Majrs BB; Senirs BB & Majrs SB; Senirs SB Curriculum 1. Baserunning 2. Catcher 3. Batting 4. Infield 5. Outfield 6. Pitching (baseball nly) Objectives: Baserunning Curriculum (Majrs Level) Imprve ability t run the bases efficiently Increase ability t steal bases and recgnize when stealing can be dne effectively Learn t lead and take secndary leads n every pitch Imprve upn ability and knwledge at tagging up and taking extra bases when pssible Develp players abilities t practice situatinal baserunning including anticipating ppnents mistakes Recgnize pick-ff mves and returning t base safely n them Expectatins: Players shuld be practicing at least ne new baserunning fundamental (knwledge) r skill as a part f each practice Integrate baserunning skills int the warm-up each practice fr mre efficient use f practice time Curriculum Hw t leave the batter s bx when the ball is batted Understanding base caches rle and taking directin frm the base caches while advancing Running t first base run thrugh the base, turn head twards ful territry t lk fr verthrw, stay in ful territry
runding the base n balls hit t the utfield Thinking ahead n the bases Knw the number uts Knw the situatin Taking a lead Prper length f lead Taking a secndary lead Recgnize pick-ff mves and hw t return t base safely Head first t utside f bag with inside arm, head turned t utfield What t d if a grund ball is hit What t d if a pp fly is hit Knw the safe distance t be ff a base Receiving cmplex signs frm base caches Hw t rund each base (bellying ut) Sliding Players shuld be learning what a pp-up slide is Imprve technique fr stealing bases Crss-ver step, starting lw and driving hard with quick leg turnver Anticipating balls in the dirt and wild pitches t get a better jump n taking a base Tagging up n fly balls t the utfield Objectives: CATCHER INSTRUCTION (Majrs) Learn prper set-up & stance Imprve receiving & blcking techniques including framing pitches Demnstrate mastery f at least ne f the catcher thrwing techniques Be the field leader, including cmmunicatin & respnsibilities Expectatins: Each team shuld have a minimum f 2 catchers wh adequately master the Majrs curriculum by the end f the seasn Catchers are t be given individual r small grup instructin n sme prtin f the fundamental skills utlined in this curriculum at least 1x per week. Catchers shuld be wrking in full gear with pitchers as a regular part f each practice Catcher s Curriculum
Set-up & stance: Set-up shuld be lw & wide with bth yur legs & feet. Weight shuld be distributed n the inside f yur feet with cncentratin f weight at the balls f yur feet. Bases empty: lwer stance & target with thrwing hand behind back fr safety. Runners n 1 st r 2 nd : Ready psitin (butt shuld be psitined higher & thrwing hand shuld be in a fist, behind yur catching hand thumb. Receiving & blcking: When receiving gd pitches yur bdy needs t be quiet. Avid rtating the shulders, and als avid excessive mvement up & dwn and side t side. Catching the ball with yur glve hand smthly and gently. Framing pitches when necessary. Thumb up n pitches t yur left. Thumb dwn n pitches t the right Blcking: Keep shulders square t pitcher s that ball bunces ff yur bdy back twards the pitcher. Clse the whle between yur legs with the glve. Head facing dwn and chest ut s that the ball will be deflected twards the infield. Thrwing: There are tw main rules with any f the appraches. 1 st stay lw, and 2 nd avid stepping n the plate s yu d nt slip. Jump Pivt prduces a quick release and requires a strng arm. While staying lw yu will hp with yur feet shifting t the 6 & 12 psitins. Rake & Thrw is fr backhand pitches (utside t righties). Keep yur right ft planted and pivt ff it t thrw. Jab Step is fr catchers with weaker arms. Take a small pivt step with yur right ft twards the back pint f the plate & stride with yur frnt ft twards secnd while raking with the ball back. This apprach is slwer and mre deliberate, but prduces a strnger base fr thrwing ff f and thus a strnger thrw. Cmmunicatin & Respnsibilities: Encurage and reinfrce gd pitching. Take trips t the pitcher s mund t talk t the pitcher when the pitcher is upset r struggling t thrw strikes. Tell him that yu are ging t catch his pitches and get him sme strikes. Back-up 1 st base n grund balls with n ne n base. Being the field leader: Let the team knw hw many uts there are with every new batter. Call ut wh is cvering secnd in a stealing situatin. 2 nd basemen: fr righties SS: fr lefties Advanced Catcher skills & knwledge: Learn t give signs t the pitcher Fielding Pp-ups Find ball then thrw face mask Back t the infield n pp-ups hit behind hme plate
