Archive for Drills
May
16
Playing First Base – Footwork and Catching the Ball
Posted by: | CommentsFundamentals of playing first base
- Footwork and receiving the throw
- First baseman should move to the base as soon as the ball is put in play.
- He should then face the fielder making the throw over to first.
- He should have his knees slightly bent with his heels touching the edge of the base closest to the field.
- He is now waiting for the throw from the fielder.
- As the ball comes toward the base the player should wait until the last possible moment before stretching out towards the ball.
- You don’t want to start the stretch too early as that will not allow you to adjust to an errant throw.
- Should the throw be off target it’s the first baseman’s responsibility to move off the base and catch the ball to avoid an overthrow and advancement of the runner.
- Remember, the first baseman will have to leave the base on errant throws. Keep in mind the top priority is to catch the baseball.
- Inexperienced first baseman will keep their feet on the base way too long and allow an errant throw to get away from them allowing the runners to advance.
- First baseman must know where the throw is going before stretching out to catch the baseball.
- The player should stretch out with the leg on the glove side hand. Right handed first baseman stretch out with the left foot and a left handed first baseman stretches with the right foot.
- There are times when throws will come to the outside of first base and the player will be forced to field the ball on the foul side of the base.
- The player must realize in this situation the runner is coming hard down the line and he should not try to reach across the base line to field the ball or there could be a violent collision.
- The player will move across the base to the foul side and receive the baseball from that position. Should it be impossible to get the foot back on the base the first baseman should quickly put the glove out in front of the base runner to get him to run into the tag.
Our next post will cover throwing the baseball from first base.
Until then, play hard and enjoy this great game.
Oct
31
BASEBALL DRILL – “The Turn at Second”
Posted by: | CommentsBASEBALL DRILL – “The Turn at Second”
SKILL LEVEL: All Levels
DRILL TYPE: Baserunning
PURPOSE: This drill is designed to teach the player to make a turn at 2nd and pick up the 3rd base coach.
EQUIPMENT: None
PLAYERS: Any number of players
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- Set your players behind a cone just to the right of 1st base.
- One player at a time takes a turn starting at 1st base.
- On command, the player will run from 1st to 3rd making a turn at second. Coach starts timer on go command.
- Player runs hard toward 2nd, making a turn and finishing at 3rd.
- Coach stops timer when player reaches 3rd base.
- Repeat until all players have a turn.
- Record timing results as you go.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- Coach aggressive base running.
- Ensure the players do not slow down when making the turn at second.
- Coach them to pick up the 3rd base coach just before making the turn at second to get in the habit of knowing whether to go or stay at 2nd. This is especially needed if the ball is hit behind the runner and he cannot see where the ball is.
- Ensure the players run hard all the way to 3rd base breaking down with chop steps just before the base and coming to a stop on top of the base. They cannot carry too much momentum to the base which could make them run through and off the base. The chop step breakdown will still allow for full speed running but will slow the player just enough to stop on top of the base.
Oct
28
BASEBALL DRILL – “Running to First – Younger Players”
Posted by: | CommentsBASEBALL DRILL – “Running to First – Younger Players”
SKILL LEVEL: All Levels
DRILL TYPE: Baserunning
PURPOSE: This drill is designed to increase the speed of the player getting out of the batter’s box and running to first base when balls are hit to the infield. It’s used to help younger players understand the need to run all the way through the base each and every time. Used mainly in Tee-ball when players don’t usually take extra bases.
EQUIPMENT: None
PLAYERS: Any number of players
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- Set your players behind a cone just to the left of home plate.
- Set up a coach about 10 feet past first based down the foul line with their hand out to allow the player to slap their hand once they run through 1st base.
- One player at a time takes their batting stance in the batters box.
- Have them hold their back hand up to simulate holding the bat while placing their front hand perpendicular to their body and out in front of their stomach over the plate.
- On go command have them swing their back arm down and slap their front hand to represent a batted ball. Coach will act as timer and will start the time when the hands slap together.
- Player runs through first base and slaps the hand of their coach. Then turns over their right shoulder toward the fence.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- Players need to pop out of the batter’s box on the crack of the bat. This quick start could make the difference in being out or safe.
- Make sure the players run full speed straight down the line toward first base and not veering out to the right of the line. Quickest route between two points is a straight line.
- Players should focus on touching the front part of 1st base as it’s the first point where they will be safe. Very important to make sure they done land in the middle of the base.
- Ensure they done slow down until they are past the base and perform a chop step. I know you have seen coaches teaching their players to peel off toward the fence when running to first but resist doing this as it takes them away from 2nd base should their be an over throw. Have them chop step out toward the outfield right on top of the foul line.
- Make sure when the chop step is completed they turn to the right or outside and come back to the base.
- Get your players used to listening for the baseball hitting the fence on over throws or the coach yelling to go to 2nd.
Oct
24
BASEBALL DRILL – “Pick up Coach”
Posted by: | CommentsBASEBALL DRILL – “Pick up Coach”
SKILL LEVEL: All Levels
DRILL TYPE: Baserunning
PURPOSE: This drill is designed to teach the players to pick up the direction of the 1st and 3rd base coach.
EQUIPMENT: None
PLAYERS: Any number of players
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- Set half you players behind a cone just outside 2nd base. Set the other players up behind a cone just to the left of home plate.
- The first player in each line takes a position at either 2nd base or in the batters box as they would during live play.
- On a coaches command both players sprint to the next base and follows the direction of the coach.
- The coach should randomly choose to either send the runner on to the next base or tell them to stop.
