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Madison Little League Skills Development Practice Playbook DEVELOPED TO ENHANCE PLAYER SKILL AND TEAM COMPETITIVENESS 1 4/12/2015 DRAFT DOCUMENT

041215 Madison Little League Skills Development Practice

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Madison Little League

Skills Development

Practice PlaybookDEVELOPED TO ENHANCE PLAYER SKILL AND TEAM COMPETITIVENESS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Coaching Philosophy

2. Running Effective Practices – Practice Structure & Drills

3. Running Effective Practices – Situational Planning

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Contributors:

Adam Boyce – Player Development Manager

Gary Boyce – Retired Athletic Director and former Pro Baseball Player

Travis LaPointe - Daniel Hand Madison Varsity Baseball Coach

Ed Blankmeyer - St. Johns University, NY Head Baseball Coach - Defend the Field Strategy -

The Purpose of this document is to provide a best practices guide on coaching,

assessing players skills and running effective practices to maximize player

development and team competitiveness. This should be viewed as a resource for

planning your practices and the recommendation provided are just that, to offer

suggested guidance as needed to ensure every player can get the most out of

baseball and develop to the next level. Use this as a starting resource, contribute

and share with others so that we as a league can succeed in developing the

children of Madison, CT.

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

Positive Intensity & Skills Development Score Card

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Purpose: Use the recommended coaching and player development focus to

provide specific skills development goals for each player and to ensure well

rounded development can be achieved by the entire team

Coaching Philosophy: Player Development Focus

1 Mechanical Development

• Skill Development

essential to consistency

• Mechanically sound versus

performance

• Individual work: one on

one with your players

• Specialty work: (hitting,

pitching and catching

instructions etc.)

2 Athletic Development

• Strength work

• Functional flexibility

• Conditioning

• Athleticism

• Baseball athleticism

• Vision and baseball

3 Mental Preparation

• Mind versus body

• Mental toughness

• “Failure” and “Adversity”

• Relaxation

• Keeping Focus…a lot of

dead time in baseball

• Dealing with game

pressures

• Game Adjustments

4 Game Preparation

1. Our job is to get the team to perform as a unit

2. Teach players to be a “baseball ready” - and everyone knows how to play their position

3. Cover game situations based on percentage of time in those situations or failures

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Coaching Philosophy: Coach LaPointe

1. Demonstrate and reinforce positive behavior and high level of effort

1. When players are doing a drill at a high level (physically or behaviorally) use them

as an example - this can go a long way in boosting self-esteem and the way other

players approach that drill - try to use all players as an example every few

practices

2. Use positive body language and words of encouragement as much as possible,

avoid negative body language and words of discouragement at all costs

2. Use practices for game reflection and development work

1. Don’t coach skills development during games,

2. reward positive skills or level of effort, end on a positive note each game

3. Structure practices for player and team development, always follow a practice

plan

“Positive Intensity”

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1. Player Skills Development Score Card

Skill Development Goal

Score

Card

1. Throwing 1. Understanding 1 – 5, max 5

2. Catching 2. Attempting Control 1 – 5, max 5

3. Fielding 3. Consistency / Accuracy 1 – 5, max 5

4. Hitting 4. Power (Strength / Speed) 1 – 5, max 5

5. Game

Knowledge*

5. Mastery 1 – 5, max 5

Total / Rank: Max 25

* Game knowledge: Base Running, Scenarios, Team coordination, making good quick decisions etc.

1. Create a unified assessment score for

each player (beginning of season)

2. Identify individual player development

goals for the full team

3. Create drills to emphasize

development areas for players / team

4. Congratulate players for improvement

of skills throughout season

5. Assess again at end of season &

measure improvement

6. Congratulate players for improvement

at end of season

Utilize the 25 point score card to assess each player. Use this in the beginning of the season

and at the end to assess player and team development. Use it to plan practices and push

players to the next level of play.

