SHERIDAN PARK COACHES HANDBOOK

SHERIDAN PARK COACHES HANDBOOK UPDATED: SPRING 2010

Opening Day Skills Competition All team members must participate in at least 1 event No player may participate in more than 2 events 1. ROAD RUNNER Fastest player from home plate to home plate (missed base=dq) 2 players per team - (3 if necessary) 2. GOLDEN ARM 4 throws from Centerfield marker to Home plate target 1 pt for hitting board 3 pts for hitting target 5 points for going through bulls-eye 2 players per team - (3 if necessary) 3. HIT DERBY 10 pitches per player (Coach pitches) 1 pt for ball that land on grass on fly 3 pts for long ball (past outfield markers) 2 players per team 4. AROUND THE HORN Fastest time for ball to circulate to each team member P-C-SS-3B-2B-1B-C Each base must be tagged while having possession of ball Time begins & ends on home plate 6 players per team

Goals OVERALL LEAGUE GOALS Provide the opportunity for each kid to reach their potential Develop age appropriate skills through positive and constructive instruction Strive for good, balanced competition PONY LEAGUE (14u-16u Team: AGE BEFORE MAY 1) Competitive ball especially preparing them for high school or the next level 1 team with a 35-40 game schedule in a Chicago area league A higher level of dedication is expected (i.e. Practice 1 time per week, Hitting 1 time per week, arm strengthening, conditioning, etc) - Hitting Hitting a curve; hitting behind the runner; sacrifice hitting; understanding the count - Fielding Emphasize 1-3 positions per player; playing in & out; communication; bunt defense - Base running Lead offs; stealing; reacting to situations - Throwing Curve; pick-offs; balks; holding runners on base ALL-STAR TEAMS (10u-12u Teams: AGE BEFORE MAY 1) Tryouts begin in Spring - team selected by coaches on Draft Day Memorial Day tournament Weekly practices/tryouts during house league season All-star practice to take priority over house league practices MAJOR LEAGUE (Ages 11-13) House teams & all-star team Outside umpires Weekly practices (League limit of 1 required practice per week) No lead-offs Special instruction for pitcher & catcher - Hitting Selecting pitches; bunting; hitting with form & power; intro to hitting a curve (All Star Team) - Fielding Begin to narrow positions; errorless ball; double plays; efficiency in steps & motion; - Fly ball priorities Backhand; 1st-3rd situations; communication - Base running Intro to lead-offs; anticipation - Throwing Fastball & change, stretch

Goals MINOR LEAGUE (Ages 9-10) Hard ball House teams & all-star team Sheridan Park umpires Weekly practices (League limit of 1 required practice per week) No lead-offs Special instruction for pitcher & catcher - Hitting (emphasize form) making contact with live pitching; being confident in batter s box; getting hit; intro to bunting; understanding balls & strikes - Fielding Field ball cleanly (emphasize catching throws & pop flys); Understand each Position & its responsibilities; backing up; 2 hands; cut-offs & relays - Base running Sliding; stealing; tagging up - Throwing 1) Accuracy with 4 seam fastball, 2) change-up (All Stars) 3) throwing with power (legs, pull mitt in, follow-through); using momentum ROOKIE LEAGUE (Ages 7-8) Pitching machines (keeps ball in play and makes for more action) Rubber ball 10 kids per team (no catcher & pitcher if necessary) Define rules clearly to all coaches & parents 1 coach per team on field; offensive coach has priority - Hitting Stance; level swing; making contact (watch the ball hit the bat) - Fielding Getting in front of ball (emphasize grounders); catching the ball (fingers to the sky); throw ball/don t hold ball; know proper positions; forced outs - Base running Over running first base; forced running; running on grounder/fly ball - Throwing Rotate arm & hand back (fingers to the sky); elbow above shoulder; make accurate throws; follow-through