- The coach can also tell the player going to 3rd base if a slide is needed by telling them to get down or communicating “down, down, down”.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- The theme with all our base running drills is to be aggressive.
- Make sure the player’s watch for your signal and doesn’t hesitate when either going to the next base or staying at the base they are running to.
- It’s a good idea to get the player in the habit of sliding into 3rd base when they stop there.
- As a coach change things up so the player doesn’t know what is coming next.
- Coaches need to make sure they are loud and direct with what they are asking the player to do.
- Don’t let your players running to 3rd base carry too much momentum into the base and cause them to be pulled off the base. It’s much better to have the slide into 3rd base unless you are sending them home.
Oct
21
BASEBALL DRILL – “Base Running Path”
Posted by: | CommentsBASEBALL DRILL – “Base Running Path”
SKILL LEVEL: All Levels
DRILL TYPE: Baserunning
PURPOSE: This drill is designed to teach the players the correct line to run the bases
EQUIPMENT: Cones
PLAYERS: Any number of players
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- Set you players up behind a cone to the left of home plate.
- Set up cones along the base paths to represent the correct running line.
- Based on the age group you are coaching there could be the need to walk them around the bases first instead of having them immediately go to running.
- Once they are familiar with the path then have the line up at home and run the bases 1 person at a time.
- You can break this drill into a series of smaller drills and go base to base with the cones to show the correct path or you can just set it up and have them run home to home.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- The theme with all our base running drills is to be aggressive.
- Younger players should be walked around the path and then let them do it on their own.
- Ensure they are making aggressive turns at 1st, 2nd and 3rd base with no hesitation.
- Make sure the players are running with their head up and not looking down at their feet, which is very common with young players.
- Ensure the players are hitting the inside portion of the base when they are making a turn around the base. You don’t want them stepping on the center of the base as that is costing them speed.
- If you have trouble with your players looking down when running have a coach hold up a few fingers and have the player yell out how many fingers are being held up when they touch the base.
Sep
02
BASEBALL DRILL – “Rapid Fire”
Posted by: | CommentsBASEBALL DRILL – “Rapid Fire”
BEHIND THE DRILL: Youth baseball players must learn to make quick decisions with the baseball. Additionally, getting the baseball out of the glove quickly is a big part of fundamental throwing.
SKILL LEVEL: All Levels
DRILL TYPE: Throwing
PURPOSE: The purpose of this drill is to help develop quick transition of the baseball out of the glove and develop the quickness needed for successful defense.
EQUIPMENT: Baseball
PLAYERS: Minimum 2 players
TIME: 5 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- Set up 2 players facing each other about 20 feet apart. The distance used should be adjusted based on age.
- Coach gives the throw command and the players throw the ball back and forth as quickly as possible while staying under control. Start slow and then increase the speed.
- The players should keep track of how many successful throws are completed and award one point for each. The game is to get to 21 first. Your entire team can do this and once a pair gets 21 have them take a knee.
- Once you get all teams to 21, have them back up 10 feet or so and repeat. You can do this as many times as you feel comfortable they can make good throws and be safe.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- Make sure the skill levels of each throwing partner are about the same for safety reasons.
- Make sure they players are not rushing so much they are making poor throws.
- Watch for players short-arming throws to be quicker as this will develop poor fundamental throwing mechanics.
- Teach the players to catch the ball, take it out of the glove quickly and show it to their partner and then throw it back. This is how you slow it down at first to get correct mechanics, then speed it up and play the game outlined above.
- If you see players dropping the ball it’s because they are not watching it into their glove. Slow them down and make sure they are doing it correctly before going faster.
Aug
29
BASEBALL DRILL – “Pitcher Conditioning”
Posted by: | CommentsBASEBALL DRILL – “Pitcher Conditioning”
BEHIND THE DRILL: Conditioning has and always will be a big part of pitcher development, especially in the pre-season. Developing powerful legs will give a pitcher an advantage.
SKILL LEVEL: All Levels
DRILL TYPE: Conditioning
PURPOSE: This drill is designed to get the players into throwing shape.
EQUIPMENT: Nothing specifically required
PLAYERS: Any number of players
TIME: 10 minutes
SETUP PROCEDURE:
- The player will do some distance running along with sprinting.
- The first thing you want your players to do is run at some distance.
- Start by having them run a half mile or so and then increase that. It will depend on the age group so use common sense but the idea is to get them to start running at some distance.
- After the distant running you want the players to do some sprint work.
- Set them up on the outfield foul line and put cones at 25 yards and 50 yards.
- The players line up and complete a sprint to 25 yards. Have them walk out to the 50 yard cone, turn around and sprint back to the 25 yard cone. Repeat this until the players complete 10 sprints at the 25 yard distance.
- The players line up and complete a sprint to 50 yards. Have them turn and walk back to the starting point, turn and sprint to the 50 yard mark again. Repeat this until the players complete 10 sprints at the 50 yard distance.
KEY COACHING POINTS:
- The distance running is used to help develop strong legs that are needed to be successful at pitching. When the legs wear out the player will not effectively maintain command of their pitches.
- When their legs get tired they are also more susceptible to injury.
- The sprinting will also help develop powerful legs but the quickness feature will help them develop outstanding power bursts that are needed while pitching.
- Don’t push the players too hard, especially in excessive heat.
- Make sure there is plenty of water available for everyone and keep them hydrated.
- If someone is complaining of soreness in the legs then make sure it’s not something more serious before pushing them to work through it. It could be just soreness, but it could also be a slight tear in the leg muscles and that’s very serious for a player.