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RUNNING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES

Recommended Practice Structures

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Purpose: Use to plan out each practice based on recommendations from Head

Coach Travis LaPointe and as a resource to source practice drills and good

practice structure to develop each player and your team

Create Player Speed, Pressure

Get player moving, reacting at game

speed, pressures

• Play ball off the bat

• It’s better than playing the ball off the fungo,

fungos give repetition, but doesn’t simulate

speed of game

• Create Game Pressures

• Put players in game situations that will create

the most pressure

• Time play, time glove to glove, pressure them

to execute

• Speed up the game

• Put a stop watch on the players to execute

quickly

Create Team Competitiveness

Create game like practice

atmosphere

• Live Game Action - teach how to play• More practice situations, the better you will be

able to react and execute

• Gives you opportunity to work on multiple

offensive and defensive baseball situations

• The more situational experience, the better and

quicker they will be able to execute

• Work on situations

• create specific game situations to work on

• Based on area you most need the work

• Or the situations that come up the most

Think: Game-like speeds, pressures and more repetitions

Increase the number of repetitions and pace

Encourage higher levels of intensity

Running Effective Practices: Tempo

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Running Effective Practices: Structure

Practice First ½ (standard drills)

• Warm up

• Goals / practice plan

• Drills / Repetition

Practice Second ½ (situational drills)

• Offense Strategy development

• Defense Strategy development

• Game Scenarios

Structure practices for player and team development, always follow a practice plan

1. Plan toward Core and Specialized situational skills, think also about the team’s last game and what they

need to work on

2. Each practice, players should be getting a ton of defensive reps and offensive reps - this is the only way

they will get better

• Drills should be fast paced

• Utilize stations to keep the players moving and

engaged

• Before beginning a drill, have a player or coach

model how the drill can be done at a high level

• When doing whole-team drills, make sure every

player is involved in a significant way & no one is

excluded or standing around

• Before beginning a drill, have a player or coach

model how the drill can be done at a high level

1. Finish practice with some type of a game (defensive challenge, baser running challenge, throwing

challenge, hitting challenge)

2. End practice with a positive talk - what did we do well today?

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Running Effective Practices: Defense Structure

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Warm ups20 min1. Warm up running

2. Warm up throwing

Practice Goals5 min1. Outline goals for the team or skills development

2. Explain what an effective skill looks like

3. Discuss the intensity desired for the drills

Defense Drills 130 min1. Break Team into ½ (infield) ½ (outfield)

2. Rapid fielding drills + pitchers X routine (rotate)

3. Rapid out fielding drills

Water break5 min 1. Or as required

Defense Drills 230 min1. Switch groups - ½ (infield) ½ (outfield)

2. Rapid fielding drills + pitchers X routine (rotate)

3. Rapid out fielding drills

Defense Drills 330 min1. Break Team into ½ (infield) ½ (hitting)

2. Live batting w/ infield ( ½ hitters) ½ fielders

3. Or T-hitting w/ infield & other ½ hitting in cages

1 hour

1.5 hour

2.0 hour

RECOMMENDATIONS

* Coach LaPointe Recommended Structures

1.5 – 2.0 hour schedule

Running Effective Practices: Offense Structure

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Warm ups20 min1. Warm up running

2. Warm up throwing

Practice Goals5 min1. Outline goals for the team or skills development

2. Explain what an effective skill looks like

3. Discuss the intensity desired for the drills

Offense Drills 130 min1. Break Team into ½ (infield) ½ (hitting)

2. Rapid hitting (bunt, 5x, running) + fielding situational

3. + pitchers X routine (rotate)

Water break5 min 1. Or as required

Offense Drills 230 min1. Switch groups - ½ (infield) ½ (hitting)

2. Rapid hitting (bunt, 5x, running) + fielding situation

3. + pitchers X routine (rotate)

