Day 2 - Practice Plan
The concept of a ‘Skill building Warm-up’ (SBW) is introduced. Before playing catch, we warm-up our players by running them through baseball/softball skill building activities.
Most practice content builds off the foundational pieces from Day 1. The entire series of practice plans is one continuous sequence of teaching. Each practice's content is related to, and builds off that of the previous practice.
We expand our teaching of Coordinated Team Play on defense, introducing Outfielders' Backing up responsibilities.
Batting Swing instruction begins; Batting Practice Structure is introduced.
Pre-Practice: Whiffle Ball Batting
0:00-0:15
Skill Building Warm-up
Receiving a Throw at a Base (3B)
Inf Base Coverage (4 – 1 = 3)
20’ Ground Balls
0:15-0:35
Playing Catch Practice
Throwing Instruction
No Ball Drills
Play Catch (35’ | 60’: Move Feet)
Replaying the Ball (Teach)
0:35-0:50
Team Drills
Drill: Backing-up (Outfielders)
0:50-0:55 <Break>
0:55-1:10
Instruction: Turn Glove Side
Drill: Three Groups
6-1 (Underhand Toss)
1-6 (Turn Glove Side)
4-3 (Ball to Their Right)
1:10-1:20
Batting Instruction
No Bat Drills
1:20-1:35
Batting Practice Structure - Introduced
Explain Set-up and Routine to Players (using Mini Diamond)
[cones, representing 12 players, set out in advance]
Group 1
Offense
Base Running (Ground Ball, Line Drive, Fly Ball)
Tee Station (Relationship of feet to Tee Stem/Ball)
Live Batter: No ‘One Mores’ (run to first after last swing)
Group 2
Defense
Play balls off the bat (‘6th inning of Championship Game’)
Ground Balls: get in front TO CATCH
Fly Balls: ‘Mine’ (not, ‘I Got It’) …1 syllable instead of 3
Group 3
Skills Station
Pitching & Wiffle Ball Batting
Pitch Instruction & No Ball Drills
Catcher Instruction (1) Stance (2) Target (3) Reach Forward
1:35-2:00
Batting Practice - 12-Player Drill
I. Batting: Live Wiffle Balls (only 6 swings today)
Tee Work
II. Defense: Balls off the bat
III. Skills Station: Pitching | Live Wiffle
BATTING
Instruction
Stance
Turn Back
Switch Heels
Face the Ball
...same concept as ‘keep eye on the ball’; entire face (both eyes) is directed towards the ball.
Head & Feet: In Place
...The Head is Centered between the feet in the stance; Head is centered between the feet at the conclusion of the swing.
At the conclusion of the swing, the Feet remain In Place (not ‘stepping around’) - ‘Check Balance’
No Bat Drills
Turn Back x5 (Leg muscles only)
Switch Heels x8 (Coach, “Turn Baaack, Switch (Heels”)
Tee Work
Switch Heels*
Switch Heels (add: Face the Ball focus*). At the conclusion of the swing, batter is facing Contact Point (top of the Tee Stem).
* Check Balance (Feet In Place) after each swing (awareness)
THROWING & PITCHING
Throwing Instruction (work from Power Position)
Legs Power the throw
Glove Elbow pull (& Leg Drive) moves throwing elbow Forward
...Don’t think throwing ‘arm’; only throwing Elbow
Upper arm and Torso move as One piece
...Upper arm moves sideways; elbow remains at shoulder level
When throwing elbow passes head, Wrist snap takes over
...Wrist snaps down; arm remains at shoulder level
(energy of the wrist snap carries the arm Forward towards target)
No Ball Drills
Turn & Pull x5 (upper arm and torso move as one piece)
Drive & Pull x5
Wrist Action 6-7 seconds
Shuffle x2 (3 shuffles)
Shuffle, Shuffle, Pull-Snap …momentum (‘Follow Your Head’) x2
Pitching Instruction (first 2 points below build off first 3 points above)
No Ball Drills
Seasaw x5
Snap Down x5 (energy of the wrist snap carries the arm Down
Rocking 4 seconds x2 (Power Position)
Skills Station (Batting Practice)
Rocking from 35’: Drive & Pull (Anchor focus)
Rocking: from 35’: Pull-Snap (Pitch Down Angle)
