Planning The Perfect PracticePittsford Little League - 2008

Agenda:

- Introductions- Youth Coaching Overview- Why A Practice Plan Is Essential- What Makes A Perfect Practice- Sample Practice Plans- Baseball Fundamentals

- Hitting- Fielding / Outfield

- Drill Examples- Ford Practice Area- Habecker Batting Cage

Double-Goal Coach: Winning & Teaching Life Lessons

A Third Goal (For Youth Sports)… Every Player On Our Team Wants To Play Again Next Year.

- It is not our job to ‘weed out’ players at the youth level.- It is our job to build a love of the game and a feeling of belonging to the team.

Tools To Help:

- Practice The Principals of Double-Coach Coaching.

- Become A Student of The Game- This Workshop, Pitching Clinic, Al & Al- Web Resources (there’s a TON!)- Engage Peers

- Plan Perfect Practices. This is where…- Skills Are Built- Goals Are Achieved- Fears Are Overcome- Camaraderie Is Learned- The “Team” Is Formed

Why A Practice Plan Is Essential

• Forces Evaluation of Your Team & Your Players Throughout The Season– What skills are lacking. What drills can address them. How do we improve?

• Instills Confidence In Your Players and Your Parents

• An Organized Practice Keeps Players Under Control

• An Organized Practice Maintains Focus On Baseball (not the airplanes)

• Perfect Practice Makes Perfect (Ripkin)– Practicing The Wrong Way Doesn’t Help– You Play The Way You Practice

What Makes A Perfect Practice• Pre-Planning

– Build a Practice Plan in Sections: Warm Up; Skill Building; Team/Situations; Batting; Wrap Up– Write It Out, Make Copies/Email To Coaches, and Live By It – Every Practice– Vary Skill Building & Team/Situations Based On Need And Team Competency

• Organization– Create a Beginning/Warm Up Routine

• Players Will Take Ownership & Begin Practice Without Direction

– Create an Ending/Wrap Up Routine• Players Re-Energize Knowing The End is Near • Suggest Ending With A Scrimmage

– Organize For Efficiency– Expect Focus & Discipline– But…Allow For Fun

• Station Based (KEY – Keeping Kids Moving Is Critical To Any Practice)– Small Groups and/or Individual Stations– Each Station Runs Concurrent With All Other Stations– Kids Rotate Through Stations (Coaches / Parents Run The Stations)– Have as many stations as possible (usually limited by # of Coaches or Parents available).

– Stations = More Reps = Efficiency• Baseball is a game of repetition. • More swings = Better Hitter. • More Pitches = Better Pitcher. • More Grounders = Better Fielder

Sample Practice Plan (Little League International)

Basic Practice Practice Meeting (5 min) Go over team goals and practice objectives

Team Stretch and Short and long toss (12 min)

Team Jog one pole (5 min) this time is to think about having a positive practice and what needs to be accomplished.

Hitting Stations:Two Soft Toss Station (8 min)Two Tee Station (8 min)One Cage Station (8min) (Once Coach pitch)Two Bunting Station (8min)

Fielding Drills:Drill A  Y Ground Ball Drill Left/Right side of infield (10 min) 2 Coaches hit to the infield. One hits to 1B and 2B, other coach hits to SS and 3B. Drill B Outfield groundball drill (10 min)Drill C Charging a Bunt (8 min) 3B and 1BDrill D 3 man relays in outfield (8 min) Group 1. OF-SS-OF   Group 2. OF-2B-OF

Round of infield/outfield with one coach hitting (pre-game warm up) (10 min)

One pole to cool down (5min)

Wrap-up Meeting (3 min)* * Drills A and B are done at the same time. * * Drills C and D are done at the same time. 90 Minutes

Sample Practice Plan (Little League International)Defensive Practice Plan Practice Meeting (5 min) Go over team goals and practice objectives Team Stretch /Short and long toss (12 min) Team Jog one pole (5 min) this time is to think about having a positive practice 

A. Y Ground Ball Drill Left/Right side of infield (15 min) 2 Coaches hit to the infield. One hits to 1B and 2B the other coach hits to SS and 3B. The ball is returned to the catcher for the appropriate coach. A. Out Field Ground Ball Drill (15 min) B. Infield Drill at all positions (15 min) B. Outfield Fly ball drill (15 min) C. 2B/SS feed drill (15min) C. 3 man relays OF-3B-OF   OF-1B-OF (15min)

 Round of infield/outfield with one coach hitting (pre-game warm up) (10 min) Situations: Play like a live game with 9 fielders and have a coach hit. You can have four runners with helmets and go over game situations. (15 min) Wrap-up meeting (5min) * * Drills A are done at the same time* * Drills B are done at the same time* * Drills C are done at the same time97 minutes

Sample Practice Plan (Little League International)

Offensive Hitting Practice  Practice Meeting (5 min) Go over team goals and practice objectives Team Stretch /Short and long toss (12 min) Team Jog one pole (5 min) This time is to think about having a positive practice 

Hitting on the field with Coach pitch (10 min) three fielders to shag balls.(4 players) 

Soft Toss Station (10 min) (2 players) 

Two Tee Stations (10 min) (4 players) 

One Cage Station (10min) (One Coach pitch with 2 players) 

Bunting Station (10 min) (2 players)Each player rotates through each hitting station

 Base Running Drills (15 min) Wrap-up meeting (3 min)90 Minutes

Warm-up - 10 minutesSlow Jog / Stretch Legs / Stretch Torso / Stretch Arms

Base Running - 10 minutesInfield Hit (Through First) Round First (Single) Run for a Double Run for a Triple

Throwing - 10 minutesOne partner should be on foul line and the other in the outfield.

