Cou

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Base

ball Cougars Coaching

Clinic

Catching

Drills:

Pop to Position 15—20 time in a row. On 1: popping to catching position, On 2: pop to throwing position, checking for: power legs with bent knees, transfer of ball and glove to ear, elbow above shoulder, ready to take step to throw downhill.

Flinch Drill—teaches the player to trust equipment: Softly from 6’ throw ball at catchers mask.

Catching Zone Drill—quick response catches from 6’ and within strike zone.

Blocking Drill—From 20’ - throw balls in the dirt on left, right & center.

Wild Throw Drill—From 20’ - Throw balls wild but catch able

Drop 3rd Strike—Pick up stationary ball in from and throw to 1st

Passed Ball Drill—Move from catching position, pick up ball behind catcher and flip to pitcher

Catching

Throw to First—Rocker step back for right hander and throw to first

Throw to third—Rocker step back behind the batter or jab step forward in from of a right handed batter and throw to third inside the base line

Throw to Second to Cover Steal

Around the Clock—balls placed around the catcher in a down position who on go retrieves a ball and throws to the base called by the coach or pitcher.

Pop-ups—Stand behind the catch in position, throw the ball up and yell go. Catcher takes queue from pitcher, spins to in front of home plate to track ball and catch

Bunt Coverage—Know their duty

Know the pitcher and the pitches they throw—Develop signals and communication with Pitchers

Inform the team—outs and plays

Don’t Force a change, keep it simple

The bat is not too heavy if the player can control the swing and it is short and compact

Snap the bat through the strike zone, WHIRLY BIRDS

Line up those knocking knuckles

An UP ELBOW TURNS THE GRIP

Land a high kick softly – don’t puncture the dollar

You have to go back to go forward

Head movement give BAD INFO

Hands start the hips

Ground balls creates proper batting techniques

Stay on the same plane as possible

Talk to them about HOW IT FEELS

Drills

Soft Toss

Tee Drill

Stick drill

Lob Toss

Live Pitching

At the plate during the game the player should think:

WIN the BATTLE

Find the ball

Hit Hard

During the game the coach should:Shut upLet them focus

Cou

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Base

ball Batting

Batting

Observe before teaching

If the pitcher is throwing strikes don't tinker

Celebrate individual mechanics

No two pitchers are alike

Position feet to take advantage of natural throwing motion

Tempo must be consistent

Eyes never leave the target

Pick a small target

Head never moves

Controlled leg lift—can you tap your foot

Hand is above the ball—take the ball from the coach

Front shoulder is pointed towards home

Front shoulder is pointed towards home

Leading with the glove

Proper glove return creates balance

Lead foot is pointed towards home

Hit the same spot—Rake Drill

Follow through is critical but all will not be the same for every pitcher, strikes are the key

Get rid of the hole in front of the plate

Slow down the game and think

Do not show negative emotion!

When you are struggling, throw from the stretch

When they are successful, ask them how it feels

Full Team Warm-up Lines at 1st, 2nd, SS and 3rd

o At first base the line is behind the base for back-up help o At third the same

From home plate coach hits a grounder to SS o This can be switched to second base

The short stop should: o Set up square with the ball rolling into the triangle

Between his feet and catching in front of him o USE TWO HANDS o Transfer the ball properly o Throw the ball to second,

Depending on the distance he should Overhand throw Underhand flip Or Dart throw

o Throw to the 2nd baseman’s chest The second baseman should:

o Be standing in a double play position o Catch the ball in front o USE TWO HANDS o Transfer the ball properly o Step and throw to 1st o Hit the 1st baseman in the chest

The first baseman should:

o Start square to the second baseman o React to the ball o Extend to the ball o Catch the ball

Extended Knock down a bad throw Come off the base to catch an errant throw

Tag the runner up first base line o Throw to third

The 3rd basemen should: o Be in a catch and tag position

Catch the ball with two hands Tag in front of the base with two hands

o If the ball is thrown short The player should square up and nock down the throw

o After the tag then throw hard to home o Sprint outside the baseline, behind the bases to first base line.

To add an out fielding drill

The third baseman can receive a tennis ball hit by a coach at third base lightly over his shoulder as he returns to first from behind second.

All players move counter clockwise to each position

Fundamentals learned Grounder position *** Soft hands *** Use two hands *** Pop & Throw *** 3 throwing techniques *** Turn two position at second *** Ball transfer to first *** First base play with extension Long throws Knock downs for saves Catch and tag *** Hard throws home Outfield over the shoulder catches *** Sprints to improve speed and longevity

Usually I spend a full practice going over every position. Terry, I can tell you from our first practice that ¾ of this they do not do or even know about. ***

1 - Pitcher; 2 - Catcher; 3 - 1st Base; 4 - 2nd Base; 5 - 3rd Base; 6 - Shortstop; 7 - Left Field; 8 - Center Field; 9 - Right Field

Stolen BaseSBHit BatterHB

Drop 3rd StrikeDSFielders ChoiceFC

Double PlayDPErrorE

Caught StealingCSHome RunHR

Sacrifice BuntSHWalkBB

Sacrifice FlySFTriple3B

Strike OutK Double2B

Fly OutF - #Single1B

Recording OutsHow on Base

Stolen BaseSBHit BatterHB

Drop 3rd StrikeDSFielders ChoiceFC

Double PlayDPErrorE

Caught StealingCSHome RunHR

Sacrifice BuntSHWalkBB

Sacrifice FlySFTriple3B

Strike OutK Double2B

Fly OutF - #Single1B

Recording OutsHow on Base

How on base

Where the ball went

Advanced how

Record the out

Who caused the out

How out

End of Inning

1 -Pitcher; 2 -Catcher; 3 -1st Base; 4 -2nd Base; 5 -3rd Base; 6 -Shortstop; 7 -Left Field; 8 -Center Field; 9 -Right Field

Stolen Base SB Hit Batter HB

Drop 3rdStrike DS Fielders Choice FC

Double Play DP Error E

Caught Stealing CS Home Run HR

Sacrifice Bunt SH Walk BB

Sacrifice Fly SF Triple 3B

Strike Out K Double 2B

Fly Out F -# Single 1B

Recording Outs How on Base

Stolen Base SB Hit Batter HB

Drop 3rdStrike DS Fielders Choice FC

Double Play DP Error E

Caught Stealing CS Home Run HR

Sacrifice Bunt SH Walk BB

Sacrifice Fly SF Triple 3B

Strike Out K Double 2B

Fly Out F -# Single 1B

Recording Outs How on Base

How on base

Where the ball went

Advanced how

Record the out

Who caused the out

How out

End of Inning