Hitting Training (Majrs level) Objectives All players will utilize plate discipline and identify strikes fr hitting Learn t take signs and understand the batters respnsibility fr each sign/play Learn the batters respnsibility when there is a passed ball with runners n base Recgnize hw t call time as a batter and when t stay in the batter s bx and when t get ut Pitch cunt recgnitin and imprved ability t expand zne fr tw strike cunts Develp situatinal apprach t hitting; bunting & RBI situatins Imprve ability t bunt and understand why and when t bunt Expectatins Gal f 40 swings at every practice (tee, sft-tss, &/r BP) Mastery f stance and swing fundamentals shuld be exhibited as t hitter s curriculum belw (all players shuld demnstrate mastery f # s 1-4) Reinfrce players ability t get ut f the way f pitched balls: reminding them f which way t turn Advanced player skill: All players shuld be able t perfrm sft tss with teammates Players shuld participate in tw strike drills where they practice the ability t waste pitches by fuling pitches away until they get a pitch they can handle Hitter Curriculum 1. Grip and hand psitin Bat in finger tips Line up kncking knuckles NOT in palm Lse hands 2. Stance and Psitin in bx There is n wrng psitin Feet shulder width apart (athletic psitin) Preferably a straight/neutral stance Balanced psitin achieved by getting rhythm (light bunce in knees) 3. Stride and weight transfer
Slw take back bw and arrw apprach Reach with frnt ft te first (DON T mve weight frward) Pwer transfer thru hips Stay Straight head & eyes level Transfer weight hands g straight t ball KEEP FRONT SHOULDER DOWN ON BALL (chin t shulder) 4. Swing & fllw thrugh Level swing (fr liners and grunders) D NOT lk up! Again, shulder dwn! Head Dwn. Objectives: INFIELDER INSTRUCTION (Majrs level) Demnstrate mastery f set psitin Crrectly psitin self independently accrding t situatin Learn t effectively turn duble plays Mastery f cut-ff rles and back-up respnsibilities Utilize advanced tagging techniques like psitining f bdy at bag and use f the sweep tag Imprve drp step fr tracking balls hit in the air Expectatins: Infielders shuld be fielding a minimum f 40 grundballs n each game day and during each practice Players shuld be able t run their wn infield drills with teammates hitting grunders t infielders ff f a tee Develp player knwledge f bunt defenses Infielder Curriculum Set psitin and situatinal psitining Ready Psitin glve at waist facing up, steps in as pitcher delivers, bend at knees and waist Understand duble play depth, infield in, and cheating t a base fr cvering a steal. Receiving grund balls Prper grund ball fielding technique (head lw, glve ut frnt, buttn f cap) Sense f urgency t get t the ball quickly
Circling the ball t get in a better thrwing psitin when there is time The thrw plant feet and make strng accurate thrw Receiving balls in the air Drp step n balls hit beynd infield (n back pedal) Calling the ball Get t ball fast, dn t flat Plant feet and thrw ball back int the infield quickly Cmmunicatin & Respnsibilities: Let utfielders knw the number f uts befre each batter Let catcher knw when a runner is stealing Back-up n every play 2 nd &/r SS back-up pitcher n thrw back frm catcher with runners n base Cut-ffs Advanced Infielder skills & knwledge: Bare handing slw rllers Defending the bunt Outfield Training (Majrs) Objectives: Master prper psitining & the utfielder s set psitin Imprve fielding techniques fr receiving bth grund balls and fly-balls Master the crw-hp Prperly judge the flight f a batted ball Thrw t the apprpriate cut-ff man and thrugh the cut-ff when necessary Expectatins: (Outfielders have 3 majr assignments) All players shuld field a minimum f 20 fly balls r pp-up at every practice Players shuld be aware f the 3 majr assignments (belw fr utfielders) 1. Take a base hit away frm a batter whenever pssible. (Catch the fly ball). 2. Cut dwn the length f base hits. (Hustle and wrk tgether t hld the batter and/r runners t the minimum number f bases).