Offense Drills 330 min

1. Break Team into ½ (Live hitting) ½ (Cage hitting)

2. T-hitting & cage hitting

3. Live batting w/ infield ( ½ hitters) + (½ fielders)

4. Rotate to infield (3rd, SS, 2nd, 1st, hitting)

1 hour

1.5 hour

2.0 hour

RECOMMENDATIONS

* Coach LaPointe Recommended Structures

1.5 – 2.0 hour schedule

Running Effective Practices: Warm up routine*

Warm-ups (4 lines with gloves on) 5 Minutes

• Jog down

• High knees

• Fielding shuffles (Two skips, field a ground ball and repeat)

• Sprint (first base lead, drop lead foot and slightly open it)

• Quick stretch while staying in the lines

Throwing Progression (moving back after each progression) 5-10 Minutes

• One knee throwing (Make sure glove is tucked after throwing)

• Standing Side Ways ( Step and throw- Make sure follow through properly)

• Skip and Throw (Move your feet)

• (Make sure each player using a four seam grip and is holding their finish on each throw)

Team / Practice Goals 5 Minutes

• Establish practice game plan and goals for the day

• Highlight player skill development and game strategy to focus on

15 - 20 minutes

* Coach LaPointe Rapid Drills

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Running Effective Practices: Rapid Drills*

THROWING DRILLS

• Fielding and Throwing Drills [Pick few different ones each time]

• Three Spot Fielding / Throws [Players in three spots. Hit ground ball to third. He throws to second and

follows his throw. Second catches ball and throws to first and follows his throw. First catches the ball and runs

the ball back in and goes to third]

• Four Corners [Throw and follow to the spot or under hand feed and follow]

• Star Throwing (ADVANCED) [5 infield spots: Catcher to short, short to first, first to third, third to second,

second to home. Follow your throw. You can do closer and underhand feeds.]

IN FIELDING DRILLS

• Infield Rapid Fielding

• Rotate Fielding Positions (3-1, SS-1, 2-1) [Coach rollers (rapid pace) direct in front, left, right, divers]

• Fielding technique [Fielding position with ball. Coach calls go and player throws to

partner. Feet Square up, turned to left, turned to right]

• Speed Ladder or Hurdles [Agility work then field a ground ball]

• Balls on the Cones [Line up agility cones in parallel lines with a baseball on top. Player

runs up to first one. Fields ball into belly and puts it back in the cone. Shuffles across and fields ball. Sprints up to

next ball and repeat. ALWAYS UP AND ACROSS]

20-30 minutes

Pick 2-3 key rapid drills to implement ~15 min each * Coach LaPointe Rapid Drills

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Running Effective Practices: Rapid Drills*

OUTFIELDING DRILLS

• Outfield Rapid Fielding

• Stationary Outfield [Fly ball catching position with ball. Coach calls go and player crow hops and

throws to partner. Repeat with ball on the ground]

• Line Drive, pop-up and grounders [coach throws direct in front, left, right, + Crow Hop throws]

• Outfield Drop Step [Coach starts on one side of player who is facing him. Player drops foot and

coach throws ball over the shoulder. Repeat with other foot dropping]

• Outfield Three Ball Drill (wrap up) [Player drops foot and coach throws over the shoulder. After catch, coach throws

another ball to the side and player runs to it and catches ball. Coach under hands a short ball coming in and player

comes back in to make third catch.]

• Cut-off + back up drills [Infield + outfield coordination to 2nd, home] ½ the distance

• Relay Game: [3 vs 3 cut off relay – focus is on rapid exchanges and good throws, start same

time, hit middle cut-off, throw to end and then back to middle cut to beginning. 1st one there wins. Rotate 3 times

so everyone is a cut off man once)

PARTNER FIELDING DRILLS

• *Bare Hands (partner drill ) [Underhand Toss, Rolling Toss, Bounce Toss (partner drill)(10 feet apart and

have them shuffle their feet while making tosses]

• *Short Hops (partner drill) [Partners throw short hops to each other. Squared up, Open Glove Side,

Backhand Side from 15 feet away)]

20 – 40 min

* Coach LaPointe Rapid Drills

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RECOMMENDATIONS

Pick 2-3 key rapid drills to implement ~15 min each * Coach LaPointe Rapid Drills

