Overview Time Learning Activities Learning Outcomes 10 Workshop Introduction 40 Town Hall Presentation Pitching Phases 20 Jig Saw Grips Pair and Share, Storm and Solve, Fish Bowl 55 Understanding your Role as a Coach Pitching Coach Intervention 15 BREAK 15 Individual Exercise Organizing Your Pitchers 15 Poster Presentation Pre-Game Preparation 35 Barry s Theatre Coaching Scenarios Organizing Your Pitchers Scenario I Coach, You Observe Introduction to Catching 15 Blocking I Coach, You Observe Introduction to Catching 15 Throwing to Second 5 Clinic Wrap up TOTAL TIME: 4:00 HOURS (240 MINUTES) Gain a basic understanding of the pitching phases. Get an overview of basic pitching mechanics. Understand how to teach fastball and change up grips. Making appropriate interventions with pitchers. Understanding pitch count rules. Learning the importance of developing pitchers. Develop a structured and effective pre-game routine for pitchers Help coaches identify options when working with young pitchers. Learn the basics of blocking for catchers. Learn the basics of throwing to second base for catchers. Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada 1
Workshop Introduction (Slides 1-2) MINI-LECTURE Introduce the workshop including format and timelines. Four hours in duration. Lecture and Group work format. Coaches use their workbook to record their notes from the clinic. Refer coaches to WB p. 2. MINI-LECTURE (Slides 3-4) Explain that coaches will identify the key teaching points involved with pitching including the proper set position, gather and the finish. Focus on the larger muscle groups including legs, hip rotation and back. Sequencing the athlete s movements from the start to the finish is the key and emphasize difference in skill and maturational development. TOWN HALL PRESENTATION (Slides 5-7) Read assigned pitching phase(s). Prepare a poster for your assigned phase(s). Small groups. Different topics. Preparation of a visual poster on analysis of topic. Poster presentation to large group at the end, including demonstration of the phase. 2 Have presentations delivered in order of the phases as assigned, so there is flow relative to the pitching delivery. Have coaches close their WB and show the video on Slide 7. Cover both the wind-up and stretch position. Work in groups or pairs. Slide 6: Assign a different phase to each group, or multiple topics to each group, depending on the number of coaches in the clinic. 2 Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada
Debrief by asking for questions after each presentation, LF should fill in any gaps in presentation. 1 Have coaches review content in WB, pp. 3-9. Wrap up and questions. JIG SAW (Slides 8-9) Separate into groups, based on number of participants and six grips (2-seam and 4-seam FB, and four change up grips). Have each group read their grip information in the WB pp. 10-12. Rearrange the groups for presentation. DEBRIEF (Slides 9-12) 4-Seam FB Baseball placed in the hand correctly. (Held not too tight) Pads of fingers should be placed on the seams of the baseball across the seams (indicator would be that 4 seams would rotate when the baseball is thrown to a target). Note that this grip typically uses 2 fingers on top of the ball, but a 3- finger grip can be used for athletes with smaller hands. Thumb is placed on the position underneath the baseball (Not on the side of the baseball). The rotation on the seams when thrown should be in a reverse action with 4 seams of resistance 2-Seam FB Baseball placed in the hand correctly and held not too tight. Slide 8: Explain that the importance of this section is to develop an attitude of having confidence in your fastball and creating a pitch to contact philosophy. The methods of doing this are creating drills that emphasize location with a responsible approach to developing pitches that can be used in game situations. Mention that feedback from an athlete s performance can be measured in a few ways including baseball rotation, mechanics and location of the baseball. If the group is small, you can use only 3 pitches: 2FB, 4FB, 1CU. Slide 9: Explain the Jig Saw process and have groups read their grip section, prepare a summary and key elements for presentation. Presentation to other groups. Place one person per topic in each group and have them take turns presenting their topic. Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada 3
Pads of fingers should be placed on the seams of the baseball with the fingers running along the seams (indicator would be that 2 seams are visible as the ball is rotating when the baseball is thrown to a target). Note that this grip typically uses 2 fingers on top of the ball, but a 3- finger grip can be used for athletes with smaller hands. Thumb is placed on the position underneath the baseball not on the side of the baseball. The rotation on the seams when thrown should be in a reverse action with 2 seams of resistance. Change Up Action on release should be consistent with a similar look and feel to a fastball. Arm action should be the same with the only difference to take off the velocity required for an effective pitch starts just before release of the baseball. The fingers and wrist, which are normally the last slings involved with creating velocity, can be restricted in order to take additional speed off the pitch. Play catch first with a basic grip and progress into a comfort zone required to be able to throw an effective pitch using more complex grips. PAIR AND SHARE (Slides 13-14) Understanding Your Role as a Coach Partner with another coach. Discuss question #1 and record answers in Workbook. Repeat same task with another partner for Question #2. Repeat same task with another partner for Question #3. 20 MINUTES Give coaches 5 minutes for each of the three questions on WB pp. 13-14. Debrief each question by asking for feedback from individuals in the full group. 4 Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada
