10u practice 4 | eaconsulting

PRACTICE 4 Focus: Agility, Pitching/Catching, Catching/Throwing Fly's, Base Running, Hitting

Agility Warm Up (10 Min)

This agility warm up is performed with their glove tucked
Player starts at the top and shuffles to their left or right
Once outside the cone, player back pedals to the second cone
Once past, player drop steps and sprints to the centered cone
They immediately go to the ladder as described below
Repeat and alternate shuffle directions

Catching/Throwing/Fly’s (15 Min)

Players start throwing to each other
Knee wrist snaps with glove
Throwing from the knees
Regular throws starting close and slowly move back.
Add a competition for fun having the players attempt to throw into a bucket from 10-12 feet
The focus is on elevating the ball with a proper release point and wrist snap
Stay athletic when receiving moving the feet to the ball
Attempt to catch every ball in the center of the body
Coaches toss short fly balls directly to the player using a tennis ball
- Focus should be catching ball above the shoulder finger tips up
- Player’s left foot should be forward when catching if possible
- Encourage the player to communicate “ball”, “ball”, “ball”
- Start with short fly balls and progress higher as appropriate

Review Infield Dailies (15 Min)

Have a coach review each daily
Split the team in to 3 groups again (assuming you have 3 coaches/helpers) and have them feed dailies to the players

Base Running (20 Min)

Running with proper mechanics
- Running on the balls of the feet
- Elbows in, arms pumping
- Head up looking at the base ahead
Running through the first base bag, touching the front of the bag and breaking down
Rounding first base touching the inside of the bag going to second
Picking up the 3rd base coach when going to second
Lead offs emphasizing a step, step, shuffle, shuffle
After a proper lead off have the player work on diving back to the base
After a proper lead off have the player sprint to the next base
Steals

Hitting (45 Min)

Tee
- The player sets up in an athletic stance
- Feet positioned straight or slightly inward with weight on the inside
- Feet are positioned just outside the shoulders with equal weight on each
- Have the player just get to contact for 5-7 reps
  - At this point, the back foot and belly button should be pointed to the contact point
  - The back arm should be close to a 90 degree angle
- Next, have the player get through contact and to extension for 5-7 reps
  - Have the player focus on making contact with the inside of the ball which forces the knob to the ball
  - At extension, the back shoulder should be underneath the chin which is down
  - At extension, the barrel of the bat should be facing the pitcher
- Move the tee to the middle contact point and have the player take a full swing
- Make necessary adjustments to a player’s swing

Soft Toss
- Coach kneels to the side and slightly in front of batter
- Coach slowly tosses the ball to batters strike zone
- Batter swings through with focus points above
Short Front Toss
- Coach pitches from 8-10 feet away sitting on a bucket
- Keep focus on proper mechanics
- Make necessary adjustments
Review Sacrifice Bunts
- Have the coach review the proper fundaments of a sacrifice bunt
- The player sets up in an athletic stance with feet opened up towards pitcher
- The bat starts at the top of the strike zone
- The bat stays as close to eye level as possible using the legs
- All pitches above the bat, the bat is pulled back
- All pitches in the strike zone, the legs get the bat to the ball
- The players arms are flexed and upon contact a small push can be made to the ball
- Bat is slightly angled for placement down 3rd and 1st

Pitching (20 Min)

Wrist snaps restraining pitching arm shoulders stay isolated
L Drill
- Glove pointed to target
- Body is open with glove shoulder facing target
- Pitching arm is straight up with ball
- Feet are positioned at a 45 degree angle towards target
- Back heel starts raised
- Player takes a small step with the front foot
- Then the back leg drives towards the target
- Back knee finished close to front knee
- Glove arm and pitching arm drive down together
- Wrist snap to target
Knee Arm Circle (Right Handed Pitcher)
- Right knee is on the ground at a 90 degree angle to the target
- Left leg is extended to the target
- Glove and front shoulder are facing target
- Pitching arm is elevated above and out over the body
- Player starts by driving the pitching arm down in a circular path
- The ball is snapped toward the target by the hip
Full Motion

