Colorado Dugout Club Convention 2013 Denver, Colorado

Use Competition & Variety In Your Bullpen Sessions To Increase Production Don Freeman Clark Community College Vancouver, Washington

Coaching Philosophy Work with each and every athlete Future coaches – Keep them interested Don’t over complicate instruction Athletes have a basic blueprint in their body Makes your job easier if you change only drastic problems Cookie cutting leads to slow to no progress No two people do things exactly the same They will tell you when they are ready for change

What Can You Do To Improve Your Coaching? Attend Clinics Talk with other coaches Attend other program workouts Visit with players from higher levels Yearly retreat with staff Purchase videos and books Physical and mental research The older we get we realize the less we know.

Focus On Key Areas Directional Step Eyes Level? Medium to Small Arm Circle Scapular Pinch Quick/Fast Arm and Hand Speed Downhill Plane

Similar Results Look Very Much Different Roger Clemens 354 Wins Cy Young 511 Wins

What Do You Change Here?

Scapular Pinch Is It Anything Important?

Develop an Overall Pen Plan Proper Warm Up Starter Reliever Weekly Work Out Plan Keep it Fresh and Interesting They Must be Focused Record Sessions Chart Progress Great Feedback

Let Offense and Defense Help Each Other Stand in batter gives pitcher perspective Batter tracks baseball Catcher works locations

Productive Bullpens

Too Many Bullpens Are Set Up This Way “Go down and get your throwing in” No supervision or instruction Usually not your top two catchers pitch pen No focus or direction: Get arm in shape Coach asks “How did the pen go?” “Good” By what criteria?

Pitching is 85% of the Game No supervision? No Plan? Failing to Have a Plan is Planning to Fail Pitch Pen? Are focus and concentration important?

Freeman’s Pen From 1997 to 2007 Pitcher, catcher, and coach pitch pen broken in to three segments 15 pitches, 2-3 min. rest, discussed sequences, pitch count situations, moving hitter’s eyes Each 15 pitch segment entailed pitching against various types of hitters Finished with 5-8 change ups

Ron Wolforth’s Productive Bullpen Improvements Three pitchers, catcher, and coach Pitch, Record, Rest, and Listen Theme bullpens pitches Competition between pitchers Increases focus, effort, motivation Much more productive Pressure bullpens

No Limitation To Content Of Pen Velocity Bull Pen Command/Location Bullpen Velo/Command Bullpen Breaking Ball Change Up Pen Situational Bullpen Pattern 2 Bullpen Velocity Separation Bullpen Rhythm & Tempo Bullpen

Increase Your Chances For Success Holding Runners Reduce the Big Inning Pitch Out/ Intentional BB Hitter Style Pen

Penguin “10” Drill Identifies Command of Pitches Aids Coaches in Calling Pitches Athlete Identifies His Strengths and Weaknesses Motivate the athlete to Work on his Weakness

Thank You for Inviting Me Back to the Great State of Colorado