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ALL STAR PRACTICE 1  Focus: Agility, Catching/Throwing/Fly's, Infield Dailies, 4 Corners, Fielding, Pitching/Catching, Infield/Outfield: Situations/Positioning, Bunt Coverage, Covering Steals, Covering Bunts, Relays/Cut Offs

 

Agility Warm Up  (10 Min)

 

  • Player shuffles laterally right and left around the outside of the cone with glove tucked
  • Running with their glove tucked in and out of cones
  • Every other time, have the player drop step around the cone

Catching/Throwing/Fly’s  (15 Min)​

  • Knee wrist snaps with glove
  • Throwing from the knees
  • Regular throws starting close and slowly move back.
  • Add a competition for fun having the players attempt to throw into a bucket from 10-12 feet
  • The focus is on elevating the ball with a proper release point and wrist snap
  • Catching and moving through the ball
    • Player sets up in an athletic position​​
    • The player steps forward with her glove foot as she receives the ball fingertips up and throwing hand to the side
    • The player continues working through the catch by carrying her momentum forward as she crosses over with her throwing hand foot
    • The players momentum continues through the ball as she plants her throwing hand foot
    • Her glove foot strides toward the target finishing in a throwing position
  • Coaches toss short fly balls directly to the player
    • Focus should be catching ball above the shoulder finger tips up
    • Player’s left foot should be forward when catching if possible
    • Encourage the player to communicate “ball”, “ball”, “ball”
  • Start with short fly balls and progress higher as appropriate
  • Drop step left (right handed player)
    • ​Player sets up in an athletic position
    • Player drop steps with their left foot while tucking the glove
    • The player crosses over with their right foot
    • The proper angle is then taken towards the ball​
  • Drop step right (right handed player)
    • ​Player sets up in an athletic position
    • Player drop steps with their right foot while tucking the glove
    • The player crosses over with their left foot
    • The proper angle is then taken towards the ball
Infield Dailies (10 Min)
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4 Corners (10 Min)
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  • In groups of 4, the player's form a square roughly 7 feet apart (small 4 corners)
  • The rotation of the ball will start clockwise.
  • The player's are positioned in an athletic position to receive the ball with both hands giving a target
  • With their feet stationary, they will call for the ball, "Ball"
  • Their shoulders will be square to the ball upon catching
  • Upon throwing, the players will simply pivot their feet to the target without stepping 
  • The throw will be a dart throw with the ball not coming past the ear and using mostly the wrist
  • This should be very controlled and accurate
  • Go around 6-7 times and then reverse to go counter clockwise
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  • In groups of 4, the player's form a square roughly 20-25 feet apart (big 4 corners)
  • The rotation of the ball will start clockwise.
  • The player's are positioned in an athletic position to receive the ball with both hands giving a target
  • With their feet moving in place, they will call for the ball, "Ball"
  • Their shoulders will be square to the ball upon catching with momentum moving towards their target
  • Upon throwing, the players using quick feet will have momentum to their target throwing to their targets glove side
  • Have the players work on quick transfers with the ball coming out of their glove and it to a throwing position 
  • This should be move quickly with lots of communication
  • Go around 6-7 times and then reverse to go counter clockwise
​
  • In groups of 4, the player's form a square roughly 20-25 feet apart (big 4 corners)
  • The rotation of the ball will start reverse clockwise.
  • The player's are positioned in an athletic position to receive the ball with both hands giving a target
  • With their feet moving in place, they will call for the ball, "Ball"
  • Their shoulders will be square to the ball upon catching with their glove foot stepping towards the ball (right handed player)
  • Upon throwing, the players will drop step with their back foot to align their bodies to the target
  • Have the players work on quick transfers with the ball coming out of their glove and it to a throwing position 
  • This should be move quickly with lots of communication
  • Go around 6-7 times and then reverse to go counter clockwise
Fielding (10 Min)
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  • Have the players line up at short stop in a single file line
  • A coach will be in front with a bucket of balls about 15 feet away to feed them ground balls
  • Another coach will be in line with first base but about 10 feet in front to shorten the distance to receive throws 
  • The player at the front of the line will receive a ground ball rolled to them, throw it to the coach in line with first base, and then run to the end of the line
  • The coach feeding ground balls will roll them balls: 
    • Directly to so the players can work on coming through the ball
    • To their glove side to work on lateral movement and angles to the forehand side
    • To their hand side to work on later movement and angles to the backhand side
    • Slow rollers just outside their hand side so they can work on throwing on the run
  • The focus should be on proper footwork and fielding positions
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Infield/Outfield Defense (60 Min)

 

  • Infield/Outfield
  • Situations/Positioning
  • Bunt Coverage
  • Force Play/Tag Play
  • Covering Steals
  • Covering Pick Offs
  • Relays/Cut Offs
  • Infield/Outfield Warm Ups (20 Min)
    • Split the team in to two groups â€‹
    • Have one coach work with outfield fundamentals throwing or hitting fly balls and grounders
    • Have another coach work with the infield rolling or hitting grounders
      • 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 â€‹
      • Work on force plays to first, second, third, and home and explain defensive positioning and coverages 
      • Stress the fundamentals of good footwork, working through the ball, staying athletic, and good throws
    • After 10 minutes, the infield goes to the outfield and outfield goes to the infield

