Rookies, A & Minors Practice #1

Hitting 1. Teach the lower half of the swing 1. Stride – 3 Ss Short 4 – 6 inches Soft All toes on the ground Heel decidedly off the ground 10% of weight to front foot Should be able to pull the front foot back Straight Stride must be on the power line Foot remains closed (toes in the direction of home plate) 2. Weight Transfer We’re transferring weight from the back to the center, 51% front foot, 49% back foot This is also known as “walking away from our hands” The head and hips transfer to the center axis (imaginary pole bisecting the body) 3. Lock the front hip Front foot heel plants in the ground starting hip rotation Front knee straightens out & locks Hips must remain level to the ground 4. Rotation With the head and hips on the center axis, snap the back hip to centerfield Keeping the weight back means head & hips do not “drift” past the center axis Coach Key 3. Tee Drills 1.Bat across hips (VIDEO) 1.Place the bat handle across the hips 2.Spread feet as though you have strided 1.About a bat length apart 3.Rotate hips & hit the ball off the tee w/ the barrel 2.Bat across chest (VIDEO) 1.Place the bat handle across the chest 2.Spread feet as though you have strided 1.About a bat length apart 3.Rotate hips & hit the ball off the tee w/ the barrel 1.Rotate so the bat is pitcher 3.From stride (VIDEO) 1.Spread the feet as though strided 1.About a bat length apart 2.Hit against a stiff front leg 4.Memory Aids: “Rotate on the center Axis” “Heel to the sky, laces toward the pitcher” “We hit against a stiff front leg” “Lock the front hip” 2. Cage Drills 1. Basic soft toss from the side for both stations; emphasis is on the stiff front leg 2. Because of the teaching time required, only 5 swings on live pitching this week Goal = Stiff Front Leg

Infield 1. Teach basic ground ball technique 1.Center the ball on the line from belly button to nose 2.Move forward, toward the ball (positive energy) 3.Stutter steps to pick the hop, “chop, chop, chop” (timing) 4.Right, left, down Glove goes out with the right foot Left foot plants ahead of the right foot Back of left heel aligns with toes of right foot Feet should be spread inside to outside Brown on the ground (black on its back) Glove must get on the ground, palm up – dust is a must Butt drops down, knees over toes, nose over knees Ribs should touch the thighs Elbows extend in front of the knees Protect the chin Throwing hand is open, about 12 inches in front of chin Alligators eat baseballs When receiving the ball into the glove close the throwing hand over the glove like an alligator closes its jaws Cradle the ball to the back hip (right hip for right handers) This ball would be coming to the stomach if we were not already starting our throwing motion 5.Right, left, throw Throwing technique will be taught in the outfield Coach Key 2. Individual Drills 1.Stationary Ball (Whole same time) 1.Place the ball on the ground 6 ft in front of the player 2.Start from an athletic position 3.Run toward the ball & pick it up with the proper technique 4.Get to a throwing position & stop; Don’t throw 2.Rolled ball (With partners facing each other from 30 ft) 1.Player rolls ball to his partner 2.Partner runs toward the ball & pick it up with the proper technique 3.Get to a throwing position & stop; Don’t throw 3.Ground Balls 1.Split team up into 4 groups 2.Put one 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd & SS 3.Hit soft ground center of player 4.Player fields ball and throws it back to coach 5.1 coach works SS & 3 rd ; the other works 1 st & 2 nd Coach Tip: 1.Coach can work w/ glove on one hand & bat in the other. Hit them w/ one hand. 2.Bring a whole bucket of balls out so you’re not wasting time retrieving balls 3.Memory aids: “Right, left, down, right, left, throw” “Stay low to throw” “Close the gap” “Brown on the ground” “Protect your chin” “Alligators eat baseballs” Goal = Right, left, down

Outfield 1. Teach the Long Infield Throw -“right, left, throw” 1.Pray position Hands together with the ball at the chest 2.Jump on the skate board Close the gap Right foot (right hander) hits the skate board first 3.Thumb to thigh, reach to the sky, wave bye-bye 4.Look down the Scope (this is the Power Throwing Position) Glove hangs, palm toward target 5.Break Glass Glove side elbow to glove side hip Glove rolls over, catches bicep – finishes with web of glove under arm pit 6.Grab grass Outside glove leg 7.Coaching Tips: Use the Power line Straight line from back shoulder, through front shoulder to the target Don’t come out of your legs (stand up) – stay low to throw At release elbow above shoulder, wrist outside elbow Joint sequence – hips, shoulder, elbow, wrist Back shoulder replaces front shoulder 8.Memory aids: “Pray position” “Jump on your skateboard” “Thumb to thigh, reach to the sky, wave bye-bye, look down your scope, break some glass, grab some grass” “Stay low to throw” “Replace shoulders” Coach Key 3. Individual Drills 1.Warm Up Joint Drill (from about 15 ft) 2.One Knee Throws (from about ½ way between 2 nd & foul line) 3.Cement Feet Catch (from about 3/4 way between 2 nd & foul line) 4.Play Catch 1.Distance from 2 nd base to foul lines 2.15 ft past 2 nd base 3.30 ft past 2 nd base 4.Extend beyond their limits for 5 throws each – Long Toss 2. Teach Receiving the Ball 1.2 hands 5 fingers toward your partner Knuckles to the sky The knuckles of the fingers (not the thumb) Nose over knuckles Arm extended but not straight Make sure it is not locked Thumb to thumb Thumb of throwing hand to the actual thumb in the glove Support glove thumb w/ 4 fingers More efficient - throwing hand in close proximity to the ball 2.Coaching tips: Balls below the waist are received with fingers down Ball above head are received with fingers up Between waist and head, received with fingers toward your partner 3.Memory aids: “5 fingers toward your partner” “Knuckles to the sky” “Nose over knuckles” “Extend your arm” “Thumb to thumb” Goal = Throw with a long arm