Philosophy: It seems to me that too many practices begin with the same old thing - such as getting a partner with whom to throw often with little or no plan as to what they are trying to accomplish. I believe it is more beneficial to find imaginative ways to begin the pre-practice routines. Starting practice with creative, challenging, fun and faster-paced activities will help ensure that players become more fully engaged during the core practice time. Goals: 1. To challenge players at the very beginning of practice to concentrate. 2. To promote an active beginning to each practice. 3. To teach dynamic receiving skills which are necessary to the development of the player. 4. To introduce and develop skills that will be used later in the practice. Dynamic Receiving Drills or Run, Reach and Receive. It is important that the players understand the value of running in a natural way and that raising the glove/ reaching occurs just prior to making the catch, i.e. don t run with your glove in a receiving position. Rundown relay: Players run toward each other with the ball in the throwing hand with their arm at a roughly 90 degree angle, flipping the ball to a teammate at his receiving side. Players pass to each other glove side to glove side getting in opposite lines remind the players to hold the ball steady and not to fake the ball and then to flip it at the glove. Good drill to use on a day when relays are going to be introduced or worked on.
Man in the Middle: r z Man in the Middle r (the relay man) faces the player starting with the his hands up and retreating toward the third player the ball is thrown from to r who, while continuing to move, pivots and throws to the z immediately upon throwing r reverses, raises his hands and repeats by throwing back. Repeat this for 5 times before rotating positions. The drill can be epanded to create two or three equal teams. Side to Side: Bucket B Bucket A Coach (pile of balls) Players run one after another and the coach throws a ball in front of them. Upon catching the ball, the player continues to run until they reach Bucket A, placing the caught ball in that bucket. When all players have arrived in the line behind Bucket A, the drill repeats to Bucket B. This promotes the Run, Reach and Receive, principle. Encourage the players to run full speed reaching out with their glove only when they ready to receive.
Football Drill: Coach Coach Each player begins with a ball. When he is at the front of the line, he hands the ball to the coach and runs ahead. The coach leads the player with a thrown ball. Once caught, the player goes to the other line to repeat the drill in the opposite direction. Both lines begin at the same time. By simply changing the players from the Coach s right side to the Coach s left side will change the glove positioning in the drill. Run, Reach and Receive.
Drop Step and Run: Coach Coach Each player has a ball and when he reaches the front of the line he tosses it to the coach to begin the drill. Coach pump fakes a ball to the left so that player drop steps and runs at an angle away from the coach. The coach then throws a lead pass to the player for him to catch. After several repetitions for each player, change to a pump fake right and repeat drill. Drop Step, Run and Reverse: Same drill as above ecept the lead pass is thrown over the opposite shoulder from the pump fake causing the player to have to reverse his direction in order to catch the ball. The key principle here is to have player turn their head quickly to locate the ball. Do-or-Die: Coach (bucket of baseballs) Players run one at a time toward the coach who is kneeling beside a bucket of balls. The coach tosses the ball underhanded at the player aiming between the player s knee and ankle. Tthe player reaches with his glove palm up to catch the ball and continues around the coach dropping the ball in the bucket on the way back to the line. Two lines
can be used to maimize the drill. Players should adjust to catch the ball near the glove-side leg.
Dynamic Throwing Drills Make sure that arms and shoulders have been properly warmed up prior to beginning these more intensive throwing drills. These drills are designed to promote throwing and receiving with proper footwork. Big Square: a b d c The square should be about half the size of your infield. The ball begins with player d. He starts the drill by throwing the ball clockwise to player a on player a s glove side. Player a adjusts to the ball by moving his feet so as to be able to throw immediately upon receiving clockwise again to player b. Repeat to include player c and back to player d. Continue several times with the emphasis on speed of release, change of direction with the option of turning in to the throw or pivoting to the glove side if the ball is thrown wide to the glove side. A variation is to simulate making a quick tag of a runner and then throwing on to the net position. Small Square: Reduce your original square by about half. Players recreate the drill above by flipping the ball underhanded in a clockwise fashion. Remind the players to follow the flip with their feet. After several repetitions, reverse drill to counterclockwise and have the players flip the ball thumb down all while following the flip with their feet. In both options of the drill receiving players should be encouraged to get rid of the ball as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Diagonal/Right Throwing Drill: 3 2 H 1 This drill is done on the full infield with players lined up at each base. The drill begins with the ball at home plate. The ball is then thrown diagonally to second. Second then throws to his right to third. Third then throws diagonally to first and then first throws to his right to second. Second throws diagonally to home plate. Home then throws right to first and first throws diagonally to third. Third throws right to home plate. After each throw, the players rotate in line at their base so that no player throws two times in a row. The net time around change to diagonal-left-diagonal-left sequence. You can also mi in making quick tags in the drill to simulate plays at the base. Notes about these drills: These drills are fundamental drills to baseball and should be done at full speed once the concepts of the drills are understood. Encourage your players to do the drills at full speed although their chances of completing the drill successfully will diminish. Perseverance will allow players to get the to the point of success with speed and then you have something! Whenever possible return your players to their parents sweaty and dirty it will ensure they had a good time. Good luck and have fun! Coach Ed Walton
Please feel free to contact me (704) 661-1550 if you have questions