BASEBALL PHILOSOPHIES

THE SHEPARD BASEBALL PHILOSOPHY We the coaches of the Alan B. Shepard Baseball Program try to instill a foundation of discipline, responsibility, accountability and a strong work-ethic into each of our young men. Our belief is, by having these life-skills, one can achieve their maximum potential on and off the baseball diamond. Once this foundation is in place, we wish for our ballplayers to know the basic fundamentals, have a knowledge of the game and to execute in competition. Another goal of our program is for our players to understand how to be part of a team as well as understand the importance of good sportsmanship. As a player here at Shepard High School, we guarantee that you will have a stronger appreciation of the game and a new belief in yourself of what you can accomplish with the foundation that we instill in you. If we all challenge ourselves to strive high, the rewards will come in the form of our ultimate goal: The state championship.

Because You Never Know Who’s Watching

Do you play ball or are you a ball player? Ball players … wear their uniform properly. focus on the game the moment they step off the bus/out of the locker-room. go hard in warm-ups. fight from the 1 st pitch thrown to the last out recorded. know the situation. (where to go, where to throw, what to do) never let their emotions affect the play. do their job and only their job (this includes you not being an umpire) win as a team (everyone, even bench, has a role) pick each other up. are unselfish. whether playing or not always watching your position to learn something or add something to their game. does not associate with those who will de-track him from becoming the best player he can be. comes into practice/game ready to learn. From his coach, teammate, situation, or the game itself. competes, he does not just play. knows that sacrifice is not just moving the runner along. plays with his heart and mind, not his hands and feet. loves to play and would want to do nothing else when they have the opportunity to play. We expect you to be a Ballplayer.

BEFORE THE SCORE THE LITTLE THINGS ARE LESS TO DO WITH ATHLETIC ABILITY THAN WITH THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THE RIGHT ACTION TO TAKE. TEACH BY EXAMPLE AND KEEPS THINGS SIMPLE YOU WIN GAMES IN PRACTICE, SO MAKE PRACTICES COUNT LET’S ASK QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY SO WE ALL UNDERSTAND EVERYONE HAS A JOB (EVEN THE BENCH) RECOGNIZE THE INDIVIDUAL DON’T FORGET THAT LET’S MAKE THIS FUN

A Good Teammate has… 1. Enthusiasm & Commitment 2. Integrity 3. Competency 4. Creativity 5. Sense of Humor 6. Perseverance 7. Language 8. The Power of Questions 9. Reliability & Follow-Through 10. Collaboration

FIELDING CAN BE BROKEN INTO THREE PARTS –POSITIONING –CATCHING –THROWING OUR RULES OF THUMB GOOD FEET, USE GOOD ROUTES AND GET IN FRONT OF BALL USE YOUR FINGERS TO CATCH BE IN A POSITION TO THROW KNOW WHERE TO THROW TO NEVER LET THE BALL CROSS YOUR FACE!!!! Infield and Outfield

POSITIONING Athletic position 1.Feet and shoulders square to home 2.Knees slightly bent 3.Weight distributed evenly on balls of feet 4.Can creep or move side to side, but must be in a ready position when ball nears plate tonight

FIELDING 1.Have a wide base 2.Get body in front of ball 3.Have your butt down 4.Field out in front, glove under ball 5.Alligator – (Two hands) 6.Look ball into glove and funnel into body KNEE DRILLhttp:// GB HINTShttp:// Outfield

Throwing 1.Get the seams 2.Eyes on target when throwing 3.Create momentum toward target 4.Point front shoulder 5.Throw through the target. 6.Follow the throw CATCHERS THROWShttp:// RIPKENDP OUTFIELD THROWS

Drills Infield Partner Groundball Drill Partner Knee Drill Backhand Knee Drill Backhand Upright Drill 3 cone fielding and throwing Drill Underhand flip Drill Box flip Drill Shuffle Drill Close the gaps Drill Outfield Flapping the Wings Drill Groundballs bare-hand Drill Ground balls on an angle Drill Read and Recover Drill Behind the head Drill Ball-Wall-Ball Drill Quarterback throw Drill Long toss challenge/Crow hop to the can Drills

OFFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY THE LINEUP IS NOT A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUALS BUT PIECES TO A PUZZLE. IF ONE PERSON IS DOING THEIR OWN THING THEN THE OFFENSE WILL STRUGGLE. HAVE A PLAN RECOGNIZE THE SITUATION MAKE ADJUSTMENTS PRODUCTIVE OUTS TAKE PRIDE IN “SPECIAL TEAMS”

HITTING A PLAN DISCIPLINE (ONLY STRIKES AND FB EARLY) GOOD BASE ELBOW TO HIP THROW THE BAT (BOTTOM PALM LOOKS TO SKY) STIFF FRONT LEG (HIT AGAINST) HIT THE BALL OUT IN FRONT OF PLATE HUNT THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD!!!!

POSEY SLOW MOTIONhttp:// sey+hitting&FORM=HDRSC3&adlt=strict#view=detail&mid=AF67D8EA6 31C33525D18AF67D8EA631C33525D18POSEY SLOW MOTIONhttp:// sey+hitting&FORM=HDRSC3&adlt=strict#view=detail&mid=AF67D8EA6 31C33525D18AF67D8EA631C33525D18 Posey hitting approach demo-a-look-at-poseys-approach-to- hitting/?query=diamond%2Bdemos%2Bposeyhttp://m.mlb.com/video/v /diamond- demo-a-look-at-poseys-approach-to- hitting/?query=diamond%2Bdemos%2Bposey HITANDRUNhttp:// &v=uGTFSq7A5UAHITANDRUNhttp:// &v=uGTFSq7A5UA HARPER1https:// HARPER2https:// Drag Bunts demonstrates-how-to-drag-a-bunt/?query=diamond+demoshttp://m.mlb.com/video/v /adam-eaton- demonstrates-how-to-drag-a-bunt/?query=diamond+demos

BASERUNNING GET YOUR SIGN ASAP RELAX AND BE COMFORTABLE READ THE PITCHER AND CATCHER LEAD FOOT BEHIND BACK FOOT STAY LOW DIFFERENT LEADS FOR DIFFERENT SITUATIONS DIRTY BALLS (READ AND BE AGGRESSIVE)

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PITCHING KEEP IT SIMPLE EYES ON TARGET FASTBALL NEEDS TO BE BEST PITCH CHANGEUPS KEEP LOW ATTACK PITCH TO CONTACT (LIMIT WALKS) TRUST YOUR STUFF AND YOUR FIELDERS NEVER WASTE (SET UP A PITCH) PFP BACK UP BASES

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Pitching drills KNEE DRILLhttp:// l38EuwPz_o&list=PLEB A43ED3Fhttp:// l38EuwPz_o&list=PLEB A43ED3F CHAIR DRILL DRILL TOM HOUSE DRILLShttp:// HOUSE DRILLShttp://