3. Keep runners frm advancing whenever pssible. Get t the ball fast and get it in fast! (Thrw t the right cut-ff r base; thrw strngly and accurately). Outfielder s Curriculum ON EVERY PITCH an utfielder must: Be in the crrect psitin. (see psitining belw) The utfielder shuld watch the batter and nt the pitcher, as the ball is being delivered t the plate As the batter strides t hit, the utfielder shuld be mving frward slightly in the set psitin. He shuld listen t the sund f the bat meeting ball. With a little experience it will tell him hw hard the ball is hit. The utfielder always breaks FAST! (crssver step & pivt step) ON BALLS TO THE OUTFIELD an utfielder must: Fly balls: Get t the ball fast and wait fr it. Never drift t a ball. Grund balls: Try t get it ff an early hp. The lnger and slwer it rlls the trickier the hps becme. Get t grunders FAST! Run n yur tes, nt yur heels. Running n heels makes yur head bunce and makes tracking a fly ball mre difficult. Especially imprtant n balls hit ver yur head where yu have t turn and run. Use yur bare hand t blck the sun. (if necessary) POSITIONING Oppsite field utfielder shuld mve in clser than pull side utfielder. Play pwer hitters t pull (shift). RESPONSIBILITIES The center fielder makes the "call" n all balls hit t his right r left. The utfielder makes the call n all fly balls drpping behind the infield. Outfielders shuld back each ther up n every utfield play. Each utfielder shuld back up the base in frnt f him n every infield play.
PITCHER INSTRUCTION (Majrs BB) The CBB Pitcher Curriculum is based n using athletes natural thrwing mtin t create the mst effective, efficient thrwing mtin fr their particular bdy type. It is imprtant t value the fact that each pitcher has a unique muscular make up and therefre allw them t be unique in their thrwing mtin. The mst imprtant aspects f yuth pitcher develpment are t fster sund mechanics that are safe, fcus n cnsistency in the delivery and t emphasize the mental apprach t pitching. Objectives Master tw and fur-seam grips Learn t thrw change-up with effectiveness Master cnsistent, sund mechanics n all pitches Identify hw and when t step ff the rubber Learn hw t deliver an accurate pick-ff thrw t first base Learn t receive and incrprate basic signs frm the catcher Learn t use lcatin t pitch mre effectively Expectatins Pitchers shuld be wrking regularly in practice with the team s catchers Catchers shuld be able t give lcatins fr certain ut pitches and pitchers shuld be able t cme reasnably clse t hitting thse lcatins Reinfrce the imprtance f a mechanically sund delivery (preferably frm the set psitin) and be sure t als reinfrce the imprtance f cnsistency with the delivery. Pitcher Curriculum Warm-up -- Starting pitcher Light Jg fllwed by running 2x frm ful ple t ful ple in the utfield Full bdy stretching fcusing n legs, shulders, arms and wrists *See recmmended dynamic stretching at end f Majrs BB pitcher curriculum Thrw casually t take an inventry f hw arm and bdy feels Start at abut 25-30 ft. and stretch ut distance t at least 60 feet Once lse begin with abut 5-10 thrws ding a casual delivery Prgress t abut 80% effrt at regulatin distance Number f thrws depends entirely n the pitcher and hw they feel Finish with a few near game speed pitches that are thrwn t specific lcatins Prper way t hld/grip the ball The farther apart yur fingers are the weaker they becme fr thrwing. The prper distance between fingers is just abut an index fingers width apart. Use tw r fur-seam grip fr fastball Wind-up Cach Crrall vide http://www.yutube.cm/watch?v=gj4snscplbc&feature=player_detailpage
