Pre-Game Team Hitting Plan Advanced Baseball and Softball Training - Coach s Edition
PRE-GAME So, we all know that pre-game is an important time of preparation both mentally and physically. Players need a coach s guidance to know how to best utilize this time. I m going to primarily focus on hitting, but clearly pre-game is a time to focus on all aspects of the game. I m excited to get feedback on this program that I use. Hopefully this routine will help your team focus and Unlock Their Power. Hard work works, Coach Lisle
OVERVIEW Depending on the amount of time and space you have for pre-game I wanted to give you some of the best ways to prepare your team for hitting on game day. The most important thing on game day is that we want hitters to be the most comfortable and confident as they can be and that can look different for everyone. On every team, you re going to have a few players that want to only take a few swings and a few players that want to take a lot of swings. I ll start with the most ideal scenario and work my way down.
MOST IDEAL Live BP on the field. 45-60 Minutes. This is the most ideal situation but probably also the most rare for most coaches in The Hitting Vault. In this scenario I ll have 16 Hitters in 4 groups of 4. Each group 7-12 minutes. Rotation: Group 1: Live/Front Toss, Shag, Baserunning, Body Movements/Tee Group 2: Shag, Baserunning, Body Movements/Tee, Live/Front Toss Group 3: Baserunning, Body Movements/Tee, Live/Front Toss, Shag Group 4: Body Movements/Tee, Live/Front Toss, Shag, Baserunning Live / Front Toss Shag Baserunning Body Movements / Tee Round 1: 1 Sac Bunt, 6 swing aways During shag rotations, don t let During the baserunning station I I like to have my hitters work close focused on getting warmed up and your fielders waste this time by just have runners at each base reacting to the live hitting group. I want rhythm hanging out and collecting balls. to the balls being hit. It s a great them to work on half-turns in Round 2: 7 Swing Away. Focusing Have infielders in the infield way to get their minds focused on Round 1, Full Turns in Rounds and on hitting the ball to all fields (not working on taking ground balls baserunning for the day. I have Swing Away on the Tee in Round 3. just pull) and outfielders working on them change bases every round of This gets our hitters body s ready Round 3: (if time permits) 5 Swing tracking fly balls. The only players I BP. Make sure you have screens to to hit and minds focused. Aways hitting the ball hard and far allow to shag/hang are pitcher. protect them. Round 4: Depending on time
Batting Cages: 30-60 Minutes This is a good approach, as most colleges and some high schools are set-up with cages near the field. In this scenario I ll also have 16 Hitters in 4 groups of 4. Each group 7-12 minutes. Rotation: Group 1: Live/Front Toss, Tee Locations, Body Movements, Tee Work Group 2: Tee Locations, Body Movements, Tee Work, Live/Front Toss Group 3: Body Movements, Tee Work, Live/Front Toss, Tee Locations Group 4: Tee Work, Live/Front Toss, Tee Locations, Body Movements Live/Front Toss Hitting: Tee Locations Body Movements Tee Work Round 1: 1 Sac Bunt, 5 swing aways Either 2 or 4 tees based on what This time can be used for hitters to During our tee work time, I allow focused on getting warmed up and you have. We focus on hitting the work on Half Turns, Full Turns, Full our hitters to Create Their Own rhythm ball in 4 different locations. Turns with Timing or other body Station and just swing away. Some Round 2: 7 Swing Away. Focusing If you have only 2 tees for this movements you want to focus on hitters may only take 7-10 swings on hitting the ball to all fields (not station, pair your hitters up and for that day. during this time. Some will take just pull) have them work together. If you multiple rounds. I allow them to Round 3: (if time permits) 5 Swing have 4 tees, work individually. We use this time the best way they Aways hitting the ball hard and far do 5-7 swings per tee. want to prepare. A lot of my Round 4: Depending on time Round 1: Up hitters like to do the Bat Path Drill Round 2: Down or the Hit Pause Drill during this Round 3: Out time. Round 4: In
Travel Ball Situation: 30 Minutes or less I know that many of you are travel ball coaches and on the road on the weekend you may only have 30 minutes or less and all you have are some tee, nets and maybe some wiffle balls or lite flight balls. If possible and space permits try to use heavier wiffle balls or flight restricted balls (closer to game like weight) Here is the best pre-game routine for your team for Travel Ball. 12-14 Hitters. 30 minutes. 4 groups of 3 or 4 Rotation: Group 1: Live/Front Toss, Tee Locations, Body Movements, Tee Work Group 2: Tee Locations, Body Movements, Tee Work, Live/Front Toss Group 3: Body Movements, Tee Work, Live/Front Toss, Tee Locations Group 4: Tee Work, Live/Front Toss, Tee Locations, Body Movements Live/Front Toss Hitting: Body Movements Body Movements Tee Work 1 Pitcher. 1 Hitter. 1 Shagger. This time can be used for hitters to This time can be used for hitters to During our tee work time, I allow Rotate in Rounds of 7 as time work on Half Turns, Full Turns, Full work on Half Turns, Full Turns, Full our hitters to Create Their Own allows. Turns with Timing or other body Turns with Timing or other body Station and just swing away. Some movements you want to focus on movements you want to focus on hitters may only take 7-10 swings for that day. for that day. during this time. Some will take multiple rounds. I allow them to use this time the best way they want to prepare. A lot of my hitters like to do the Bat Path Drill or the Hit Pause Drill during this time. Recommended Equipment for Travel Ball Coaches: 4-8 Bow nets, 4-8 tees, Wiffle balls/lite Flight balls
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