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PRACTICE 4 Focus: Agility, Pitching/Catching, Throwing, Catching, Infield Dailies, Base Running, Hitting
Agility Warm Up (10 Min)
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This agility warm up is performed with their glove tucked
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Player starts at the top and shuffles to their left or right
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Once outside the cone, player back pedals to the second cone
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Once past, player drop steps and sprints to the centered cone
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They immediately go to the ladder as described below
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Repeat and alternate shuffle directions
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Stationary feeds to a player with no glove
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Have player get into a proper fielding position and roll balls directly to them so their feet can stay stationary
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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
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Roll 3 to each and rotate
Throwing (15 Min)
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Player’s throw to coaches
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Start with wrist snaps on the knees
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Glove knee up, throwing hand knee down
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Throwing arm is at 90 degree
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Glove hand supports throwing elbow underneath
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With ball in hand, wrist starts forward, comes back, and forward to snap
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Arm does not move, just the wrist
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Throwing from the knee
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Start with glove shoulder facing target
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Glove to ear, ball separation behind throwing shoulder, elbow up
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On the throw, glove is tucked, wrist is snapped, throwing hand finished at opposite pocket
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Attempt to get the player’s to go from shoulder to shoulder with their throws
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Throwing from the feet in an athletic position
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Utilize same mechanics mentioned above
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Targets can be used for fun, i.e. Hula Hoops or Buckets
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Start close and slowly move back.
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Can add a competition for fun having the players attempt to throw through a hula hoop at various distances starting close and slowly moving back
Introduce Infield Dailies (15 Min)
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Catching (15 Min)
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Start by having the coaches toss players a tennis ball up close with no glove
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Have them start in a stationary athletic position with the legs flexed giving a target with both hands out front​
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Feed them the ball and have them catch it with their glove hand with their throwing hand covering up after the catch
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Feed them balls from your knee in different areas encouraging the use of their legs working up and down (but still stationary)
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Have 3-4 lines and feed them 3 balls each and rotate
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Forehands/Backhands with tennis ball without the glove
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Coaches start close and lightly underhand toss balls to the various 9 catching zones
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In a stationary position, player’s move their catching hand to the ball finger tips up/finger tips down
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The focus isn’t on catching the ball, but to get to the ball the correct way
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Slowly move back as the players get comfortable with getting to the ball
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Now with the glove, have the player get athletic by bending at the knees and having the feet outside the shoulders
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The coach will again feed 3 balls each from a close distance on their knee and rotate
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The players will give a target using two hands
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Focus on having them catch the ball finger tips up or finger tips down in a stationary position
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Base Running (10 Min)
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Running with proper mechanics
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Running on the balls of the feet
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Elbows in, arms pumping
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Head up looking at the base ahead
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Running through the first base bag, touching the front of the bag and breaking down
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Rounding first base touching the inside of the bag going to second
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Picking up the 3rd base coach when going to second
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Lead offs emphasizing a step, step, shuffle, shuffle
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After a proper lead off have the player work on getting back to the base staying athletic
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After a proper lead off have the player sprint to the next base
Hitting (30 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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Introduce Soft Toss
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Have a coach discuss and demonstrate the proper fundamentals of 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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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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