Running Effective Practices: Rapid Drills*

* Coach LaPointe Rapid Drills

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HITTING DRILLSTwo Short Cages, One Long Cage (Two groups in Long Cage)

• 4 Stations (3/4 players per station) Rotate after 10 minutes

• Short Cage 1: T-work, front toss and/or bounce toss

• Short Cage 2: live pitching (Preferably coach pitch, if not machine)

• Long Cage Group 1: Regular Tee, High Tee, Tee from a knee

• Long Cage Group 2: Regular Soft toss, Soft Toss from a knee

• Cage work Focus

• Soft toss L screen [somewhat rapid pace – until exhaustion, 15-20x]

• Front toss Net [somewhat rapid pace – until exhaustion, 15-20x]

• T-work T-work [focus on technique]

• Field Hitting

• Outfield T-Work [focus on power hitting to outfielders, 10-15x]

• In Field T-Work [Focus on movement of the ball, to move the runner, for power] 5-10x, + running]

• In Field L-Screen [focus of live pitching, move runners, defense scenario work 15-20x]

Pick 2-3 key rapid drills to implement ~15 min each * Coach LaPointe Rapid Drills

Break up hitting time between outfield group and infield group to focus on team skill development

Running Effective Practices: Situational Skills

(Live) Tee Hitting

Offensive:

• Batters hit off tee

• Batters attempt to move

ball through infield

• Offensive benefit for

approach

(Live) Front Toss

Offensive:

• Screen: Coaches front toss

• Batters – hard contact – down angle – getting out of box

• More repetition and can control pitch location…Hitters can move ball with control

Creating Live Situations

(Live) BP

Offensive:

• Screen – BP Coaches pitch

• Batters: Hitting +

Situational (moving

runners)

• Nobody on – push & drags

• Last ball – live with runners

off bat

Defensive:• Play nobody on

• and runner on 1st

• Put on clock for hitters

and defensive players

• Pitchers defend position

Defensive:• Use live runners for infielder

response

• Infielders track ball at shorter

distance – quicker reps

• React to balls off bat

(infielders).

Defensive:• Infielders – track ball further

• Cover all defense situations

• Pitchers involved – get-overs

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Running Effective Practices: Situational Skills

Offensive:

• Smart base running

• Get back on lead-offs

• Other runners thinking

Offensive:• Smart base running

• Attempt to score the run

(Live) Run Downs (Live) 1st & 3rd (Live) Bunt & Steals

Offensive:

• Screen – BP Coaches pitch

• Batters: Hitting + Situational

(moving runners)

• Nobody on – push & drags

• Last ball – live with runners off

bat

Defensive:• Opportunity to work on

picks & timing and infield

communication

• Create bases loaded

situation

• Work in the lane the pick

occurs

• Handling ball in run-down

situations

• Limit the number of throws

Defensive:• Defend 2 out 1st & 3rd…point of

emphasis, since offense is

trying to plate run without

putting the ball in play

• Defend 1st & 3rd to include bunt

and hit and run with 0 and 1

out.

Defensive:• Infielders – track ball further

• Cover all defense situations

• Pitchers involved – get-overs

Creating Live Situations

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Running Effective Practices: Outfield Defense

(Live) Outfield Defense

• Traditional BP – emphasize playing balls

off bat

• Off bat only – alignment to bases

• Throwing to bases (one bounce)

• Challenge depths – deep – no doubles

shallow

(Live) ½ Field BP

• Align Outfielders (CF – RF) (CF-LF)

• Infielders & Catchers hit

• Ball off bat: opposite/pull reaction

• Can incorporate throwing to bases

POP-Fly Communication

• Line Triangles

• Gap triangles

• No doubles

• Infield in

• Infield…corners

(Coach) Fungo Situations

• Declare Situation. Coach hits fungo

• Stay in one situation for repetitions• Pitchers used as runners & back up

• Decision & throwing emphasis

• Outfielders need to throw more

• Time play, time glove to release

• Work on finishing play

Creating Live Situations

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RUNNING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES

