Forest Hill Baseball Coaches Clinic

Responsibilities Provide a safe physical environment. Be an effective and positive communicator. Teach the skills, strategies, and rules of baseball. Direct the players in competition. Be a role model.

Five Tools of and Effective Coach Comprehension – Know the basic rules, strategies, and skills Outlook – What are you seeking as a coach? Affection – Concern for the kids you coach Character – Be a model of appropriate behavior Humor – Ability to laugh at ourselves & with the players

Communicating as a Coach Sending Effective Messages Verbal Messages – Be positive & honest – State it clearly & simply – Say it loud and say it again – Be consistent Non-Verbal Messages – Facial Expressions – Body Language

Communicating as a Coach Receiving Skills Attention! – Want to hear what others are saying to you – Focus on verbal & non-verbal clues Listen Carefully

Communicating as a Coach Other You Will Communicate With Parents – Team Meeting – Ask for volunteers Spectators – Do not respond to negative comments from the stands Umpires – Treat with respect – Dont shout or make nasty remarks Opposing Coach – Get to know the other coach – Dont get into personal feud! This is about the kids not you.

Player Safety Pre-Game Warm-Up Equipment and Facility Inspection Use Appropriate Bats and Balls Introduce a Protective Cup Designate an Area for Warm-Up Assign a Coach/Parent to Bench Duty Keep Their Heads in the Game Teach the Proper Fundamentals

Player Safety Heat – Provide plenty of water breaks Severe Weather – Lighting Policy Be Prepared – First Aid Kit Located in field box and concession stand – Buy one for yourself

First Aid Kit

Emergency Steps

Minor Injuries Scrapes and Cuts Stop bleeding by applying pressure with clean dressing & elevate it Cleanse wound Protect the wound with gauze or bandage If bleeding is not controlled, contact medical personnel

Minor Injuries Bloody Nose Have player sit and lean slightly forward Pinch nostrils shut If bleeding continues after several minutes, seek medical attention

Minor Injuries Strains and Sprains

Serious Injuries Heat Exhaustion & Heat Stroke

Treatment for Heat Exhaustion – Rest in cool, shaded area – Drink cool water – Apply ice to neck, back or stomach Treatment for Heatstroke – Send for emergency help immediately – Rest in cool area – Apply cool, wet towels – Ice packs to armpits, neck, back, stomach and legs

Setting Reasonable Expectations Goals for All Ages – Are the kids having fun? – Are the kids improving? – Are the kids learning?

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 5-6 Age Group Goals – Learn the basics Which direction to run Runners must touch the bases How to record outs – Catch ball in air; throw to 1 st, or tag runners Running past 1 st base Scoring a run 3 outs constitute an inning

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 5-6 Age Group Goals – Throwing Mechanics Turn body; point front shoulder toward target Keep elbow above shoulder Step toward target Release the ball

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 5-6 Age Group Goals – Tracking Follow ball with eyes to glove Use two hands to catch and field Try and catch ball out in front of the body

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 5-6 Age Group Goals – Hitting How to hold and swing bat Batting Safety – When not to swing bats; wearing batting helmets Hitting off tee Hitting softly tossed balls

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 5-6 Age Group Goals – Learning Positional Play What happens if ball is hit to your buddy Let him field it

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 7-8 Age Group Goals – Learn the basic rules Force outs Tagging up Baserunning – When you dont have to run – Not running into or past teammates Balls & Strikes

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 7-8 Age Group Goals – Throwing Mechanics 4-seam grip Point the front shoulder, step, throw Introduce concept of generating momentum toward the target & follow the throw

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 7-8 Age Group Goals – Catching & Fielding Thrown and hit balls Fingers up vs. Fingers down See the glove and the ball Use two hands Forehands & Backhands Underhand flip 1 st Base Fundamentals Crossover & Drop Steps

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 7-8 Age Group Goals – Hitting Choosing the right bat Proper grip Hitting pitched balls Introduce drill work – Tee work – Soft Toss – Short Toss

Setting Reasonable Expectations Age Specific Goals 7-8 Age Group – Learning Positional Play Learn the positions and areas each player should cover Cover a base when the ball is not hit to you Basics of cutoffs & relays

Teaching Baseball Skills at Practice Small groups – Use buzzwords – Demonstrate the skill – Explain why it is important Observe your players – Note when they do well Bring the players together to talk about what they learned Ask players to demonstrate what they learned at the end of the drill Add competition

Sample Practice Plan for 7-8

Skills – Hitting Grip Loose grip in fingers with middle knuckles aligned.

Skills – Hitting Stance Must be comfortable Feet shoulder width apart; slight bend in knees Bat head can reach outside portion of plate

Skills – Hitting Weight Shift & Stride Go back to go forward Short soft stride toward pitcher

Skills – Hitting Follow-Through Can be one or two-handed If other aspects are in place, occurs automatically

Drills – Hitting Tee Drill

Drills – Hitting Soft Toss

Hitting Drills Front Toss

Hitting Drills Free Hitting

Skills - Baserunning Run through 1 st touching front part of bag on infield hits. Think double on all outfield hits. Use inside portion of bag when rounding 1 st.

Skills – Sliding Bent-Knee Start from bag Slide straight to bag Extend one leg toward the bag & bend the other Slide on rear, not your side Tuck your chin to chest Keep hand up

Skills – Throwing Grip (Four Seam) Index & Middle finger next to horseshoe across the four seams Thumb under the ball

Skills - Throwing Throwing side parallel to target Step toward target Point glove elbow at target as throwing arm moves back and up Ball is away from target

Skill - Throwing Elbow stays at or above shoulder Keep glove in front of the body

Skills - Throwing As shoulders rotate & the arm starts towards the target, keep the fingers behind the ball Reach out towards the target Follow-through to opposite knees

Drills – Throwing 21

Drills – Throwing One-Knee

Skills – Pitching Five Links of the Chain Feet – Pitch from the stretch – simple

Skills – Pitching Five Links of the Chain Balance Position – Lift leg to about waist high – Butt slightly pointed to catcher – Drive toward the plate

Skills – Pitching Five Links of the Chain Power Position – Ball is taken down, out, and up. – Hand on top of the ball – Front shoulder pointed at catcher – Stride to home

Skills – Pitching Five Links of the Chain Rotation – Occurs when arm and weight come forward – Hand shift from being on top of the ball to behind it – Elbow above shoulder in L shape – Back foot comes forward after ball is released

Skills – Pitching Five Links of the Chain Follow-Through – Should take care of itself if previous links occur – Should finish in good fielding position

Pitching Drills Power Position Drill

Pitching Drills Balance Drill

Pitching Drills Toe Tap

Skill – Catching the Ball Shoulders square to target Feet shoulder width apart Knees bent Thumbs up

Skill – Catching the Ball Use two hands – throwing thumb on glove Small step to the ball Catch ball in the middle of body

Skill – Fielding Ground Balls Get in a ready position Wide base, Butt Down, Hands out in Front

Drills – Ground Balls Rolled Ground Balls

Drills – Ground Balls Throwing After the Catch

Skill- Fly Balls Use two hands, throwing hand on outside of glove thumb Catch the ball above your head

Drills – Fly Balls Thrown Fly Balls

Drills – Fly Balls Drop-Step Drill

Drills – Fly Balls Pass Patterns

THANKS!