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PRACTICE 10   Focus: Agility, Pitching/Catching, Throwing, Catching, Fly's, Fielding/Footwork, Infield/Outfield, Hitting

 

Agility Warm Up  (10 Min)

 

  • Player starts at bottom left cone with glove and sprints forward
  • Once past the top cone, the player back pedals in the opposite direction
  • Player continues until through all cones
  • Player start at bottom right cone with their glove and shuffles feet athletically until outside bottom right cone
  • Player sprints forward until past top right cone and shuffles left until outside top left cone
  • Player then back pedals to bottom left cone
  • Stationary feeds to a player with no glove
  • Have player get into a proper fielding position and roll balls directly to them so their feet can stay stationary
  • Focus is on getting the player into the proper fielding position and reaching out for the ball with their glove hand palm facing the ball and throwing hand over the glove hand
  • Roll 3 to each and rotate

Catching/Throwing/Fly’s  (15 Min)​

Infield Dailies (10 Min)
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  • Dailies are performed by two players that are 5-7 feet apart
  • If the players are having difficult feeding to each other and it's not efficient, have the coaches step in

Fielding/Footwork (15 Min)

 

  • Players line up in a single file line facing a coach
  • The coach rolls the player a ball directly to them
  • The player fields the ball moving forward with proper mechanics
  • After fielding, the player quickly pops to a throwing motion
  • Player then jogs the ball to the bucket in front of her and gets in the next line
  • Players rotate through each line and repeat

Infield/Outfield (20 Min)

 

  • Outfield
    • Put the players into positions
    • Have them rotate between 2 positions during the infield/outfield session as the coaches should know the potential of each player at this point
    • Use players as base runners so the defense can visually see what’s happening on the bases and the base runners can work on their base running skills
    • Emphasize proper footwork ,throwing, and catching
    • Start with the outfield by hitting balls to each position starting with no base runners, explaining where to throw the ball, who is the cut off, and what the rotations are for each player
    • Add a runner on 1st, then 1st and 2nd, and finally base loaded, and repeat where to throw the ball, who the cut off is, and what the rotations are for each player
  • Infield
    • Emphasize proper footwork ,throwing, and catching
    • Again, use players as base runners so the defense can visually see what’s happening on the bases and the base runners can work on their base running skills
    • Explain the difference between a force out and a tag play
    • Put coaches at the various bases discussing where the play should be if X position received the ball and the infield and outfield rotations
    • With force and tag plays make sure the player is gets to the proper positioning to tag the base and stay away from a slide
    • Encourage communication in both the infield and outfield as to where the play is and where to throw the ball

Hitting  (30 Min)

 

  • Tee
  • 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
  • Front Toss
    • Coach pitches from 12-15 feet away
    • Keep focus on proper mechanics
    • Make necessary adjustments

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
  • Review 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
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