Situational Planning & Practice Strategy

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Purpose: Use the statistics to plan out your practices & players skills

development drills

Running Effective Practices:

Situation Planning Strategy

FOCUS

• Focus player and team drills on skill for game execution

• Focus on High percentage of play situations for practices and skill development – use specialty

situations as they progress in skill and development

• Maximize reps, build up tempo

• Create cohesive team competitiveness (primary & secondary play readiness)

SITUATIONAL PLANNING

• 8 Standard Situations

• 85% Core game situations (0 on base, 1 on base) “Focus more on these situations for practices”

• 15% Specialty game situations (2 on base, bases loaded) “More advanced situations and skills”

• Infield Plays

• 75% of the time plays to 1st

• 20% of the time fielders choice to 1st or double play

• 5% of the time focus on lead runner

• Outfield plays

• 90% of the time hit the cut to 2nd or home

• 10% of the time hit the cut to home only

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Running Effective Practices: Situations (1-4)*

0 Runners on 50%

Infield Play: coverage + 1st base

Outfield Play: coverage + cut 2,home

Special Situations:

Pitch Count Scenario

1. N/A

2. N/A

3. Bunt

1 Runner on: 1st base 20%

Infield Play: coverage + FC, 1st or double

Outfield Play: coverage + cut 2,home

Special Situations:

Pitch Count Scenario

1. Steals

2. Hit & Run

3. Bunt

1 Runner on: 2nd base 5%

Infield Play: coverage + hold, 1st base

Outfield Play: coverage + cut 2,home

Special Situations:

Pitch Count Scenario

1. Steals

2. Hit & Run

3. Bunt coverage

1 Runner on: 3rd base 10%

Infield Play: coverage + hold, 1st > lead

Outfield Play: coverage + cut home

Special Situations:

Pitch Count Scenario

3. Bunt coverage

1 2

3 4

0 Outs 1 Outs 2 Outs

- - -

- - -

Bunt - -

- - -

- - -

Bunt - -

- - -

- - -

Bunt - -

Nobody on 1st

0 Strikes

1 Strike

2 Strikes

0 Outs 1 Outs 2 Outs

Steal Steal Steal

Hit / Run Hit / Run -

Bunt - -

Steal Steal Steal

Hit / Run - -

Bunt - -

Steal Steal Steal

Hit / Run - -

Bunt - -

0 Strikes

1 Strike

2 Strikes

Runner on 1st

0 Outs 1 Outs 2 Outs

Steal Steal -

Hit / Run Hit / Run -

Bunt - -

Steal Steal -

Hit / Run - -

Bunt - -

Steal Steal -

Hit / Run - -

Bunt - -

Runner on 2nd

0 Strikes

1 Strike

2 Strikes

0 Outs 1 Outs 2 Outs

- - -

- - -

Bunt Bunt -

- - -

- - -

Bunt Bunt -

- - -

- - -

Bunt - -

Runner on 3rd

0 Strikes

1 Strike

2 Strikes

Core Game Situations: (85%)

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* Statistics from St. John University Ed Blankmeyer

Running Effective Practices: Situations (5-8)

2 Runners on: 1st& 2nd 2.5%

Infield Play: coverage + 1st base, lead

Outfield Play: coverage + cut 2, home

Special Situations:

Pitch Count Scenario

1. Steals

2. N/A

3. Bunt

2 Runners on: 1st & 3rd 2.5%

Infield Play: coverage + FC (hold, 1st , 2x)

Outfield Play: coverage + cut home > cut 2

Special Situations:

Pitch Count Scenario

1. Steals

2. Hit & Run

3. Bunt

2 Runner on: 2nd & 3rd 5%

Infield Play: coverage + hold, 1st base

Outfield Play: coverage + cut 2,home

Special Situations:

Pitch Count Scenario

1. N/A

2. Hit & Run

3. Bunt

3 Runners on: loaded 5%

Infield Play: coverage + 1st, closest > lead

Outfield Play: coverage + cut 2, home

Special Situations:

