Day 4 - Practice Plan
Outfield Skills are the emphasis of the Team Drills segment
Team Defense, Relays and Receiving a Throw at a Base are reviewed
Coordinated Team Defensive Play is a constant focus each practice: ‘What to do when the ball is Not hit to you’. Players continue working on skills related to their positioning and footwork around the base. Batting Practice is a Drill; we want each player working on skill development, not shagging (picking up) balls.
0:00-0:15
Skill Building Warm-up
MIF & P - Ball to LF/RF (note: need to address ‘Ball to CF’)
Relay to Home (Mini diamond)
Receiving a Throw at a Base (1B)
0:15-0:35
Playing Catch Practice
Instruction
Batting - Anchor
Pitching & Throwing - Wrist Snap starts the Down Action of the arm
No Bat Drills / No Ball Drills
PCP Routine
Pitching Practice (35’)
Position Player Throwing (35’ | 60’: Feet & Wrist)
Catch, Tag, Power Position (Teach)
0:35-1:00
Team Drills
Drill: Three Groups
(brief) Instruction for each prior to breaking into groups:
Fly Ball Communication
Drop Step
OF Ground Balls: Hit the Cut - ‘Box Mentality’
1:00-1:05 <Break.
1:05-1:40
Batting Practice - 12-Player Drill
I. Live Batting (Full Field )
Tee Work
II. Defense
Play balls off the bat at a position (‘6th Inning of the Championship Game’ mindset)
III. Skills Station
Pitching
Batting: Live Wiffle
1:40-2:00
Scrimmage
Explain Structure
Each Player Bats 1x
*** Wiffle Ball Scrimmage ...on Rain/Wet Days***
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
BATTING
Instruction
Anchor (Switch Heels)
Drive Back Knee: (1) Forward & (2) Down
Pushing off the Pad of the Back Big Toe
Finish Position:
Feet in Place - Balance (always be aware of Feet at end of the swing)
Head Over Back Knee (look straight down to check)
No Bat Drills
Twist 4 seconds x 1
Switch Heels x3 (Feet wider than the hips)
Switch Heels x5 (Anchor: Head over Back Knee)
Sideways Karate x5 (Elbow leads)
Tee Work
Switch Heels* (Anchor | Drive off Pad of Back Big Toe)
Sideways Karate Chop* (Elbow leads)
* Check Balance (Feet In Place) after each swing (awareness)
Pitching Instruction
Wrist Starts the Down Action of the arm
Reminder: Straight Lines ...all actions, including Head
No Ball Drills
Receiving Throws
Move Feet to Catch x1 each way
Throwing
Turn & Pull (Anchor) x5
Drive & Pull (Anchor) x5
Wrist Action 6-7 seconds
Shuffle (3 shuffles) x1
Shuffle, Shuffle, Pull-Snap …momentum x2
Pitching
Seasaw x5
Snap Down x5 (Wrist starts the Down Action)
Playing Catch Practice
Rocking from 35’: Drive & Pull (Anchor focus)
Rocking from 35’: Pull-Snap (Wrist focus) ...Down Angle
Skills Station (Batting Practice)
Rocking from 35’: Drive & Pull + Snap Down (one continuous action)