Infield/Outfield Defense (60 Min)

 

  • Coach places the players in positions
    • 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 3 balls with the outfielder throwing to second, then third, then home
    • When the outfield is throwing to 2nd base:
      • The second baseman covers 2nd base on all balls hit to the left side of 2nd base​
        • When the second baseman covers, the right fielder is the backup and gets in to proper position if the ball gets passed​
        • The short stop is the cut off on all balls that get by the outfielders on the left side
      • The short stop covers 2nd on all balls hit to the right side of 2nd base
        • When the short stop covers, the left fielder is the backup and gets in to proper position if the ball gets passed​
        • The second baseman is the cut off on all balls that get by the outfielders on the right side
    • When the outfield is throwing to third base: 
      • The third baseman covers third base ​
        • The pitcher is always the back up​
        • The short stop is the cut off on all balls fielded by the left and center fielder with the second baseman covering 2nd base
        • The second baseman is the cut off to balls hit to right field with the short stop covering 2nd base
    • When the outfield is throwing home:
      • The catcher covers home
      • The pitcher is always the back up​
      • The short stop is the cut off on all balls hit to the left of 2nd base with the second baseman covering 2nd base
      • The second baseman is the cut off on all balls hit to the right of 2nd base with the short stop covering 2nd base
    • The coach then hits balls to infielders
    • Each position receives 4 balls all at once or staggered (Work on both force plays and tag plays and explain proper positioning of the receiver for each)
    • Go through 3-4 cycles of the above with the infield and outfield
    • Next, work on situations with runners on various bases and let them know how many outs there are
    • Bunt coverage and rotations
      • With a runner on 1st base​
        • The corners and pitcher sprint to the bunted ball​
        • The player that fields the ball communicates by calling "ball, ball, ball" and throws the ball to 1st base
        • Either the third baseman or pitcher returns to cover third base (whoever can get back the fastest)
        • The second baseman covers 1st base
        • The short stop covers 2nd base
      • With runners on 1st and 2nd base
        • The corners and pitcher sprint to the bunted ball​
        • The player that fields the ball communicates by calling "ball, ball, ball" and throws the ball to 1st base (an advanced team can attempt force outs at 3rd base by the catcher communicating where the play is)
        • The short stop rotates to cover 3rd base
        • The second baseman covers 1st base
        • 2nd base is left uncovered
      • With the bases loaded
        • The corners and pitcher sprint to the bunted ball​
        • The player that fields the ball communicates by calling "ball, ball, ball" 
        • The catcher communicates whether the play is at home or to 1st base
        • The short stop rotates to cover 3rd base
        • The second baseman covers 1st base
        • 2nd base is left uncovered
    • Catcher's Throws/Covering Steals
    • Catcher's Throws/Covering Picks 
      • Have the catcher work on throws to 1st base and 3rd base​
      • Have the first baseman cover throws to 1st base setting up in a position to tag with her body facing the field (not foul territory)
      • Have the second baseman cover throws to 1st base by vacating their position during the pitch 
        • The pitch should be a pitch out as the second baseman is vacating their position
        • The first baseman is playing closer to the plate than normal to give the runner more space to get a bigger lead
        • With the second baseman playing deeper, she takes an angle to the foul line roughly 5 feet behind 1st base and then squares directly to home plate to receive the ball coming directly to her
        • The second baseman covers 1st base setting up in a position to tag with her body facing the field (not foul territory)
      • Have the third baseman cover throws to 3rd base setting up in a position to tag with her body facing foul territory (not the field)
      • Have the short stop cover throws to 3rd base by vacating their position during the pitch 
        • The pitch should be a pitch out as the short stop is vacating their position
        • The third baseman is playing closer to the plate than normal to give the runner more space to get a bigger lead
        • With the short stop playing deeper, she takes an angle to the foul line roughly 5 feet behind 3rd base and then squares directly to home plate to receive the ball coming directly to her
        • The second baseman covers 1st base setting up in a position to tag with her body facing the field (not foul territory)

Pitching (20 Min)

 

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
  • 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
  • Blocking
    • Feet are kicked out behind catcher
    • Body/Chest is over the ball
    • Shoulders are square to the plate
    • Glove is positioned on the ground between legs
    • Throwing hand is placed behind the glove to protect it
    • Chin is to the chest
    • Goal is to have the ball hit the chest and drop straight down towards the plate
  • Throwing
    • Upon catching the ball, the catcher pops up staying in an athletic position
    • Feet touch down on the balls simultaneously
    • Glove shoulder is facing target
    • Glove is pulled towards ear and ball is transferred to throwing hand

    • The ball is separated from the glove in back of throwing shoulder

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