Stations - Total of 40 minutes (10 minutes each)• Ground Balls • Pop-ups / Fly Balls • Hitting on field or in batting cage/s • Tee • Soft Toss

Team Work Examples - 50 minutesScrimmage Cut-offs / Relays Run-Downs Pitching Drills Base Stealing Base Running - Tagging up etc.

Sample Practice Plan (Web)

Sample Practice Plan (Ripkin Baseball)

20 Minutes Stretch, Run, Throw

20 Minutes Groundballs and Flyballs – use buckets & systems to minimize throws and maximize repetitions.- Not taking infield- Two Infield Fungo Stations (Y Drill)- One Outfield Fungo Station

20 Minutes Team Fundamentals- Bunt Defenses- First and Third Defenses- Cutoffs & Relays- Pickoffs and Rundowns- Baserunning

60 Minutes Team Batting Practice (4 Stations, 15 Minutes Each)- Tee, Soft Toss, On-Arm Soft Toss, Live Hitting- Pitchers / Catchers Work on Sidelines

Warm-up: (20 Minutes)Throwing (one partner on foul line and the other in outfield)

• One Knee Down 10 yds• Catch 10-15 yds• Long Toss 20 yds +

Fielding (one partner on foul line and the other in outfield)• No Glove Ground Balls 15 yds• Quick Toss (30 second reps – Who can get the most?)

Conditioning• Drills To Right (Players Always Follow Their Throw)

Stations: (40 minutes) • Live Hitting • Soft-Toss and/or Tee (Wiffle Ball if necessary) • Fly Ball (Coach Throws Football Patterns From Foul Line)• Pitchers & Catchers (Full Gear – challenge catchers to no passed balls)

Team: (15 minutes)Situations (8 man defense , Coach hits and calls situations with Runners)Run-DownsBase Stealing / Tagging up / AdvancingCut-Offs & Base CoverageBunt Coverage1st and 3rd Plays

* End With A Scrimmage (15 minutes) (4 on 4 on 4)Team A & B in field while Team C Hits.Batter starts with 2 strikes.Max Runs = 4 per Team/Inning

Sample Practice Plan (PLL)

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Hitting Fundamentals

• Bat Selection

• Too Heavy = Long, Slow, Lag Swing

• Ideal Swing is Short and Compact

• The Grip

• Line Up The ‘Door Knocking’ Knuckles.

• Loose hands/wrists = throwing the bat at the ball (a good thing)

• The Stance

• Balanced & Square (so you can see the ball)

• Cover The Plate

• It’s Here Where 1000’s of Techniques Begin…

• Stride, Hands, Head, Hips, Shoulder Turn, etc.

• Fundamental Keys To Hitting

• See The Ball (Keep The Head Still)

• Get The Bat On The Same Plane as The Ball

• As late as possible.

• As long as possible.

Stance – Square, toe-in, hands back, Barrel Up. Both eyes on pitcher.

Load – Hands above the ball & back. Eyes tracking pitch. Short/Soft Step

Swing – Head Down, Arms Extended, Front Leg Planted, Back Hip Driven Forward.

Finish– Head Still, Hit Against Firm Front Leg, Rotate Hips

Infield Drills

No Glove Ground Balls (6-3, 4-3) – Coach on Mound, Rolling Balls to SS & 2B. Players Change Lines

No Glove Double Play (6-4-3, 4-6-3) – Coach on Mound, Roll To 2B. 2B tosses to SS for DP. Change Lines.

Glove Double Play (5-4-3) – Coach at Home, Roll To 3B. 3B Tosses To 2B for DP.

(Each above are rapid fire. Kids will catch, throw, change lines. Put a Coach at 1B so poor throws can be caught and returned to Coach on Mound quickly. Run these drills as fast as possible. Reps = Efficiency)

Keys:

• Focus On Getting The Out at 2B.

• Teach Proper Foot Placement for 2B & SS

• Teach Toss vs Overhand

• Field GND Balls w/ 2 Hands

• Receive Toss With 2 Hands Up

• Work on Quick Transfer & Throw To 1st

• But…Make The Out At 2B!!!!

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“Triangle” Position

Butt Down, Head Up, Two Hands – Out Front

Outfield Drills

Turnaround Drill – Player faces away from Coach who throws Fly Ball. Coach Yells Turnaround and Player Locates Ball

Strike At Home – Place a Bucket or Bag at Home Plate. Hit GND balls to OF. Player Tries To Hit Object At Home.

Shoestring Drill - Player Runs Toward Coach Who Tosses Ball So Player Extends Out and Down To Make Catch.

Relay Drill – Below Make it a race. First Team to Go From Home To Fence and Back First, Wins.

Angles & Backup Drill – Coach hits gapper. Closest OF’er fields while other backs up.

** OF is all about BACKUP & Throwing 2 Bases Ahead Of Lead Runner **

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Star Drill

Skills:

-Hands in receiving position

-Quick Catch/Transfer/Release

Key Point:

-Catch as feet are moving to base they are throwing.

Chase Drill

Skills:

- 6-3 Grounders

- Slap Tag at 2B/3B/Home

Key Point:

- Players Follow Their Throw

Bunt Drill

Skills:

- Bunting 3rd or 1st Base line

- Pitchers Charge

Key Point:

- Focus on Getting The Bunt Down

Station Set Up

Pitcher/Catcher

Tee Station

Soft Toss Station

Fly Ball Or Outfield Ground Ball Station

On-Deck/Foul Balls

Ford Field – Practice Area

2 Pitchers

2 Catchers

Juniors/Seniors Minors/Majors Softball

TeeStation

Soft TossStation

Ford A

Quick Toss

Ground Balls

Fly Balls

No Glove Gnd Balls

Turn Two (DP)

Cut-Off Relays

Short Infield Drills

Baserunning

Cage