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PRACTICE 7 Focus: Catching/Throwing/Fly's, Infield Dailies, Fielding/Footwork, Base Running, Hitting
Agility Warm Up (10 Min)
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Player starts at bottom left cone with glove and sprints forward
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Once past the top cone, the player back pedals in the opposite direction
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Player continues until through all cones
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Player start at bottom right cone with their glove and shuffles feet athletically until outside bottom right cone
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Player sprints forward until past top right cone and shuffles left until outside top left cone
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Player then back pedals to bottom left cone
Catching/Throwing/Fly’s (25 Min)​
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Knee wrist snaps with glove
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Throwing from the knees
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Regular throws starting close and slowly move back.
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Add a competition for fun having the players attempt to throw into a bucket from 10-12 feet
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The focus is on elevating the ball with a proper release point and wrist snap
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Introduce catching and moving through the ball
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Player sets up in an athletic position​​
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The player steps forward with her glove foot as she receives the ball fingertips up and throwing hand to the side
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The player continues working through the catch by carrying her momentum forward as she crosses over with her throwing hand foot
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The players momentum continues through the ball as she plants her throwing hand foot
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Her glove foot strides toward the target finishing in a throwing position
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Coaches toss short fly balls directly to the player
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Focus should be catching ball above the shoulder finger tips up
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Player’s left foot should be forward when catching if possible
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Encourage the player to communicate “ball”, “ball”, “ball”
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Start with short fly balls and progress higher as appropriate
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Introduce drop step left (right handed player)
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​Player sets up in an athletic position
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Player drop steps with their left foot while tucking the glove
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The player crosses over with their right foot
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The proper angle is then taken towards the ball​
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Introduce drop step right (right handed player)
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​Player sets up in an athletic position
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Player drop steps with their right foot while tucking the glove
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The player crosses over with their left foot
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The proper angle is then taken towards the ball
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Infield Dailies (10 Min)
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Dailies are performed by two players that are 5-7 feet apart
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If the players are having difficult feeding to each other and it's not efficient, have the coaches step in
Fielding/Footwork (10 Min)
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Players line up in a single file line facing a coach
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The coach rolls the player a ball directly to them
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The player fields the ball moving forward with proper mechanics
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After fielding, the player quickly pops to a throwing motion
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Player then jogs the ball to the bucket in front of her and gets in the next line
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Players rotate through each line and repeat
Base Running (15 Min)
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Have a coach introduce the proper fundamentals of how to slide
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Have the players start in the outfield grass to help cushion their slide or utilize a sliding mat if you have one
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Have the players take minimal steps initially to limit the speed and focus on the footwork and body positioning
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The players can continue to move back to gain more momentum once they get comfortable with the mechanics
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Hitting (40 Min)
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Tee
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The player sets up in an athletic stance
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Feet positioned straight or slightly inward with weight on the inside
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Feet are positioned just outside the shoulders with equal weight on each
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Have the player just get to contact for 5-7 reps
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At this point, the back foot and belly button should be pointed to the contact point​
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The back arm should be close to a 90 degree angle
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Next, have the player get through contact and to extension for 5-7 reps
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Have the player focus on making contact with the inside of the ball which forces the knob to the ball
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At extension, the back shoulder should be underneath the chin which is down ​
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At extension, the barrel of the bat should be facing the pitcher
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Move the tee to the middle contact point and have the player take a full swing
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Make necessary adjustments to a player’s swing
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Soft Toss
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Coach kneels to the side and slightly in front of batter
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Coach slowly tosses the ball to batters strike zone
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Batter swings through with focus points above
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Short Front Toss
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Coach pitches from 8-10 feet away sitting on a bucket
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Keep focus on proper mechanics
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Make necessary adjustments
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Sacrifice Bunts
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Have the coach review the proper fundaments of a sacrifice bunt
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The player sets up in an athletic stance with feet opened up towards pitcher
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The bat starts at the top of the strike zone
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The bat stays as close to eye level as possible using the legs
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All pitches above the bat, the bat is pulled back
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All pitches in the strike zone, the legs get the bat to the ball
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The players arms are flexed and upon contact a small push can be made to the ball
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Bat is slightly angled for placement down 3rd and 1st
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Pitching (20 Min)
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Wrist snaps restraining pitching arm shoulders stay isolated
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L Drill
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Glove pointed to target
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Body is open with glove shoulder facing target
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Pitching arm is straight up with ball
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Feet are positioned at a 45 degree angle towards target
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Back heel starts raised
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Player takes a small step with the front foot
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Then the back leg drives towards the target
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Back knee finished close to front knee
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Glove arm and pitching arm drive down together
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Wrist snap to target
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Knee Arm Circle (Right Handed Pitcher)
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Right knee is on the ground at a 90 degree angle to the target
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Left leg is extended to the target
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Glove and front shoulder are facing target
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Pitching arm is elevated above and out over the body
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Player starts by driving the pitching arm down in a circular path
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The ball is snapped toward the target by the hip
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Full Motion
Catching
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Setup/Positioning
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Feet are shoulder width apart
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Knees fully bent
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Back is straight
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Glove arm is at 90 degree with glove opened towards pitcher
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Throwing hand is behind back
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Framing/Receiving
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Glove arm stays flexed and out in front
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For an inside pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers thumb is up
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For an outside pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers thumb is down
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For a high pitch, upon catching the ball the catchers palm is down
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For a low pitch, the catcher receives the ball finger tips up
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Blocking
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Feet are kicked out behind catcher
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Body/Chest is over the ball
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Shoulders are square to the plate
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Glove is positioned on the ground between legs
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Throwing hand is placed behind the glove to protect it
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Chin is to the chest
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Goal is to have the ball hit the chest and drop straight down towards the plate
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Throwing
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Upon catching the ball, the catcher pops up staying in an athletic position
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Feet touch down on the balls simultaneously
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Glove shoulder is facing target
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Glove is pulled towards ear and ball is transferred to throwing hand
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The ball is separated from the glove in back of throwing shoulder
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