The purpse f this evaluatin is t prvide caches, parents, and players with an idea as t what players shuld be able t d AFTER playing at a particular level and BEFORE entering the next.. At this pint, a player shuld be ready t make the jump int the sphmre level and cntribute. Just because a player has been n freshman and maybe had sme success, desn t mean the jump t sphmre is autmatic. The items listed are just an apprximatin and are nt t be taken as a definitive list t determine prmtin t the next level. General 5 4 3 2 1 Player cmpetes in the classrm t the best f his ability Overall GPA is: Player s behavir in schl abides by schl plicy Player handles adversity in a mature way Player is respectful f authrity figures (teachers, caches, umpires, ) Player participates in ther sprts (ftball, basketball, wrestling, swimming, etc.)
Baseball 5 4 3 2 1 Player abides by team rules Player sets up and takes dwn equipment befre practices and games Player practices with intensity and at game speed Player wears unifrm prperly Player sprints n and ff the field As the level f cmpetitin increases, the player wrks mre and mre n his wn, even in the ffseasn Cntinues t develp and imprve the mental side f the game which enables them t prperly handle the natural ups and dwns f perfrmance in a mature way. Player is cachable Cntinues t think the game a bit mre in terms f strategy, anticipating plays, etc. Away frm practice - Varies drills t fine tune areas f weaknesses and/r current needs
Catching/Thrwing 5 4 3 2 1 Cntinue making their catching-t-thrwing mtin mre efficient using better, quicker ftwrk and glve wrk. Mre cnsistent with the crss-seam/4seam grip Cntinue t develp multiple thrwing angles and use them in different situatins Rutine catches / thrws are made mst f the time. Ability t quickly catch and thrw the ball with strength and accuracy needs t be at r abve the pace with the varsity speed f play Is becming mre successful at diving fr thrwn and batted balls Arm strength is a pint where the player can keep pace with the varsity game Cntinue making their catching-t-thrwing mtin mre efficient using better, quicker ftwrk and glve wrk.
Catchers 5 4 3 2 1 Use prper frm cnsistently (signals, stances, glve-hand psitining) Cntinue t imprve n the blcking basics Catches all balls that hit glve in the air Imprves fundamentals and times f thrwing t bases n steal attempts (ftwrk, transitin, and thrws) Perfrm the hme plate pp-up play mre cnsistently Becme mre efficient in their bunt fielding and thrwing mechanics by imprving ftwrk / glvewrk Cnsistently frames pitches crrectly when able t Begins t cut dwn bdy/glve mvement when receiving Becmes mre vcal and begins t shw leadership n the field Ability t receive crrect signs frm pitching cach cnsistently
Pitching 5 4 3 2 1 Use bth the 4-seam grip and tw-seam grip Use the 2 finger grip Mastered the mechanics f the stretch and wind-up mtins. Mre cnsistent with the basic fielding respnsibilities f a pitcher Has ability t keep runners clse Learning and begining t use multiple pick-ff mves Can thrw first pitch strikes 70% f the time Has learned the crrect grip fr a 12 t 6 curveball but thrws it sparingly Ability t thrw 60% strikes fr fastball and change-up Becming accustm t running as part f their pitching/recvery respnsibilities
Hitting 5 4 3 2 1 Walks t strikeut rati shuld be even r higher n the walk side Gd, efficient mechanics are perfrmed cnsistently Imprved bat speed and cntrlled aggressiveness at the plate Imprved bat cntrl and the using f all fields Studies pitchers fr pitching patterns and tendencies Develps a game plan prir t the at-bat (what they are lking fr, what they want t accmplish, etc.)
Bunting 5 4 3 2 1 Cnsistency in all bunting mechanics (sac & base-hit) Can base-hit bunt t 1st and/r 3rd when directed with sme success Wrks n bunting in practice and n their wn Has learned the timing and mechanics f squeeze-bunting and has sme success Has learned the timing, mechanics, and placement f the safety squeeze bunt
Infield 5 4 3 2 1 Reads hps and manages their apprach t grund balls crrectly Cnsistently uses gd fielding mechanics Cnsistently mves thrugh the ball when fielding and thrwing Thrwing accuracy is pretty cnsistent, even frm lnger distances Reads batter s swings better and anticipate where balls will be hit Lks at all catcher s signs and begins t use that infrmatin Gd, faster ftwrk/glvewrk arund the bag n frce / tag plays Learned the unique respnsibilities f their psitins (bunt plays, duble-relays, 1st & 3rd plays, etc)
Outfield 5 4 3 2 1 Catches the ball n the run with ease and grace Able t catch fly-balls and line-drives nt hit directly at them Gets t the ball and gets rid f it mre quickly using cnsistent ftwrk and bdy psitining Rutinely hits all cut-ff men Thrws in an ver-the-tp mtin with additinal carry n the ball (can thrw t the base and nt just the cut-ff man) Backs up infield plays/thrws as needed Begins t recgnize that there are times t dive and times t play the ball safely in frnt Begins t recgnize strategy in psitining (scre, inning, uts, runners, etc)
Base-running 5 4 3 2 1 Baserunning angles, lines, and lps arund the bases are cnsistent with prper running mechanics Takes the next base when able t Shws better judgment n the basepaths Takes apprpriate length f leads (12-13 ft at 1 st and 15-18 ft at secnd) Rarely misses signs frm caches Imprves their study f pitchers fr patterns, timing, tendencies, etc fr getting better jumps. Acts n pitcher s tendencies (early jumps, etc) Can perfrm multiple types f slides in game situatins