top of page

PRACTICE 5   Focus: Agility, Pitching/Catching, Throwing, Catching, Infield Dailies, Fielding/Footwork, Base Running, Hitting

 

Agility Warm Up  (10 Min)

  • 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

  • Encourage staying athletic

  • Do this 3 times to each side

  • 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

  • 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

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 â€‹ 
      • 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
  • Review Soft Toss
    • Have a coach review the fundamentals of 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
  • Introduce Short Front Toss
    • Coach pitches from 8-10 feet away sitting on a bucket
    • Keep focus on proper mechanics
    • Make necessary adjustments
Infield Dailies (10 Min)
​​
  • 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  (15 Min)​ Circuit

​​
  • Lateral Shuffle
    • Set up two cones about 10-12 feet apart
    • Have the player start in the middle of the two cones in an athletic position
    • The coach will roll a ball inside one of the cones
    • The player will cross over and then shuffle laterally and field the ball
    • After fielding the ball the player will pop to a throwing position and throw the ball back to the coach
    • The player will shuffle back to the middle, cross over and shuffle to the ball that the coach rolls inside the opposite cone
    • Have them field 3 on each side for a total of 6
​
  • Fielding Footwork
    • Setting up in an athletic position with a ladder directly in front and a ball placed in front of the ladder that’s running horizontal.
    • A right handed player will put their right foot in a ladder square followed by their left foot (it will be the opposite for a lefty)
    • As soon as the player gets their left foot down, they will reach with their glove towards the ball in a good fielding position
    • Right/Left reach for a righty, Left/Right reach for a lefty
    • The two steps into the ladder should be in rhythm
    • Next, move the players back so they have to take multiple steps
    • Focus on short choppy steps until they get to the ladder

Agility/Footwork/Base Running  (15 Min)

  • Have a coach simulate a pitcher without the ladder in place

  • Proper leads and footwork, step, step, shuffle, shuffle, go

  • A coach can be used to hit the ball so the player can work on reading the ball of the bat

  • The player works on running from 1st to 3rd picking up the third base coach

  • Have the players work on continuing to 3rd and staying at 2nd
  • Work on rounding the base getting to the inside

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
bottom of page