PEE WEE AND LIONS RULES AND SKILLS HANDOUT (April 2005) THE RULES

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "PEE WEE AND LIONS RULES AND SKILLS HANDOUT (April 2005) THE RULES"

Eleanore Carroll
5 years ago
Views:

1 PEE WEE AND LIONS RULES AND SKILLS HANDOUT (April 2005) THE RULES 1. When the whistle is blown by the coach, stand still, be quiet, and look at the coach; 2. If you want to speak raise your hand and wait until you are chosen; 3. Always pay attention to your coach and the ball in the field; 4. If you do not understand something, ask a coach to explain it; 5. During the drill games, stand in front of the cones; 6. During baseball games and before each play, a. always face forward so you can see the ball and b. ask yourself: What should I do next?; 7. Only the player about to bat and the next batter are allowed to hold and swing bats. The next batter can only swing the bat while in the ondeck circle. 8. Try your best and don t get too upset if you make a mistake you are learning a new game and everyone makes mistakes be patient and understanding. No one is perfect. A really smart person is one who learns from their mistakes; and 9. Practice at home and watch others play the game on TV or at the fields. If you cannot follow the rules, you will be asked to sit on the sidelines with your parents until you are ready to join the team and follow the rules. Parents, please be on time, as the drills will start promptly. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 1 of 12 -

THE SKILLS THE READY POSITION CATCHING GROUND BALLS THROWING CATCHING FLY BALLS BATTING BASERUNNING THE READY POSITION Take one step toward the batter into the ready position: Feet evenly spaced

2 THE SKILLS THE READY POSITION CATCHING GROUND BALLS THROWING CATCHING FLY BALLS BATTING BASERUNNING THE READY POSITION Take one step toward the batter into the ready position: Feet evenly spaced under the shoulders Knees slightly bent; Trunk slightly bent at the waist; Arms bent at almost a 90 degree angle; Hands open, slightly outside the knees, and in front of the body causing a slight lean forward on the balls of the feet; and Thumbs of both hands up so that a ¼ turn of the hand up will permit the player to catch a ball coming above the waist and a ¼ turn of the hand down will permit the player to catch a ball coming below the waist. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 2 of 12 -

CATCHING GROUND BALLS Glide towards the ball without coming up from the ready position; To catch a ball below the waist touch the end of the fingers of the glove on the

the throwing hand to the right; In either case, pin the ball against the glove, do not close the glove on it; and Place the fingers of the throwing hand in proper

3 CATCHING GROUND BALLS Glide towards the ball without coming up from the ready position; To catch a ball below the waist touch the end of the fingers of the glove on the ground with the throwing hand cupped above the heel of the glove like Alligator Jaws ; To catch a ball that bounces above the waist, make a ¼ turn of the glove up with the throwing hand to the right; In either case, pin the ball against the glove, do not close the glove on it; and Place the fingers of the throwing hand in proper position on the ball, then take it out of the glove and assume the throwing position to throw it. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 3 of 12 -

THROWING Proper Grip: Place the index and middle finger (and the ring/fourth finger if the hand is too small in the middle picture above) across the seams

This is called the four-seam fast ball grip. Proper Throwing Mechanics: 1.

The glove should be pointing at the target.

the elbow at about shoulder height and flexed to about 100 degrees.

4 THROWING Proper Grip: Place the index and middle finger (and the ring/fourth finger if the hand is too small in the middle picture above) across the seams (across a C formed by the seams) with the thumb on the other seam. There should be a space between the ball and the palm of the throwing hand. This is called the four-seam fast ball grip. Proper Throwing Mechanics: 1. Turn sideways into a T position with the leg of the throwing arm back, feet shoulder width apart, knees slightly bent, and no bend at the waist. The glove should be pointing at the target. The throwing hand should be holding the ball about head high with the ball facing away from the player (if a pitcher, it would be towards the center fielder) and the elbow at about shoulder height and flexed to about 100 degrees. The weight should naturally shift to the back leg (right leg of a right-handed thrower, left leg of a left-handed thrower). To make sure the weight transfer has occurred, the front leg should be lifted so that the heel is off the ground but the toe still touching. The knees should be slightly bent, the trunk should be straight no bend at the waist back or forward. Look at the target and visualize the path of the ball. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 4 of 12 -

Proper Throwing Mechanics (con t): the target. 2.