Pitch Count Scenario

1. N/A

2. N/A

3. Bunt

5 6

7 8

0 Outs 1 Outs 2 Outs

Steal Steal Steal

Hit / Run Hit / Run -

Bunt - -

Steal Steal Steal

Hit / Run Hit / Run -

Bunt Bunt -

Steal Steal Steal

- - -

Bunt Bunt -

Runners on 1st & 3rd

0 Strikes

1 Strike

2 Strikes

0 Outs 1 Outs 2 Outs

Steal Steal Steal

Hit / Run Hit / Run -

Bunt Bunt -

Steal Steal Steal

Hit / Run - -

Bunt Bunt -

Steal Steal Steal

Hit / Run - -

Bunt - -

Runners on 1st & 2nd

0 Strikes

1 Strike

2 Strikes

0 Outs 1 Outs 2 Outs

- - -

Hit / Run Hit / Run -

Bunt Bunt -

- - -

Hit / Run Hit / Run -

Bunt Bunt -

- - -

Hit / Run Hit / Run -

Bunt - -

Runners on 2nd & 3rd

0 Strikes

1 Strike

2 Strikes

0 Outs 1 Outs 2 Outs

- - -

- - -

Bunt Bunt -

- - -

- - -

Bunt Bunt -

- - -

- - -

Bunt - -

Runners on 1st, 2nd & 3rd

0 Strikes

1 Strike

2 Strikes

Specialty Game Situations: (15%)

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* Statistics from St. John University Ed Blankmeyer

RUNNING EFFECTIVE PRACTICES

Infield, Outfield & Hitting Knowledge & Practice Strategy

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Purpose: Use to help plan out situational skills development and positional

awareness for each player

Running Effective Practices: Infield Positioning

Middle Infield1.Infield in- parallel to baseline

2.½ way- 4 steps

3.Double play- 8 steps

4.Regular

5.Deep- 16 steps

Corners1.Infield in: parallel to grass

2.½ way- 3 steps behind

3.Double play- 6 steps

4.Regular- 9 steps

5.Deep- 12 Steps

Pop-Fly’s & Communications5-point Infield Positions

Variables1. Power

2. Batters speed

3. Base hit bunt

4. Ability to handle bat

5. Scouting reports (grid spray)

Corner Depth1. Ability to bunt

2. Outs and counts

3. Lane coverage…1b/3b

4. 1b hold/ bluff technique with LHP

Infielder Strategy -1. Play the situation first

2. Take away the middle of the field

3. Late game rule guard the line or

take away the middle

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Running Effective Practices Infield - Adjustments

• Corner Infielders should be 15ft off foul lines

• Middle Infielders should be about 25ft from 2nd base

Straight Up Positions Double Play Position

Opposite Field Hitter

V. LH Hitter

• Corner Play varies according to situation (ie. 1st baseman

holding and 3B depth)- position from line the same

• Middle Infielders step forward to shorten depth

• Off side corner infielder 5 - 10ft off foul line

• Pull side corner 20 - 25ft from foul line

• Off side middle infielder 30 - 35ft from 2nd base

• Pull side middle infielder 10 - 15ft from 2nd base

Pull Ball Hitter Position

V. LH Hitter

• Off side corner infielder 20-25ft off foul line

• Pull side corner 10 - 15ft from foul line

• Off side middle infielder 10 - 15ft from 2nd base

• Pull side middle infielder 30 - 35ft from 2nd base

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Running Effective Practices: Infield - Steal/Holding

1. RHP…LHP bluff technique

2. Vary move and quick feet/vary rhythm/slide step and vary the

number of times per runner you throw over.

