Developing Infielders

1. Developing Infielders

2. Areas of Development • Physical Aspects • Leadership Aspects • Mental Aspects

3. Baseball is …

4. A Game Failure …

5. Coached by Negative People …

6. Played in a Hostile Environment.

7. Played in a Hostile Environment.

8. Mental Skills • Ability to perform a skill correctly under intense pressure (“Mental Toughness”) • “Bear down!”--“Concentrate!”--“Get it done!” • Instead, give them something to go to! • Heads Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza • The Mental Game of Baseball by H.A. Dorfman

9. Distractions • Previous error • Struck out last AB • Hitting/Fielding slump • Umpire • Newspaper/TV • Opponent dugout • Noisy crowd • Idiot fan • Coach is on me • Will I start • Field conditions • Dad • Fielding streak • Bad exam • Girlfriend • Inconsistent pitcher

10. Turn Off the Noise

11. Live BR vs. Live Defense Drill • Two teams • Coach at home plate with a fungo • Pitchers rotate quickly to mound from sideline • Begin with runner on 1B, no outs • Extra runners form line at home – wait 1 count • Play 9 innings before switching • Players communicate out and inning • Coach controls pressure with score/fungo

12. Dumb It Down “See Ball, Hit Ball.”

13. Dumb It Down

14. Dumb It Down

15. H.A. Dorfman’s Mental Approach to Fielding • Anticipation and Attentiveness • Goals – Process-oriented/action/short-term • Expectations – yours, not those of others • Dedication – focused on the goals you set • Responsibility – no bad hops, no excuses • Attitude – is fielding important? (Manny vs. Ozzie) • Confidence – state of mind formed by achievement of daily goals • Preparation – practice the way you want to play

16. Defensive Goals Result Goals Process/Action Goals Arrive for early work at least four times this week Get infielders together to work on rundowns today Start 20 DPs to my backhand side Be aware of my thought before each pitch in scrimmage • Fielding % = .985 • Defensive MVP of League • Set a record for assists/putouts • Start every game at 3B

17. Visualization

18. Routine

19. Take Ownership of the Field

20. Development Stages • Unconscious Incompetence – Player can't catch a cold and doesn't have a clue why. (Is there sufficient talent? Is the player “teachable”?) • Conscious Incompetence – Player still can't catch a cold, but now knows what he is doing wrong. (You're teaching and he is learning.) • Conscious Competence - Goes out to the infield telling himself what he has to do to succeed and then executes the plan. (Teaching and discipline lead to success.) • Unconscious Competence – Player expects every pitch will be hit to him. See the ball; catch the ball. (If you're at this level and start thinking about how to do it, you're taking a step backward. If you're at this level coming out of high school, you might skip college and go to Class A.)

21. Leadership

22. Player Makeup

23. The Game Speeds Up

24. Infield Objectives • Prepare mentally • Play high level game of catch • Consistently utilize efficient movement of upper and lower body

25. Pre-Contact • Know the hitter • Know the pitch • Read location • Read the swing

26. Ready Position

27. Triangle

28. Triangle

29. Bad Triangles

30. Bad Triangle Narrow Base Deep Hands

31. Use of the Glove

32. Hinge and Fold

33. 4 Ways to Avoid a Car Accident • Turn Right • Turn Left • Slow Down • Speed Up

34. Gas and Brake Pedal

35. 4 Places to Field a Ground Ball The Difference Maker 2 4 3 1

36. Abandon the Triangle

37. Abandon the Triangle

38. Forehand

39. Backhand

40. Ground Ball Drills • Shorthops with partner • At him • Forehand • Backhand • Pick-a-hop • One-hand fungo • Rounding

41. Grip

42. Hand Separation

43. Direction • Throwing leg under • Headlights • Elbows up and on line • Eyes level • Stay in the legs

44. Direction

45. Posture and Arm Path

46. Release Angle

47. Extension

48. One-Knee Correct

49. One-Knee Incorrect

50. Shoulder Turn