Goals T-BALL (Ages 5-6) Have fun! Learn basics of the game (3 outs an inning, scoring runs) Teamwork, sportsmanship, field ground balls No practices during season 1st two weeks of season: practice only 6 weeks of games - Hitting Batting stance; eye on ball/hit ball - Fielding Stop ball; share the field - Base running Running the right way; touching & stopping at the bases - Throwing Point shoulder/glove & step toward target GIRLS SOFTBALL Our goal for Sheridan Park softball is to offer a positive experience for young female athletes. In addition to the playing experience, our league s overall goal is to provide the girls an environment which stresses the values of leadership, team-work, self-discipline, and cooperation. These life lessons go far beyond the playing fields. In addition, the younger girls' division will introduce the concepts of: hitting, catching, fielding and base running. Coaches will pitch to the girls. The coaches will emphasize the fundamentals in a fun filled environment. As the girls graduate into the older division they will experience a more competitive environment playing a variety of teams from various leagues. The girls will learn the nuances of: fast pitch, sliding, hitting-the-cutoff and other fundamentals.

Practice Planning INVOLVE DADS & COACHES HAVE A PLAN PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT ENCOURAGE DADS (OR MOMS) TO PLAY CATCH WITH SONS! SUGGESTED FORMAT* Courtesy of UIC baseball 1. Play catch with purpose a. Utilize drills to enforce good mechanics b. Finish with some long-toss 2. Individual defense skills & drills 3. Team defense (cuts, relays, stealing, bunts, etc.) 4. Base running 5. Hitting/bunting 6. Finish with a fun challenge SAMPLE PRACTICE TEAM TALK (5 minutes) discipline & focus, fundamentals & drills to build habits, look for next play, owies & injuries THROWING (20 MINUTES) Throwing: don t let elbow drop below shoulder, follow through Catching: expect a bad throw; 2 hands, tap dirt on short throw - on knee-ball flips - on knee-sky, scratch, throw - on feet-step, sky, scratch, throw - long toss & back FUNDAMENTALS (3 STATIONS; 3 MINUTES EACH) Hustle to ball, field in front, 2 hands A) Pop/pull grounders B) Pop/pull barehand C) Pop/pull pop ups TEAM DRILLS Catcher - 2B SS straddle base/plant tag, 2B back-up on grass, catcher block ball to home Cut-off drill (CF, SS, 2B) line up cut, turn toward mitt Baserunning: 1) time 1 lap (left corner with left foot, straight line with short curl before base) 2) time to 1B-front part of bag 3) Steal second with pop up slide & look to coach to go to 3rd Hitting: (3 pts liner, 1 pt for grounder or pop) Rotation 3B, LF, SS, CF, 2B, RF, 1B, Batting T into fence, Hit stick, 6 strikes Rocket Relay competition Around the horn competition #1 RULE: STOP BALL, THEN MAKE PLAY #2 RULE: LOOK FOR NEXT PLAY A) Outfield grounders knee down, hurry ball in B) Underhand toss box drill show ball, extend arm C) Catch-throw (2B-1B) heels on base, step with catch

Hitting HITTING (Courage & Confidence) 1. STANCE - Knees flexed, weight balanced - Shoulders, hips & feet closed" - Bat vertical 2. STRIDE - Step forward (plant front foot before swinging!) - Hands back - Keep closed! - Shoulders level Closed Hips, shoulders & feet at 90 from target Open Hips, shoulders & feet facing target Outside pitch Hit late Hit to right field Inside pitch Hit early Get hands in front Down the Pipe Line drive up the middle 3. SWING - Drive back hip and knee towards ball (raise up on back toe) - Drive hands down & to the ball - Keep head still & over back knee 4. CONTACT & FOLLOW THROUGH - Keep both eyes on the ball - Watch the ball hit the bat - Drive bat through the ball Hitting Drills: - Batting tee (good for form work) - Stand on 2 x 8 x 4 board with out falling off - Hitting stick - One knee - One hand swings (keep other hand on chest) - Front toss (underhand, from behind screen) - Tracking balls & strikes (look ball into catchers mitt)

