Transcript
Amesbury Little League Pre-Season Clinics Week 8 – Final Hitting, Coaching Approach, Practice Plans March 22, 2015 Topics to Be Covered Tonight:
Coaching Approach Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time Overcoming fear of Being Hit by Pitch 60-75 Minute Practice Plans, Final Thoughts
COACHING APPROACH Remember that for younger groups (T-Ball, Coach Pitch), a coach’s number one goal is to create a positive and experience memorable enough that the player comes back to Amesbury Little League the nest year. For many players, skill development comes along with strength as they turn eight or nine years old. Therefore, the key is to teach them basics while allowing them to have fun experiencing the game. As players get older, the COACH’S APPROACH should be highlighted by the following themes
“Praise Out Loud, Correct in Private”
During Games o While an athlete is competing (In Field, on Mound or At Bat)
NEVER
Correct Mechanics Criticize. Shout anything with “Or Else” implied at the end
ALWAYS
Emphasize Process Minimize words leading to Result Use pre-determined Cue words that put the player at ease
o While an athlete between innings and in Dugout, away from parents, peers NEVER
Introduce concepts and mechanics.
ALWAYS
Reinforce mechanics and skills already taught in practice
PLAYING GAME ONE PITCH AT A TIME Why are we doing all that we are doing? Sure. It is to develop players, nurture their appreciation and love for the game and to prepare them for the rest of their baseball careers. However, we are also running these clinics to separate ourselves from other leagues. We cannot be afraid to say out loud and in writing: We have a goal of winning a District 15 Championship. We are committed to doing it the RIGHT WAY but, in order to attain this goal, we have to do things and operate in ways are leagues are not willing. One Pitch at a Time is the silver bullet that can get us there. If you are on Twitter…Follow @BrianCainPeak, @1PitchWarrior, @qualityatbats This concept is practiced and stressed nationwide at the collegiate and High School levels. This is how the game of baseball is WON at every level. There are approx. 250 Pitches in a game. Being able to play 250 individual games and teaching the players to be able to get to the “Next Pitch” is critical. This is how it is done: Coaches stressing time and time again, through actions and words (direct and implied) that they believe in this. As a Coach, this has to be practiced, rewarded, and corrected. Re-reading “Always, Never” at the beginning of this handout is a start. The second piece is understanding that players get emotional in baseball because their failures are obvious and out in the open for everyone they love and care about to witness. When players FEAR failure, the game speeds up. Players and Coaches begin to worry about the RESULT and not the process. Muscles tighten and players lose focus of what is important (WIN – What’s Important Now). The ONLY thing that matters is winning the next pitch. The last pitch is over and cannot be changed or fixed. Next inning is irrelevant because baseball has no clock and there is no way to predict what will happen between now and then. Here are some ways to get to the next pitch. THESE NEED TO BE WORKED INTO PRACTICE ON A DAILY, DRILL BY DRILL BASIS
Eyes Focused (Bat, Pebble, Off in Distance) Cleansing Breath Cue Words (Emotional): Flush Toilet, So What, Dig a Hole Cue Words (Process): “Start early,” “See Ball to Bat,” “Drop and Drive” Situation Reminders
PRACTICE OUTLINES: Encompassing all we have learned in these clinics to put together consistent and efficient practice for our teams Phase 1:
“Arrival” (Leading up to practice) Upon arriving at field, all players come to bench area and get on Hats, cleats. Nobody starts by doing their own thing or in pockets. Players can help set up drills but should not run around crazy. Coaches can talk about previous game, practice, what Red Sox did night before, how their school day was. Keep players occupied but all in the bench area. Bottom Line: Start On Time with all players that are present.