The knees will bend more to assist a push off from the back leg. The weight will naturally shift to the front leg and hips.

Follow through with the throwing hand so that it crosses the body and assists in placing the player into the ready position, squarely facing to Balls should be

Balls should be thrown on a line, not in a high rainbow arc. They will get there faster on a bounce.

5 Proper Throwing Mechanics (con t): the target. 2. Throw the ball by taking one hop off the back foot, moving the hips and legs followed by the hand towards the target. The knees will bend more to assist a push off from the back leg. The weight will naturally shift to the front leg and hips. Send the front leg out towards the target. At the same time, pull the glove to the chest. Release the ball just as the hand passes by the head. Follow through with the throwing hand so that it crosses the body and assists in placing the player into the ready position, squarely facing to Balls should be thrown to arrive at about shoulder height so the receiver can quickly assume the T position (except for tag plays at a base which is a more advanced concept). Balls should be thrown on a line, not in a high rainbow arc. They will get there faster on a bounce. Breaking the motion down into parts betrays the fact that it is all one motion. Most Common Corrections: Not keeping the throwing arm extended and the elbow up; not standing sideways and keeping the weight back; waiting too long to throw the ball so that the weight transfer occurs long before the ball is thrown resulting in an arm throw which can eventually hurt the shoulder. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 5 of 12 -

CATCHING FLY BALLS Start in the ready position; Make a ¼ turn of the glove up (so that the fingers of the glove are pointing up) and the throwing hand is parallel to the

easily; and Welcome the ball do not stab at it or hold the glove against the body. Catch it with the glove arm extended out about a foot.

6 CATCHING FLY BALLS Start in the ready position; Make a ¼ turn of the glove up (so that the fingers of the glove are pointing up) and the throwing hand is parallel to the ground both about shoulder height; The elbows should neither be against the sides nor out like chicken wings just let them hang loosely so they can swing front to back easily; and Welcome the ball do not stab at it or hold the glove against the body. Catch it with the glove arm extended out about a foot. Once caught, bring it into the a pre-throwing position in order to properly grip the ball and transition to the T throwing position. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 6 of 12 -

Line up the knuckles as shown in the picture. Have a relaxed yet firm grip.

7 BATTING Proper Grip: Rest the bat in the fingers (the groove at the bottom of the fingers of both hands) not in the palm, with the dominant/throwing hand on top and the other hand close to the knob and touching the upper hand. Line up the knuckles as shown in the picture. Have a relaxed yet firm grip. Do not choke the bat, it will cause tension in the arms and a less fluid swing. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 7 of 12 -

weight slightly back and a slight bend at the waist; Hands 6 to 8 from the back shoulder and above that shoulder; the elbows should drop naturally and be about at shoulder height not the often-heard

8 Batting: The Swing: Tension is the enemy you actually swing faster when you are loose. 1. Stance: As the pitcher begins the pitching motion, bring the hands into the hitting position so that the weight is back: Feet under or slightly outside the shoulders; Knees slightly bent with the weight slightly back and a slight bend at the waist; Hands 6 to 8 from the back shoulder and above that shoulder; the elbows should drop naturally and be about at shoulder height not the often-heard back elbow straight out parallel to the ground that tilts the top of the bat forward making it difficult to get on plane during the swing. The bat should be at about a 45 degree angle from the ground neither straight up nor parallel to the ground; Stand close enough to home plate so that you can reach the far corner easily with the end of the bat; The head should be straight, not tilted; the chin should be pointed toward the pitcher, almost over the front shoulder; and Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 8 of 12 -

The eyes should be focused on the ear on the side of the throwing arm of the pitcher so that the ball is picked up easily as

Following the pitcher s complete arm motion makes it more difficult for bobbing eyes to pick up the ball.

about shoulder height. 2. Batting: The Launch and Finish: Watch the ball: See if you can perceive its rotation.

Stride the front foot forward about six inches toward the pitcher, Bring the hands in a slightly downward motion toward the ball

9 The eyes should be focused on the ear on the side of the throwing arm of the pitcher so that the ball is picked up easily as comes to the release point. Following the pitcher s complete arm motion makes it more difficult for bobbing eyes to pick up the ball. Batting is very similar to throwing a ball with the body turned sideways, the weight on the back foot, the hands up, and elbows about shoulder height. 2. Batting: The Launch and Finish: Watch the ball: See if you can perceive its rotation. When you are ready to swing, squish the bug with the ball of the back foot i.e. raise the heel of the back foot and push off and pivot it towards the pitcher to begin the lower body rotation. Stride the front foot forward about six inches toward the pitcher, Bring the hands in a slightly downward motion toward the ball (as if chopping down a tree with an axe), keeping the arms bent (not fully extended) the object is to hit a hard line drive or ground ball Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 9 of 12 -

fly balls are easier outs. By raising the arms above the shoulders and swinging in a downward plane, you are also enlisting the support of gravity as well.