STORM AND SOLVE (Slides 15-16) Slide 1 Pair up and answer first scenario on WB p. 15. Repeat same process, with a new partner for each of the situations. You will only have 60 seconds to come to a consensus for each situation. DEBRIEF (Slide 16) Show Slide 16 and ask for any questions or further comments. Then have coaches turn to WB p. 17 and have coaches in full group discussion, provide feedback to each of the Possible influences noted on this page. FISH BOWL (Slide 17) 4 groups: o velocity, change of speed, location, movement List as many arguments as possible to support your topic. Follow LF instructions on how arguments will be presented. Place the elements in order of importance. Slide 15: Spend 2 minutes explaining the exercise. Set up a timer and run it for 8 1-minute intervals. Have coaches partner with a different coach for each pitching situation. Coaches will work on WB p. 15. Slide 16: Ensure coaches understand the emphasis is on their role as a coach. Have participants read Preferred Priorities for Pitching on WB p. 18. Allow coaches a couple of minutes to create a list of arguments supporting why the priority they have been assigned is important. Ask for 4 volunteers to sit in 4 chairs at the front of the room, one person from each group. Each coach will state ONE argument only, then leave the chair. When that person makes their point and leaves, someone else from their group sits in the chair to state the next argument. Continue until all arguments have been stated. Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada 5
BREAK INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE (Slides 18-22) Have coaches complete the Pitch Count Grids WB pp. 19-21. Debrief LF will have a group discussion and rank the priorities in order of importance. The preferred order is: location, change of speed, movement, velocity. Individual exercise. Debrief: Slides 20-22 contain the correct answers. LF can show these slides and ask for any comments or questions. Stress the importance of coaches understanding and obeying the pitch count rules in their league, in order to protect young players from future elbow, arm and shoulder injuries. This also supports and reinforces the need to develop multiple players as pitchers so teams do not rely on too few pitchers to get through tournaments, and their season. Pitch count rules may vary from province to province. Remind coaches to check with their association regarding rules for their league. 6 Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada
POSTER PRESENTATION (Slides 23-25) Read assigned scenario. Prepare an answer to present to the rest of the group using the flip chart Introduction to the section. Divide the group into two working groups. Assign a scribe and a spokesperson. Coaches will record their own answers in WB pp. 22-23. Working session, building a poster for Pre-Game Prep (Home and Away) for their pitcher s preparation. The game start time is identified as 6:00 pm in the WB, have coaches work backwards by identifying at what time each session will start or end. Also, identify how many pitches the starting pitcher will throw in the bull pen. Debrief: Show slides 24 & 25 as samples of a pre-game preparation session. BARRY S THEATRE (Slide 26) Read assigned scenario and answer the question. Compare your answers with your group. Come to a consensus on how you are going to deal with the problem. Using a theatre-style set up, present your findings to the whole group. Introduction to the section. Divide the group into three working groups and assign one question to each group from WB pp. 22-24. 2 Give groups 10 minutes to build their presentation and allow for three fiveminute presentations to the full group. Encourage coaches to fill in their WB pp. 24-26 while viewing the presentations. Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada 7
I COACH, YOU OBSERVE (Slides 27-32) Groups of 3: coach, player and observer. Coach will lead a 2-minute session to teach blocking (centre, left, right). Observer provides feedback to the coach. NEXT: Watch the Catching video. Change roles; new coach presents on same topic. Debrief by asking if there are any questions or further input to the topics that were covered in this section. Coaches will present using only their knowledge and experience. If there is not a number of coaches that divides by 3, add observers to the groups. Ask the coaches to select an athlete and coach. The coach will teach blocking to the athlete. The observers will take notes and provide feedback to the coach. The athlete can also provide feedback. Watch the video (slide 30). Change roles within the groups, and reteach the blocking content. Debrief: Use the following points to summarize blocking (slides 31-32): Catchers drop straight to their knees. Be sure knees are slightly wider than shoulder width on the ground, body is square to the pitcher. Keep arms tight to body and cover 5-hole (between legs) with catcher s mitt. With both palms facing forward, tuck throwing hand in behind glove and be sure to hide throwing hand fingers. Tuck chin down into throat area to protect throat. Chest should be cupped forward slightly so balls will hit chest and be directed straight into the ground in front of you Catcher must be ready to get to his feet quickly to make a play on base runner 8 Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada
I COACH, YOU OBSERVE (Slides 35-36) Same groups, change roles so the 3 rd person is now acting as coach. Watch the video and try to remember as many teaching points as possible on throwing to 2 nd base. The observer will identify all teaching points mentioned by the coach that is presenting during the presentation. Follow instructions on slide 35. Debrief (Slide 36): As you receive the ball, take a short jab step with your right foot (for right hand throwing catchers) into the middle of your stance, slightly in front of you (close to replacing your left foot) Transfer the ball from the glove to the throwing hand and take the throwing hand back to initiate the throwing motion As you stride toward your target (second base) with your left foot, be sure to point your lead shoulder to your target as well your body should be perpendicular to second base (sideways) Keep your elbow up at shoulder height as you throw the ball Keep your hand behind the ball, fingers on top of the ball as you release and reach out to your target feeling the ball come off your fingertips Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada 9
CLINIC WRAP UP (slide 37) Ask coaches if they have any final questions. 10 Rev.: January 2017 The Coaching Association of Canada and Baseball Canada