Catching

Setup/Positioning
- Feet are shoulder width apart
- Knees fully bent
- Back is straight
- Glove arm is at 90 degree with glove opened towards pitcher
- Throwing hand is behind back
Framing/Receiving
- Glove arm stays flexed and out in front
- For an inside pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers thumb is up
- For an outside pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers thumb is down
- For a high pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers palm is down
- For a low pitch, the catcher receives the ball finger tips up
Blocking
- Feet are kicked out behind catcher
- Body/Chest is over the ball
- Shoulders are square to the plate
- Glove is positioned on the ground between legs
- Throwing hand is placed behind the glove to protect it
- Chin is to the chest
- Goal is to have the ball hit the chest and drop straight down towards the plate

This agility warm up is performed with their glove tucked

Player starts at the top and shuffles to their left or right

Once outside the cone, player back pedals to the second cone

Once past, player drop steps and sprints to the centered cone

They immediately go to the ladder as described below

Repeat and alternate shuffle directions

Players start throwing to each other

Add a competition for fun having the players attempt to throw into a bucket from 10-12 feet

The focus is on elevating the ball with a proper release point and wrist snap

Attempt to catch every ball in the center of the body

Focus should be catching ball above the shoulder finger tips up

Player’s left foot should be forward when catching if possible

Encourage the player to communicate “ball”, “ball”, “ball”

Start with short fly balls and progress higher as appropriate

Review Infield Dailies (15 Min)

​​

Have a coach review each daily

Split the team in to 3 groups again (assuming you have 3 coaches/helpers) and have them feed dailies to the players

Running with proper mechanics

Running on the balls of the feet

Elbows in, arms pumping

Head up looking at the base ahead

Picking up the 3rd base coach when going to second

After a proper lead off have the player sprint to the next base

Steals

Tee

The player sets up in an athletic stance

Feet positioned straight or slightly inward with weight on the inside

Feet are positioned just outside the shoulders with equal weight on each

Have the player just get to contact for 5-7 reps

At this point, the back foot and belly button should be pointed to the contact point​

The back arm should be close to a 90 degree angle

Next, have the player get through contact and to extension for 5-7 reps

Have the player focus on making contact with the inside of the ball which forces the knob to the ball

At extension, the back shoulder should be underneath the chin which is down ​

At extension, the barrel of the bat should be facing the pitcher

Make necessary adjustments to a player’s swing

Soft Toss

Coach kneels to the side and slightly in front of batter

Coach slowly tosses the ball to batters strike zone

Batter swings through with focus points above

Short Front Toss

Coach pitches from 8-10 feet away sitting on a bucket

Keep focus on proper mechanics

Make necessary adjustments

Review Sacrifice Bunts

Have the coach review the proper fundaments of a sacrifice bunt

The bat starts at the top of the strike zone

The bat stays as close to eye level as possible using the legs

All pitches above the bat, the bat is pulled back

All pitches in the strike zone, the legs get the bat to the ball

The players arms are flexed and upon contact a small push can be made to the ball

Bat is slightly angled for placement down 3rd and 1st

Glove pointed to target

Body is open with glove shoulder facing target

Pitching arm is straight up with ball

Feet are positioned at a 45 degree angle towards target

Back heel starts raised

Player takes a small step with the front foot

Then the back leg drives towards the target

Back knee finished close to front knee

Glove arm and pitching arm drive down together

Wrist snap to target

Right knee is on the ground at a 90 degree angle to the target

Left leg is extended to the target

Glove and front shoulder are facing target

Pitching arm is elevated above and out over the body

Player starts by driving the pitching arm down in a circular path

The ball is snapped toward the target by the hip

Setup/Positioning

Feet are shoulder width apart

Knees fully bent

Back is straight

Glove arm is at 90 degree with glove opened towards pitcher

Throwing hand is behind back

Glove arm stays flexed and out in front

For an inside pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers thumb is up

For an outside pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers thumb is down

For a high pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers palm is down

For a low pitch, the catcher receives the ball finger tips up

At this point, the back foot and belly button should be pointed to the contact point

At extension, the back shoulder should be underneath the chin which is down