Phase 2:
“Every Days,” Baseball Specific Movements (5-10 Min) Base Running Diamonds, Teach layered situations (Age specific) 5 Players, 1 Coach (Quick Button to Button, Quick Pop Ups – All Ages) Point to Glove Positioning (5-8), Easy catch WR (OF) Lines (8+) Bunting (9+)
Phase 3:
“Warm-Up, Catch and Competitive Catch” (10-20 Min) Arm Movements, Light Stretching, Play Catch as Group One line on Outfield Foul Line, Partners opposite 5 Min w Switch work back to 60 Feet Long Toss (11+) T-Ball, Developing Coach Pitch – No Team Catch (1-2 Kids w Coach) For 9+ or AA Summer, after 5-6 min, switch to Competitive Catch Cutoff Lines, 1st & 3rd, Rundowns, Bunt Defense Reps, Throw around infield after outs or Pre-Practice Circus: Use Space on Field, Multiple activities at Once Example // PFP, Catcher throws to 2B, Cutoff: CF to SS
Phase 4:
New Learning / Teaching (5-10 Min) or Begin Amesbury Way Championship Batting Practice (30-40 Min)
Phase 5:
Reinforce New Teaching w Drill focused on Ind. (10-15 Min) and/or Work with Pitchers, Catchers on Side…Simulated Innings ** Individual Drills might include Soft Toss, T, Ground Balls (Infield Box ** for 9+), Fly Balls (working on Gap Balls, “Ball, Behind”), Defensive Situations
Phase 6:
Compete / Group Work (10-15 Min) Complete Amesbury Way: Championship Batting Practice ** 18 Outs (8+) Live Situations, Coach Pitching (9+) Bunt Scrimmage (11+)
Phase 7:
Ending Practice (5 Min) Always, Away from Parents Sandwich – “Praise, Reinforce, One Challenge for Next Time, Praise”
OVERCOMING FEAR OF BEING HIT BY PITCH / HBP DRILL
Teach in Group. Kids need support of their peers Go Slow – Idea is that the player not afraid of getting HBP will be better hitter Demonstrate First: When Pitch is Above Shoulders and at Knee or Below, Get out of the way. Let natural instincts take over and get out of the way. When Pitch is between shoulders and above knee, player turns: Protect Bat, Face, Elbow, Knee Cap (See Pictures Below)
(Top) Protecting Face, Elbow, Bat (Right) Turning Away
DRILL PROGRESSION
Start Batter in Turned Position and Hit Them w Soft Balls Pitch (Soft Balls) to players. When Pitcher Foot Lands, Batter Foot Should Land. When Ball Pitched, either take Pitch (without swinging) but w triggering back side, or Eat the Pitch and get hit (WEAR IT) Regular Batting Practice, keep some Softer Balls in Bucket. When you get to them, throw at batter
Layout to Tonight’s Practice: 5-8: 3 CAGES
Base Running (10 Minutes) o Three Lines. Home to 1B (Mock Swing), Run Through. Each Player x 3 o Set Up Diamond – Runners at Home, 2B. On “Go!,” runner at Home goes to 2B on a Double. Set Up Cones (Stay Inside Cone in straight line between 1B and 2B). Runner at 2B Watches Base Coach, either stay at 3B without over running Bag or continue to Home. Cones for Good Angle (See Diagram on White Board)
Cage One – 1st Time Little Leaguers (T BALL, Developing 6s) Cage Two – Coach Pitch (Advanced 6s, 7s) Cage Three – Double A (Kid Pitch) All Cages should work: Tee, Side Toss, Front Toss. Make Sure to do all Three. Otherwise will not get enough Reps.
Layout to Tonight’s Practice: 9-12: 3 CAGES
Base Running (10 Minutes) o Three Lines. Run Through 1B, Each Player x 3 o Runner at 3B & 1B – Fly Ball to OF
Runner at 1B – Half Way. Retreat on Catch, Advance on Drop Runner at 3B – Tag and Score (Jet > Helicopter) Hitting Drills (15 Minutes Each Then Switch) o Cage One – HBP Clinic o Cage Two – Opposite Tee Hitting! o Cage Three – Front Toss
