A Masters Course – Outfield Play Tom O’Connell International Sports Group ISG/EBCA/ABF Clinic Vienna December, 2008

TOUGHEST PLAYS  Charging ground balls  Moving into a fly ball to throw out a runner  Hitting a relay/cut-off man in the chest  Going back without “drifting”  Fielding “flares”  Getting to the line to cut-off extra bases  Going to a ball in straight lines; playing angles  Cutting off balls in the gaps

The Art of War (Sun Tzu) 4 Environment 4 Hitter 4 Bat Angle 4 Your Pitcher 4 Sound

The Battle Ground SunGroundWindGrass

The Enemy – the hitter

The Bat – The Enemy Weapon On a RH hitter -  LF ~ see barrel  CF ~ see the bat right at you  RF ~ ball gets in further The feet won’t move, but the upper body will

Your Pitcher 4 Favorite pitches when ahead or behind 4 set up a sign system 4 focus on front of the plate 4 Call out in practice - “low and away; up and in” “inside/outside”

 In BP, play every 4/5 pitches for real (hard); relax on the others. Other Thoughts on Battle Sound Some random thoughts:  Have Of call pitches during BP  Take BP in the outfield!

OUTFIELD ABSOLUTES  Always Know the Score  Defend Your Turf  Be Equipped  Keep Moving  Catch and Throw  Think Ahead

OUTFIELD ABSOLUTES 4 COMMUNICATE

TRAINING THE OUTFIELDER 4 “You gotta love BAD days” 4 Spend time working on ground balls 4 No Excuses

Consistency 4 “Kaizan” Practice 4 Game-Like Drills

FUNDAMENTAL DRILLS 4 Running on toes 4 Drop Step 4 Reverse Pivot and Throw 4 Throw on Back 4 Two Knees

4 Five Alive 4 Tweeners 4 Do or Die 4 Line Drive 4 Turn and Burn 4 Two Line Communication 4 Cut ‘em Down 4 Harvey’s Wallbanger 4 “Sports Center” GAMES

BASIC PRINCIPLES n Relax n Focus n Rehearse

Relaxation Techniques  Harvey Dorfmann  Ken Ravizza, Tom Hanson  Jack Curtis  Timothy Galway Any technique which helps a player gain control of his emotions and keeps his focus on the “moment.”

Focus 4 Talk, Talk, Talk 4 Visualize 4 Be Positive: “Hit it to me”

Rehearsal Begins before the game Practice some visualization technique