Basic steps f pitching mtin The Set-up Offset ft angle (abut 40 degrees frm center) Rest hands under chin Bth elbws relaxed and at side The step back Baby step back Nse ver tes Plant ft Plant ft against rubber Leg lift/balance pint Turn hip and lift knee Balance pint head ver back leg Separate hands and drive Land at Pwer psitin Hips and shulder align with target Get arm up and ut ball pinted back t SS fr RHP, 2B fr LHP Release and fllw thrugh Stretch SprtsMED vide http://www.yutube.cm/watch?v=tmgfz1x9bmc&feature=player_detailpage Start psitin Aligned with plate Knees bent and relaxed Feet spread cmfrtably wide Cme set Stay square t the plate feet shuld stay in alignment Bring feet t shulder width by stepping in with lead leg Hands cme tgether with elbws nw at sides and relaxed Hands just belw chin Leg lift/balance pint Turn hip and lift knee Balance pint head ver back leg Separate hands and drive Land at Pwer psitin Hips and shulder align with target Get arm up and ut ball pinted back t SS fr RHP, 2B fr LHP Release and fllw thrugh Pick-ff mves ClubHuseGas vide http://www.yutube.cm/watch?v=lnrf6y6zzo&feature=player_detailpage Cvering first n grunder t first basemen Pitcher runs as fast as (s)he can fr a spt near the ful line that is abut 10 feet t the hme plate side f 1 st base. Turn left t run alng the inside f the base line (but nt in the base line!)
Hands shuld be up near chest and pen as a gd target After catching the ball, lk dwn fr the base Hit 2 nd base side f bag with right ft and cntinue with mmentum twards secnd t avid entangling with base runner running up the ful line If runners are n base: after tagging 1 st quickly face the infield ready t make the next thrw Additinal cnsideratins Mental apprach n the mund Wrk n slwing dwn and fcus n every pitch Pitching is nt a sprint, stress nt rushing The best pitch in baseball is a strike Prper psitining f feet n the pitching rubber Right side r left side f rubber Arm angle and thrwing mtin decide Psitining the catcher/target Teach fcus stress thrwing frm pitcher t catcher Majrs shuld begin mastery f thrwing t edges f plate Hw t take the thrw back frm the catcher Psitin neself at the ft f the mund and give a chest high target Catch the ball with 2 hands 2 nd base r SS must backup the thrw frm catcher Be aware f pitch cunt Be aware f where runners are n base paths and recgnize that yu will need t return t stretch psitin if runners are n The crrect way t turn back t the mund Teach head n swivel and be aware f the situatin When pitcher n the rubber, play stps at Instructinal, Junir and Minr levels Majrs pitch frm stretch with runners n base, must be aware f runners n base and the situatin (Outs, Frces, etc.) Backup respnsibilities Pitcher backs up 3 rd n a thrw t 3 rd base Pitcher cvers hme n a passed ball Pitcher backs up hme n a thrw t the plate frm utfield r cutff man Advanced pitcher knwledge & skill Use f signs and lcatin in games Learn effective pick-ff mves t all three bases *Dynamic Stretching Warm-up Te Tuches Right ft ver Left and then Left ver Right Side lunges Twice each side Sum Squat - 10 Lunges with Hands n hips 20 yards / 2 times
High knees fr 20 yards 2 times Jg 10 yards / sprint fr 10 yards 2 times Jg ful ple t ful ple 2 times