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 Coaches Corner |
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Pitching
CONTROL
Pitchers and catchers stand at regulation distance from each other. The catcher stands behind home plate and a batter stands in the batter's box. The batter should alternate between a left and right-handed batting stance after every five pitches, but not take any swings. The catcher calls balls and strikes. Have the batter wear a helmet in this practice situation. This game-like drill will help your pitchers develop a consistent pitching motion, get a good feel for the strike zone, and get used to pitching with a player in the batter's box.
Coach Don's Baseball Page
Submitted by: Coach Don
HAND OFF
Have the player stand the normal pitching distance from a catcher, with his non-throwing shoulder to the catcher. A person should stand behind the pitcher so that his shoulder brushes the back of the pitcher's shoulder. The pitcher must kick straight up and stay there for a count of 2 and then he has to reach back while in the middle of his kick, and take a ball out of the hand of the person behind him.
This will keep the pitcher from 'slinging' the ball and hurting his elbow, improves his balance point during his windup, and it keeps his hand on top of the ball during his windup. The drill will give him better snap on the ball and reduce side-arming.
Submitted by: David J Meacher
SIT AND HIT THE BULLSEYE
Two pitchers sit, with legs crossed, about 20-30 feet from each other. The receiver puts his glove in front of his face as the target. The thrower must hit the target without the ball bouncing, and with minimal rocking motion.
This will require the elbow above the shoulder, and a good rotation of the shoulders to just get it there, thus teaching good technique.
Submitted by: Rob Barthle
STEPPING ON THE LINE
I have read with some interest the other coaches' input on pitching. My concern in teaching players to pitch is eliminating elements in their throwing motion which puts unnecessary stress on the elbow or shoulder.
What I emphasize to my pitchers is that the arm should be straight or almost straight when the arm is even with the body. If the elbow is bent then, the player cannot get it fully extended before release. A straight arm provides a longer arc for the ball and will generate more velocity with less effort than a bent elbow. Having players get down on one knee, kneeling with the "push" leg down and the "plant" leg up and in front of them, extend their throwing arm straight out from their body in its natural throwing angle to the body and then have them throw the ball to a partner by taking the ball back about 6 inches and then throwing, I ask them to exaggerate their follow through and finish with their arm down and out side their front knee.
This drill also allows me to work them on their wrist cock and snap at I work a drill to keep the hips and shoulders closed during wind-up. It is called "stepping on the line.", I draw a line perpendicular to the pitching rubber toward home plate from each corner of the rubber and the center of the rubber. The pitcher executes his wind up and throws to home plate, the goal is to step on the line extending out from the pitcher. This keeps the pitchers hips and shoulders from opening early and taking velocity and accuracy from the pitch.
Submitted by: Fred J Wright
THE BALANCE
Can be done either from the windup or the stretch, from the full distance to the plate. The idea is to have the pitcher hit his apex in the leg kick, and then stop and hold his balance for a few seconds (time varies with each different pitch), then finish the delivery. If he loses balance, he does not throw the ball. If he holds his balance well, all his body weight will be able to go towards the plate, and he will also have a smooth delivery as well.
This is a major factor in improving control problems.
Submitted by: Ron Barthle
TARP
Tie a large piece of tarp on a section of the backstop. Place a target on the tarp(outline a strike zone) in paint or tape. Place a home plate in front of the strike zone. From two-thirds or regulation distance, a pitcher throws pitches at the strike zone on the tarp. After throwing 20 balls, they collect the balls and start over. Have the pitchers deliver half of the pitches form the stretch.
As your pitchers' control improves, divide the strike zone into sections and challenge them to deliver their pitches to the different sections. Pitchers can also work on their pick-off moves into the tarp.
Coach Don's Baseball Page
Submitted by: Coach Don
Baseball Hitting
4 CORNERS
A hitting drill that our kids do is called the "4 Corners Drill", actually for bunting.
Our players divide up into 4 groups of how ever many. They gather around each of the bases and the plate of our diamond. A player uses the plate or base as a home plate and stands ready to drag, squeeze, or sacrifice bunt with another player pitching from his knee about 10 feet away. There is also a catcher, and the other players field with bare hands.
Each player bunts the ball 5 times and then everyone rotates until all three types of bunts are laid down correctly, making sure that fundamentals are being done, with a coach at each station.
Submitted by: Coach B
BAT SPEED
Put a weighted donut on your regular baseball bat and hit eight baseballs.(overload)
Hit eight baseballs with a fungo bat.(underload)
Hit eight baseballs with your regular bat.
I conduct this drill in a soft toss situation and do 2 sets 2-3 times a week. Over the course of 4 to 6 weeks you should see a positive increase in bat speed.
Submitted by: Denny McCrotty
HITTING TO ALL FIELDS
I have found this drill will help younger players learn to hit inside and outside pitches and learn "their pitch".
Split your team into 2 equal teams talent wise. Set a line of cones or other suitable separaters directly down center field.
Play "over the line" and alternate between left field and right field. Have a coach pitch from the mound or regulation distance.
