiffle Balls) • “ONE-KNEE THROWING DRILL” • Purpose – reinforce upper body mechanics • Partners face each other about 20 feet apart, Players kneel on the throwing hand side knee with the lead leg forward. As player throws he concentrates on upper body movement • Elbows at chest level • Eyes on the target

13. Catching Position Feet apart Knees bent Hands in front, catch with two Teach to “play” defense and to “defend” oneself Elbows out, fingers up Above waist, catch with fingers up Below waist, catch with fingers down No basket catches Ground Ball Positioning Hands in front of body Fingers pointing down “Creeping” in Butt down, shoulders back Always use two hands Glove starts on the ground “Look like infielders” Develop Catchers and Pitchers Pitchers Balance Posture Consistency Catchers Blocking Position Objective: Support Instruction Fielding

14. Fielding Skills/Drills • “FIELDING POSITION” • Purpose – reinforce proper mechanics • Use multiple coaches, have players line up and come forward one at a time, feet shoulder width, weight shifting forward, hands in front of their body, knees bent, butt down, both hands drop to the ground to pick up the ground ball. • “CROW HOPS” • Purpose – Transfer from fielding position to throwing position • Have players spread out in front of the coach in the fielding position. On the coaches command the players should jump from fielding position to throwing position. Check for proper starting and ending position

15. Fielding Skills/Drills (Continued) • “SHORT/2ND” • Purpose – Fielding Technique, force plays • Have all players line up at short or second. Roll ground balls to each line, have player receiving ground ball use proper fielding technique and throw a “dart” or “flip to the other person covering second. • “SOFT-HANDS DRILL” • Purpose – Fielding technique • Have players stand 10 feet apart and roll ground balls to each other, focus on fielding fundamentals • Hands in front (catch the ball in front) • Butt down, knees bent

16. Feet position Weight forward but balanced “Neutral Stance” Shoulder width Rotation of back foot “Squish the bug” Head position On the front shoulder Head stays still for shoulder replacement “Ike to Mike” Bat position “Slot” – knob at catchers feet, bat through the back of head No comment rule Once a player steps in the box, coaching is over, only encourage Hand position “Power position” start at shoulder height, straight to the ball Relaxed hands – front hand palm down, back hand palm up Cocked wrist Move back before forward Relaxed at plate Tight muscles are slow muscles Stride separation Swing starts with their feet Finish Two hands all the way around Hands above shoulder Balance Objective: SupportInstruction Hitting

17. Hitting Skills/Drills • “IKE TO MIKE” • Purpose – teach proper head placement and movement • Have players stand in their hitting position, when the swing and “shoulder replacement” occurs, their chin should move from one shoulder to the next • “HITTING OFF OF THE TEE” • Purpose – able to focus on one hitting variable at a time • Have players hit off of the tee, focus on one/two things at a time • “THROWING HANDS AT THE BALL” • Purpose – teach players to move their hands directly from shoulder position to the ball. (“Throwing your hands at the ball”) • Have players try to hit wiffle balls pitched to them with the knob of the bat

18. Hitting Skills/Drills (Continued) • “SWING AGAINST A FENCE” • Purpose – reinforce a compact swing • Have players set the knob of their bat at their belly button, the other end of the bat should touch the fence. They then get in their hitting position without moving their feet. Practice swinging, bat shouldn’t touch the fence. • “BATTING PRACTICE WITH WIFFLE BALLS” • Purpose – able to see significantly more pitches very quickly • “BATTING PRACTICE WITH ONE STRIKE” • Purpose – teaches players to be very aggressive at the plate • If the let a strike go by, the next batter is up

19. Teach where each position is, its purpose, and its job/objective Begin to focus on individual position skills Teach the “force”: who, when, where, why, and how Begin to focus on position skills 2nd/Short 1st Base Catcher/Pitcher Outfield Teach “cut off man”: Outfielders to look for him and Infielders are to be looking for the throw Let players tell you the situation and the next play Encourage communication with their teammates Talk in the field “Where is the play?” Develop Catchers and Pitchers Objective: Support Instruction Position

20. Get as many adults involved as possible Break players into small groups with one adult at each station so all players are busy and not bored One hour- one hour fifteen is good timing ½ hour before game time allows for field time practice Use handout for skill development games/ideas Objective: Support Instruction Practices

21. Practice Plans • Prepare for practice – • You wouldn’t show up for a meeting that you have to speak at without preparing • Your audience will quickly determine if you have a plan and are in control • When you have a plan, you will be more confident and be able to accomplish more • Move the players quickly through drills – work only on a limited number of keys

22. Managing vs. Coaching • Coaching is the teaching of sportsmanship, developing baseball IQ and helping the players develop a higher skill level • Managing is the coordination of the team and team events, it is being prepared for all aspects of the team thereby allowing you to be able to coach • Proper team management allows for more coaching time • The kids want coaching • Management of your team includes getting others involved • Assistant coaches • Team mom/dad

23. Managing vs. Coaching (Cont) • Managing the team means defining and assigning responsibilities • Assistant coaches • Prepare the field • Specific skill development (hitting, pitching, fielding, etc) • Management of game day lineup (see Appendix) • Help keep focus on the team priority….Sportsmanship • Team mom/dad • Treat schedule (see Appendix) • Phone tree (see Appendix) • Get feedback from your audience, both kids and parents • Is the program meeting their expectations? • Are they developing sportsmanship skills?

24. Final Thoughts • Unlike basketball or soccer, baseball is not fluid; it is an individual sport disguised as a team sport. • Baseball requires skill development to keep players in the game, confident, and self-assured • Baseball needs to be developed so players stay interested forever • Learning about baseball is fun; Fun is learning about baseball • Elevate your players’ Baseball IQ • As a coach you have two objectives: build intelligence and confidence

25. Appendix • Example line ups for players • Example Practice Plan