Spring 2-Day Pitching Clinic Baseball Positive 2018
Coaches, Parents & Players, Included is the Baseball Positive Pitching Drills Sheet. Print this off and post it where your child will see it and be reminded to spend 2-3 minutes each day doing their drill work. The two hours of clinic time is not enough for them to reach their development potential. The clinic is just the start of a season long process; these drills will serve as the foundation of their ongoing development. Muscles need to repeat actions over and over, day after day, in order to really learn. We do not want to be fooled by our brains, which can consume and digest information quickly and forget that the muscles learn much slower and only learn through consistent repetition. Also included are pictures of: Head Straight Stride Power Position Release Point / Out Front Position The video below is of Yu Darvish, when he was with the Rangers. It is video (eight seconds) of five pitching deliveries layered on top of each other. In each delivery he is throwing a different type pitch. One of the primary reasons for viewing this video is to illustrate that the delivery is the same, no matter what pitch is thrown. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jubaaurrnwu While this clinic does not teach different pitches, it does prepare the pitcher for throwing other pitches. The key to throwing any pitch effectively is consistently getting the throwing hand to the same release point, getting the fingers on top of the ball and snapping the wrist, fingers and arm, Down through the top of the ball; and throwing the ball Down to the catcher. Mark Email BP Website BP Facebook Page
Baseball Positive - Drills for Developing the Pitching Delivery The pitching action can be trained, developed and fair degree of consistency established by repeating the mechanical movements of the delivery. These No-ball Drills can be performed anytime, anywhere. The actions are grouped within the three phases of the delivery: Control, Power, Acceleration. Repeating these drills on a daily basis develops muscle memory and increased balance, body control and strength. Two minutes is all that is needed to complete10 repetitions of the core drills: Rocking, Turn and Pull, Teeter-Totter, Snap. The Wrist Action Drill, Ideally, is executed 4-5 times each day in sets of 10, each. Keep a ball in the cup holder of the car and near a favorite place for using a device at home. Establish a routine of doing this drill during car rides and device time. Pull - Resistance, Release Point - Down Resistance, Stride Drills and 90-45 can be done 2-3 time per week to support the core drills. One or more of these might be done on a daily basis to help a pitcher improve a particular part of the delivery that needs extra attention. Stride (Control) - Phase I Stride to Power Position (feet wider than shoulders; elbows as high as shoulders) Leg Lift...up, then down; slow, balanced and under control Leg Lift, then Stride to Power Position (foot going down a slide.reach straight towards the catcher) Pull (Power)- Phase II Lower Half Rotation (from power position) Turn and Pull (from power position) Pull - Resistance* Snap (Acceleration) - Phase III* Teeter-Totter* Snap*...simulating the acceleration phase of the delivery Wrist Action: & Fingers up and down*; four seam grip; simulating wrist snap at release; repeat slowly for 5 seconds 90-45 (Use a couple of items that are approximately two pounds, and hold in each hand) Arms in a goal post position with elbows even with the height of shoulders; raise elbows up to 45 degrees and back down to 90 degrees. Elbows at shoulder height, 90 degree bend in elbows with forearms/hands parallel to the ground. Lower elbows/forearms down to 45 degrees, then raise them back up to 90 degrees. Rocking: The Rocking Action is also used for throwing drills to isolate certain aspects of the throwing motion. Key Points Head is straight and still - before, during and after the delivery All actions are in a straight line towards the catcher Palms facing away from body when in Power Position (completion of the stride) Three phases of the delivery: 1) Stride (Control), 2) Pull (Power), 3) Snap (Acceleration) / 4-8 - 10 / Sloooow, Fast-Faster * Begin in an Out Front (Release Point) Position. Stride Power Position Release Point / Snap (Acceleration)
Teaching Approach and Drill Focus Points The learning and development of physical skills is very different than academic learning. Physical learning is a slower process requiring time and repetition. Our brain can consume simple information and grasp a hold of it right away. Muscle learning is very different. Muscles take time to gain familiarity with a desired movement and to establish some level of mastery. A challenge when working with young athletes is their strength limitations. Executing a pitch using technically sound mechanics requires a tremendous amount of body strength. We are going to see flaws constantly when working with kids. Often this leads to trying too hard to help them get it, which is characterized by over-instruction. Patience, coupled with feedback that is a mix of correcting flaws while acknowledging actions done correctly, or recognizing the effort to do them correctly, will keep our kids moving forward iand making steady progress in their development. Delivery has three phases 1. Stride ( Control ) 2. Pull ( Power ) 3. Snap ( Acceleration ) Pitching Workout: 1. No Ball Drills 2 min 2. Rocking Drills from 30-35 15-25 pitches 3. Pitching, using the stride 30-35 ( controlled stride focus) 5-8 pitches Full Distance 12-20 pitches Pitching Drills - Rocking A key to learning physical actions is for the player to be aware of, and develop a sense of, the Feel of the action the drill is focusing on. Rocking Focus Points The two foundational Rocking Drills when pitching the ball are: 1. Turn & Pull focus and 2. Pull & Snap focus. Below are lists of more specific focus points for each. When working with a pitcher doing rocking drills, pick a specific focus point, have them throw 5-8 pitches, then pick another focus point. For a given Rocking Workout, do a series of 2-3 sets of pitches with a different focus point. Rock, Turn & Pull Head Straight - before, during and after the delivery Legs - really turn; generate as much energy and power as possible) Glove Elbow - pulling straight back...from shoulder height - Power Position) Rock, Pull & Snap Down action of the arm Wrist Snap Fingers Straight Down Through the Top of the Ball Teeter-Totter (back foot coming off the ground; chest down over front knee) Acceleration - same as Down Action focus; this is for later in the development process (a few weeks into the process) Pitching Using the Stride Rocking focus points can be applied when pitching using the stride. Below are additional points: 1. Cadence 4-8 - 10 Striiiiiiiiiiide, Pull-Snap Slooooooow, Fast-Faster 2. Stride - Pull (focus specifically on Phases 1 and 2) 3. Pull - Snap (focus specifically on Phases 2 and 3)