Fielding FIELDING (Awareness & Anticipation) Move body to get in front of ball (Quick feet & hustle to make every play routine) Receive ball in front & away from body Keep elbow in front of body Use 2 hands for quick release Anticipate your play before the pitch! Grounders - Lead slightly with glove side foot - Get mitt down early - Smother ball with throwing hand - Move forward to gain momentum for throw - Knee down & block ball for outfield grounders #1 Fielding Rule: Stop the Ball! #2 Fielding Rule: Ball must never go underneath you! Cut-offs Get out on grass. Line up between ball & base. Be a big target. RF hit (RF & RC): 2B takes cut-off LF & CF hit (LF, LC): SS takes cut-off Throws - Expect a bad throw - Step towards throw - Glove hand: fingers to the sky - Quickly remove ball from mitt or - Hold on to ball inside of mitt for tag - Turn toward glove side hand for relay throw Pop-ups - Get under ball! Quickly!! - Use two hands and get rid of ball Quickly! - Catch on throwing side of body if possible - Use glove to shield sun (if necessary) - Call ball: mine, mine, mine - Run after ball with mitt tucked - Short pop-ups are IF responsibility, but OF priority Fielding Drills: - Bare hand drill (no glove) - Rocket Relay - Pop/Pull drill (good for grounders, catches & pop-ups) - Ground ball circle (5-6 players) or triangle (3 players) - 5-4-3 drill - Pass patterns (running pop flys) - Around the horn drill - Baseball Hockey

Throwing THROWING (Focus & Discipline) Closed Hips, shoulders & feet at 90 from target Open Hips, shoulders & feet facing target 1. STANCE - Back foot perpendicular to target - Knees flexed - Shoulders, hips & feet closed" 2. BALANCE - Knee to waist - Hands quiet (together in front of body) - Chest over standing foot Sky - Scratch - Throw ball away - elbow high Sky - Scratch - Throw bend at elbow with out dropping keep loose Sky - Scratch - Throw Explode & release 3. READY - Step towards target (keep closed until release) - Rotate arm down, back & away ( Thumb to thigh, Fingers to the sky ) - Fingers to the sky - Ball facing away from body - Elbow above shoulder - Glove outstretched - Stand tall - both elbows elevated 4. RELEASE - Glove to chest - love the glove - Elbow above shoulder - Keep fingers on top of ball - Release at farthest point from body (away) - Bend at the waist (down) 5. FOLLOW THROUGH - Arm across body - Step through to good fielding position Throwing Drills: - Ball flips - 1/4 throws - Arm levers - One knee toss (from open position) - One knee throw (from closed position) - Flip & throw (from closed position) - Twist & throw (facing target) - Rocking throws - Figure 8 s - Step & Throw - Long toss - with crow hop

Positions PITCHING Throw strikes! Throw strikes!! Throw strikes!!! The next strike is the most important pitch! Throw to the glove; not the batter Don t focus on things you cannot control (errors) Keep ball low Breathe Take your time Keep motions simple CATCHING Toughest position - must have energy! Be brave! (trust the gear; don t turn to side) Be a servant to your pitcher; help him all you can Give a good & open target Catch the ball! Keep throwing hand behind thigh or behind glove Block pitches in the dirt (get down on both knees, glove between knees, angle body toward plate Step out to wide pitches; don t just reach Take command of field-you have the best view For potential plays at the plate, step out in front of plate 2B Always cover or back up throws to 2B Back-up on grass Generally, let SS take throws from catcher SS Communicate! You are captain of the infield Always cover or back up throws to 2B Back-up on grass Take throws from catcher 3B Cover your base! You are never a cut off man! At first sign of bunt, rush home OF Centerfielder has priority Get rid of ball quickly! Don t hold on to ball for any reason. Get knee down on grounders to block ball 1B Hustle to the bag Step towards ball with glove side foot while ball is in the air (Step, catch) Expect a bad throw Come off the base for wide throws Scoop or get down on low throws If you can get a grounder, get it; let your pitcher or 2B cover the base