- Baseball is a Game of Movement -
Day 5
(-0:10-0:00) Pre-practice
Whiffle Ball Batting: 1) ‘See Ball, Turn Back’ 2) Timing: “Pitch” - “Hit”
[Coach(es) may pick out One aspect of the swing, for a given player, to work on during their swings]
0:00-0:15
Skill Building Warm-up
6-1 (3b Backing-up)
OF Backing-up
4-1 (1b Backing-up)
0:15-0:30
Playing Catch Practice
1. ‘No Bat’ Drills
Switch Heels (Heel-Knee)
Elbow Drive (holding center of bat) -- Reminder: Elbow, then Wrist
Sideways Karate Chop (Elbow-Wrist)
2. ‘No Ball’ Drills
Drive & Pull (the upper arm and torso move as one piece)
Wrist Action
Shuffle, Shuffle, Pull-Snap
3. Play Catch from 25’-35’ for a couple mins (Slow-Medium; focus on upper arm and torso working as ‘one piece’), then move back to 50’ (Medium-Fast).
4. Replay the Ball (& Throw: 50’)
0:30-0:50
3 Groups
6-5 Play (UH Toss) with Pitcher/’Runner’ Backing-up (LF: Go Get the Ball)
OF & Runner (‘Pitcher’) Backing-up
4-3 Play (UH Toss) with Pitcher/’Runner’ Backing-up [go behind bucket] (RF: Go Get the Ball)
0:50-0:55 <Break>
0:55-1:10
Batting & Fly Balls
Group 1: Wiffle Ball Batting
Group 2: Chasing Balls
Group 3: Toss Drills - Coming Straight In* (Reach away from the body to catch)
[*Some kids will shy away from a ball coming straight to them; toss the ball a bit to their glove side. Point out that if they miss, the ball won’t hit them]
1:10-1:30
Scrimmage
Teach: ‘Eat it! Run it In!’ | RULE: No Overhand Throws [when runner(s) are not trying to advance]
4 groups of three players:
1 group bats; 3 groups in the field to fill all positions
Batting Group: runners of First & Second, and the batter
Each player bats 1x, then rotate their group into the field
Defensive Responsibility & Movement:
Teach a bit each day.
Reinforce/Acknowledge during Scrimmage.
***Wiffle Ball Scrimmage ...on Rain/Wet Days
***Sliding (Pick a day when the grass is wet; skip Scrimmage)