We will play a 4 inning game, closing the right side the first inning, then closing the left side the next. It is imperitive that your coach that is pitching is accurate. For right handers, when left field is closed your pitcher must pitch to the outside so they can "go with the pitch" and have a chance to hit to right.When right field is closed and left is open, your pitcher must give "middle-in" pitches. We give our hitters 3 strikes. All other "over the line rules that you deem fit apply. Of course another benifit is defensive glovework.
This game forces your hitters to hit the outside pitch that they will inevitably see when they are behind in the count. It also allows them to attack "their pitch" (for most hitters, the middle in pitch)
Submitted by: Dave Marshall
CORRECTING STEP OUT
Many young players will take their front foot and step away from a pitch as they swing, thus pulling them off the ball. A coach can lay face down and holding the players ankles, keep his step in line with the pitch. The player begins to adapt to the foot placement. I recommend that the coach wear a helmet while doing this.
Once the player starts making contact with the ball, he has demonstrated to himself that he can hit when he doesn't back away. Depending on the age and experience of the player, this can take anywhere from 10 minutes and up.
I have had great success with kids when I've done this, and with little time involved.
Submitted by: Mike Welborn
Baseball Infield
BUCKET
I have a drill that I run every so often that the kids really enjoy. This drill is designed to teach the kids to get rid of the ball and not hold it. As coaches, we are trying to avoid the situation of young kids sometimes getting confused and holding the ball.
The drill consists of your squad broken into two teams. The first team will line up, one behind the other, in the shortstop position. The others line up behind first base. A five-gallon bucket is placed upside down on first base. A coach will drop a ball in front of the first person in line. The player has 3 seconds (which the coach counts out loudly) to pick up the ball and throw at the bucket. If the bucket is missed the fielders behind first will field the ball and throw it back to the coach. This drill works best with a large number of balls. You go through each team member 4-5 times and keep track of the hits. Switch sides and keep score.
We also have both teams lined up and throwing at the same time and run it on a timed basis. Be warned though, this variation involves a large number of coaches. If you have the parental involvement, the head to head is also a huge hit with the kids.
The kids thrive on the competition. This teaches quick release, fielding, throwing accuracy and keeping the throw where the first baseman can catch it. I have found success with this drill year after year.
Submitted by: Chris Morin
CHARGING
Purpose: To improve the player's ability to charge a softly hit ground ball.
Procedure: The drill can have as many tossers as desired. Drill can have three or more players in the lines, which are about 70 feet in front of the tossers.
The tosser throws a ground ball so that the player has to charge the ball at about midway between the tosser and the player. The player then throw the ball back to the tosser, turns to the right, and jogs back to the end of the line. A variation of this drill would be for infielders to start about 70 feet in front of the tossers, outfielders should start about 90 feet in front of the tossers. The tosser still attempts to throw the ground ball so that the player has to charge the ball at about midway between the tosser and the player. Rotation can also be varied so that the player replaces the tosser who in turns goes to the end of the line.
Submitted by: Jamie Roberts
COUNTDOWN
This is a fun drill to help the 1st and 2nd graders I coach to develop good hands, quick release, and hustle to a loose ball. I have the players line up accross from a partner about 20 feet apart. They are to make good throws back and forth as many times an they can while I count down from 30 to zero. The player who does not have the ball at zero wins. (Winning usually puts you in the first group for batting practice.) You should see the kids scramble for a dropped, or passed ball. Baseball is fun. Let's make practice fun too.
Submitted by: Kevin Nickelson
LATERAL MOVEMENT
Purpose: To improve the player's ability to react and move laterally in fielding a ground ball.
Procedure: The drill has two tossers near the pitching area. Each tosser has two shaggers with one standing on each side of the tosser. The drill can have four or more players in each line. One line of players is at the shortstop's defensive position, while the other line of players is at the second baseman's defensive position.
The tosser throws a ground ball randomly to the right or left of the player making the player move laterally to field the ball. After fielding the ball, the player throws the ball back to the shagger on that side. Then the player turns to the outside and Jogs back to the end of the line.
Submitted by: Jamie Roberts
OVER THE SHOULDER CATCH
Purpose: To improve the player's ability to catch a fly ball over the shoulder.
Procedure: The drill can have as many tossers as desired. The drill can have 4 or more players in each line. Each player has a ball.
The tosser stands on the left side of the player. The player hands the ball to the tosser, then runs out, and the tosser leads with a fly ball so that the player has to reach to catch the ball over the left shoulder. After catching or retrieving the ball, the player turns to the left, an jogs back to the end of the line.
A variation of this drill would be to work the players in a rotation of tosser, fielder, end of line. Make sure to have all players also work on fielding fly balls over the right shoulder.
Submitted by: Jamie Roberts
RELAY SPEED DRILL
Take the entire team and break them into groups of three. Spread them out about 10 feet apart, with one player on the outfield foul line and the other two lined up at equal distances towards center field.
Starting with the ball at the feet of the player along the outfield line, hollar GO! to start the drill. The first player must pick up the ball and throw to the middle player. The middle player is to turn to the glove side, and relay the throw to player three. Player three then uses quick feet throwing back to the middle player, who turns glove side once again, throwing back to player one.