10 fly balls are easier outs. By raising the arms above the shoulders and swinging in a downward plane, you are also enlisting the support of gravity as well. Keep the front shoulder pointed at the pitcher during the swing it is called the closed position. (These pictures are too open.) Whip the hands through the strike zone to hit the ball at the front of home plate. Keep the hands above the trajectory of the ball. When they cross the plate, the hands should be in a hand-shake position. Follow through so that the chin ends up close to the back shoulder and the hands end up on the front shoulder (an advanced concept is to use the front arm to pull through as well). This will naturally cause the wrists to break. At the end of the swing, both knees and the belt buckle should be facing the pitcher. Remind your players to drop, not throw, the bat before beginning to run. Advanced concepts: Use the flexion of the knees to hit high or low pitches not the arms. You always want to keep the hands slightly above the trajectory of the ball. Err towards using a lighter bat. The launch consists of 3 circular rotations (if looking from above the body): the hips, the arms, and the hands. Breaking the motion down into parts betrays the fact that it is all one motion; that the batter should wait until the last second, then launch quickly into the swing, starting with the feet first. Initially, Derrick Jeter exaggerates this position by raising his hands high, but once the pitch is thrown, his hands come down into the suggested position. Note his transfer of the weight back and his right heel is raised off the ground. Also note the straight up and down head and back and the chin over the front shoulder Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 10 of 12 -

11 BASERUNNING At this age we suggest teaching the players the basics: 1. The direction to run from first to second to third to home. 2. The difference between being tagged out and a force play that only requires the fielder to touch the base (with any part of his/her body as long as he/she has control of the ball) before the runner. 3. That the batter can run through 1st base and not be tagged out when the batter passes the base, but once the batter turns toward second base, he or she can be tagged out. 4. When rounding a base, the runner should step on the inside of the base (e.g. the corner of the base closest to the pitcher) with the LEFT foot. SKILLS DVD: OUR ORGANIZATION HAS CREATED A WONDEFUL DVD OF SKILLS AND TIPS THAT WE GIVE TO THE COACHES FREE OF CHARGE. IT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL PARENTS FOR A NOMINAL FEE IN ORDER TO COVER OUR COSTS. REQUEST IT BY SENDING AN TO YOUR DIVISION DIRECTOR. IT WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE AT THE FIRST GAME. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 11 of 12 -

12 THE DRILLS GROUND BALL DRILL (includes Ready Position and Throwing) Assume the Ready Position. A ground ball is thrown from the parent to the front player. The player catches the ball and holds the catching position (in order to assure the proper grip) until the parent yells pop up ; Then the player immediately assumes the T throwing position and holds it for a silent count of 2 The parent then yells hop and throw, upon which the player takes one hop and then throws the ball back to parent. The players then rotate so that the player waiting behind steps in front of the cone closest to the parent. Each cycle should have the parent calling out the following: To begin each cycle Ready Position ; then when the ball is caught hold (also remind the player to grip the ball correctly); then pop up into the T throwing position; then, after the parent counts silently to 2, he or she yells hop and throw. FLY BALL DRILL (includes underhand throwing) Each player throws the ball underhand to the next player on the line. The ball should be aimed so that it arrives shoulder high. The ball is then trapped against the glove with the throwing hand, then taken out with the proper grip and thrown underhand to the next player. * * * Over the course of the season, the coaches should increase the distances for both these drills as the players become more adept. * * * A Special Thanks to Orlando Adorno. Skills Handout th Prec Youth CouncilAll Rights Reserved - 12 of 12 -

to : entire team - warmup exercises (jumping jacks, leg stretches, arm circles, etc.) ( 10 minutes )

Practice Plan - Minors: ( 2 hour practice) Practice #1 Date: Time: Team Roster: to : entire team - warmup exercises (jumping jacks, leg stretches, arm circles, etc.) ( 10 minutes ) to : entire team - throwing