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PRACTICE 11 Focus: Agility, Pitching/Catching, Throwing, Catching, Infield Dailies, Hitting, Team Defense Infield/Outfield
Agility Warm Up (10 Min)
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With a glove, player shuffles left and when in front of the ball, breaks down into the proper fielding position and then shuffles to the ball opposite and repeats
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Encourage staying athletic
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Do this 3 times to each side

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With a glove, player starts at bottom right cone and sprints forward to the cone ahead, back pedals to bottom left cone and approaches the ladder and ball breaking down into a proper fielding position

Catching/Throwing (10 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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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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Infield Dailies (10 Min)
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Hitting (25 Min)
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Tee
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Athletic stance with no stride approach
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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 and through to extension starting slow then progressively getting faster maintaining proper form
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Focus on staying athletic through to extension with chin staying down
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Have the player take a full swing finishing high at the shoulder
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Position the tee to the middle contact point and have the player take a full 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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Front Toss
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Coach pitches from 12-15 feet away
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Keep focus on proper mechanics
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Make necessary adjustments
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Infield/Outfield Defense (60 Min)
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Infield/Outfield
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Situations/Positioning
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Bunt Coverage
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Force Play/Tag Play
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Infield/Outfield Warm Ups (20 Min)
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Split the team in to two groups ​
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Have one coach work with outfield fundamentals throwing or hitting fly balls and grounders
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Have another coach work with the infield rolling or hitting grounders
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You can have the players stay in one position or can rotate them through the infield from third, to short stop, to second, and then first ​
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Work on force plays to first, second, third, and home and explain defensive positioning and coverages
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Stress the fundamentals of good footwork, working through the ball, staying athletic, and good throws
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After 10 minutes, the infield goes to the outfield and outfield goes to the infield
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Infield/Outfield Defense (60 Min)
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Coach places the players in positions
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The coaching starts with the outfield hitting to the left fielder, center fielder, then right fielder (Work on relays as well)
- The coach hits each outfielder 2 balls with the outfielder throwing to second, then third
- When the outfield is throwing to 2nd base:
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The second baseman covers 2nd base on all balls hit to the left side of 2nd base​
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When the second baseman covers, the right fielder is the backup and gets in to proper position if the ball gets passed​
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The short stop is the cut off on all balls that get by the outfielders on the left side
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The short stop covers 2nd on all balls hit to the right side of 2nd base
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When the short stop covers, the left fielder is the backup and gets in to proper position if the ball gets passed​
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The second baseman is the cut off on all balls that get by the outfielders on the right side
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When the outfield is throwing to third base:
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The third baseman covers third base ​
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The pitcher is always the back up​
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The short stop is the cut off on all balls fielded by the left and center fielder with the second baseman covering 2nd base
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The second baseman is the cut off to balls hit to right field with the short stop covering 2nd base
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The coach then hits balls to infielders
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Each position receives 3-4 balls one at a time (Work on both force plays and tag plays and explain proper positioning of the receiver for each)
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When the third baseman fields:​
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When the third baseman throws home, the short stop rotates to cover 3rd base​ and second baseman covers 2nd base
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When the third baseman fields a ball for a force out at 3rd base the short stop covers 3rd base if necessary
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When the third baseman throws to 2nd base, the second base covers and turns two with the right fielder backing up
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When the third baseman throws to 1st base, the first baseman covers with the right fielder backing up
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When the short stop fields:
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When the short stop throws home, the catcher receives and the second baseman rotates to cover 2nd base
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When the short stop throws to third, the third baseman covers and the short stop drop steps with balls hit to their glove side
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When the short stop throws to 2nd base, the second baseman covers turning two
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When the short stop throws to 1st base, the first baseman receives the ball
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When the second baseman fields:
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When the second baseman throws home, the catcher receives and the short stop rotates to cover 2nd base
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When the second baseman throws to 2nd base, the short stop covers turning two
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When the second baseman throws to 1st base, the first baseman receives the ball
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When the first baseman fields:
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When the first baseman throws home, the catcher receives and the short stop rotates to cover 2nd base
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When the first baseman throws to 2nd base, the short stop covers turning two
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When the first baseman fields she touches first for the out with the second baseman rotating to 1st base if needed
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Go through 3-4 cycles of the above with the infield and outfield
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Next, work on very basic situations with runners on various bases and let them know how many outs there are
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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 or Lunge Leg Drive
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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