Do the drill a couple of times getting the middle player comfortable turning to the glove side and then rotate team members so each one has a turn as the middle fielder. This drill also works quick feet and can also work as a game of competition with the slowest team dropping off. The team left standing wins!
Submitted by: Greg Waldorf, LaSalle-Peru Tws.H.S.
POINT
Split your team up into an A and B team. Have the A team spread out between second and third base and the B team spead out between second base and first base.
Once this is accomplished, have a coach (from home plate) hit ground balls to each teams side. If a ball gets through on either side of the infield and makes it to the outfield grass, then that team receives a point. First team with ten points losses.
Kids love this game and are really aggressive (diving) going after the ball. This game has also taught my kids the importantance of backing up one another when fielding a ground ball.
Submitted by: Troy P Garland
HANDS STAYING TOGETHER
In working with the infielders and trying to eliminate the ball that sails over the first baseman, I took some video of my infielders making throws across the diamond. I realized a very critical error they were making as athletes and one that I was not seeing as a coach. Nine times out of ten when the athlete separated his throwing hand from his glove hand while still moving toward first base, the throw was high.
So, what we have our kids do is try to throw with their feet!!! Yes, it sounds crazy but we do it...not literally of course. We have the kids keep their hands inside of their body, throwing hand with ball in glove. Next, they complete their footwork toward where they are going to throw and just let the ball fall out of their hands. With the momentum they create with their feet, the ball should actually roll away from their body.
What we force our infielders to do is to keep their hands inside their body until the last second at which they can separate and make their throw. In the video, we noticed that if that separation occurs to soon, the front side starts to fly out and the throwing arm lags behind making the elbow drop and the ball sail.
Submitted by: CoachB
Baseball Conditioning
AROUND-THE-WORLD
This tip is a very good conditioning drill that will allow your player to develop physically.
Take the players to the foul pole in left or right field, time them from foul pole to foul pole to get a base time. Then have a set time that they should complete each of the laps. I use 7 laps because of the number of innings we play. I require that all team members finish under the time required to make the lap count.
For me this helps toughen my players for game and competion.
Submitted by: Coach Culp
DIVE BACKS
The players start out at Home Plate and run around first base, making an aggressive turn, and then dive back into the bag. After diving back they get up as fast as they can and head to second base to do the same thing. They do this also at third then slide feet first into home plate to end their round.
Besides basic conditioning, this drill helps to build the players speed and quickness back to the bag. Also, it is helpful to work on quickly leaving the bag as well as helping the players to recognize how big of a turn they can make around a bag to make sure that they get back in case of a throw.
A good way to prove the get back theory is to have an outfielder and a second basemen trying to get a player out every couple of times through. I usually only make the players do this drill twice before they are finished.
Submitted by: Justin Copeland
THE GLOVE
Everyone hates conditioning, so we try to make it as fun as possible. Our favorite, yet hardest conditioner is called the glove drill.
We split up the players in groups of 4 or 5 and they line up and put their gloves in the outfield at about 25 foot intervals apart, away from them. They start the drill with a ball in their hand and run to the first glove and set the ball on it and come back to the line and go back and get the ball and come back to the line and go to the second glove and set the ball down and go back to the line and so on and so forth, until all the players have gone through and the winners get out of laps at the end of the practice.
Submitted by: Coach B
SPEED QUICKNESS AND POWER
In our program, player development is a primary concern. What I mean is, that as players get older they also raise their level of function in the game. One of the areas we try to improve is the physical or talent area. We tell our kids if they are serious about the game they must first be in the talent pool of players. If you can't do the physical levels, no one will look at the skill or playing abilities.
Our pre-season conditioning program starts when the players get back from Christmas break. It is a voluntary program for those non-winter sport athletes. We focus our work on 3 areas we consider essential to play baseball at a competitive level - Speed, Quickness, and Power.
The first day we test the components of each we think are reliable predictors of each. Our test items are; 40 yard sprint, 10 yard sprint, standing 2 footed vertical jump, 30 second dips, an 30 second sit-ups. We have also used home to 1b, bench press, dot jumps, and diamond push ups, but have condensed our testing to these areas. After the testing is done, we have a 6-7 week conditioning program that incorporates exercises, running, and strength training. We work out 3 days each week. At then end of the training period we post test.
As a result of this over a period of years, we have built a database of physical ability levels that we have been able to use to identify levels of function by Varsity, Reserve, and Non players. We have also divided it into infielders and outfielders to see if there are physical factors that define levels of function. We now have over 250 players in our database, ranging from horrible to professional players with all 3 levels of college play included. What we are trying to do is tell the kid who really wants to be a player where he stands, and what he needs to do to get where he wants to go if he isn't at the level yet. We also want to be able to project with some reliability where each kid can reasonably expect to peak in the various physical areas essential to baseball. We do that by taking his tests and progress along with the number of workouts between pre and post tests and insert them into the growth rate equation. I would be interested in comparing and sharing data, exercises and ideas with others interested in this type of player development.
Submitted by: Karlos Patterson
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