3. Control runner. Hold the ball.

4. Grade runner and work accordingly

5. Show pitch-out

1. Runner choice depending on jump

2. Vary looks, vary rhythm

3. Use of inside move or step off

4. Define infielder to hold

5. Scouting report tendencies

6. Sign stealing/run on BB

1. Defend steal on the basis of outs; 0 and 1

through 2 outs watch stealing a run

2. Defend the following

a. Straight steal early break

b. Straight late break

c. Delay off catcher

d. Big lead entice to throw to 1st

3. Position responsibility

1. Pitcher hold techniques

2. 1st base two throw rule

3. Catcher no play no throw

4. SS/2B…return throw

techniques/hands up for ball on

rundown

5. 3b hands up if wants ball

Runner on 1st Runners on 1st & 3rd

Runners on 1st & 2nd Runner on 2nd

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Running Effective Practices: Outfield Positioning

Depths – Shallow:1. - Late game depending on personnel – able

to throw out runner at plate

2. - Spray no power

Picher Hitter Match-up Adjustments:1. The Pitcher

2. The Pitch (hard vs. soft)

3. Count

4. Score and situation

Hitter:1. Straight

2. Gap

3. Opposite

4. Pull

Outfield Depths Pop-Fly’s & Communications

Outfield Position Strategies:1. Know the pop fly dead zones and check off system2. Positions

1. Pitcher / hitter match up2. Do not defend foul territory3. Avoid overlapping coverage4. Avoid playing too close to outfield fence

3. Defending the Groundball:1. Direct-charge-cut – sure chance2. Surround-cut-chance/batter-runner3. Deep-batter-runner

4. Defending the Fly ball:1. Coming towards-throw through lead runner2. Stationary- depending on arm lead runner or trail3. Deep-keep trail runner from advancing

5. Verbal's (communication…ball/me-me…you-you, back up)6. Cut off system rules… chest / knee high to cut off

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Running Effective Practices: Outfield - Adjustments

G-A-P Ball HitterStraight Ball Hitter

CF – couple steps to the left (RH batter)

or Right (LH batter) of 2nd base

CF – couple steps to the left (RH batter)

or Right (LH batter) of 2nd base

Opposite Ball Hitter

CF – split difference

LF – 20 – 40 ft off foul line

Pull Ball Hitter

CF – split difference

RF – 20 – 40 ft off foul line

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Running Effective Practices: Hitting Skills

Defining the Hitter

• Hitter

1. Straight

2. Gap

3. Opposite

4. Pull

• Poise

1. Patient

2. Power

3. 1st Ball Hitter

4. Bunt candidate?

Power

• Pull Power

• Homerun potential?

• Double potential?

• Opposite Power

• Homerun potential?

• Double potential?

• Field and how it plays

• Wind as a factor?

Speed

• Define Speed

– Burner

– Average

– Below Average

• Slaps or Swings

• Push/Drag/Both

• Power to determine

outfield depth

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Hitting to Move Runners

0 Outs One Out Two Outs

Nobody On Defend Field

Possible bunt hit

Defend Field

Possible bunt hit

Defend Field

Possible bunt hit

Runner on 1st Sac – or– steal – or– H/R Steal – or– H/R Steal

Runner on 2nd Sac – or– Steal Steal Steal

Runner on 3rd Squeeze Squeeze Defend Field

1st and 2nd Sac – or– Steal – or– H/R Steal – or– H/R Double Steal

2nd and 3rd Squeeze Squeeze Defend Field

1st and 3rd H/R– or– Steal Squeeze H/R – or– Steal Squeeze Steal

Bases Loaded Squeeze Squeeze Defend Field

1. Sacrifice Bunt1. Runner on 1st

2. Runner on 1st & 2nd

3. Runner on 2nd

• Usually with NO outs

• Rare Occasion with

one out

2. Hit and Run1. Runner on 1st

2. Runner on 1st & 2nd

3. Runner on 2nd

• With No outs

selectively

• Many Cases 1 out to

stay out of double play

3. Squeeze1. Runner on 3rd

2. Runner on 2nd and 3rd

• 0 and 1 out

• Anytime in count;

even with two strikes

4. Safety Squeeze1. 1st and 3rd great option

2. See Ball Down

Def. – Moving Runners are situations in which the offensive team is using the batter in some form to protect the runner for the purpose of getting the runner or runners into scoring position, and staying out of the double play.

Most Common Situations

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