Adapting to the young player

A. Most minor players are 2 nd and 3 rd graders 1. Shorten up the time with each drill. (5 to 10 minutes) 2. Choose easy drills to start with so they have success. Build Confidence! a. roll the ball to each other and field with bare hands ( inside or outside, keeping their hands out front) b. Stop the ball drill. Play catch underhand, learn to trap ball in glove.

1. Practice times for Minor players (age 7 to 10) a. practice 1 hour 15 min. to 1 1/2 hours. b. drills for 5 minutes. (ground ball pairs etc.) c. Hitting 10 swings and switch. (2nd round 5 swings) etc. 1. Better to do 2 to 3 rounds than one long time. Keep things moving. 2. Use plastic or softy balls to build confidence. Keep things tighter.

2. Practice times for Major players (age 11 to 12) a. practice 1 1/2 to 2 hours. b. drills 5 to 10 minutes (ground ball pairs, quick release etc.) c. Hitting 10 swings and switch. (2nd round 5 swings) etc. (same as minors) 1.Better to do 2 to 3 rounds than one long one. Keep things moving. With this level use full infield/outfield. Make full plays. Have assistant coach hit fly balls to fielders etc. Run on last hit. * Always have a practice plan. OK to stray from plan if teaching opportunity arises.

1. Pre-game a. Warm-ups (5 to 10 minutes) run pole or lap. 4 Short sprints (10 yards) Arm stretching (simple). Build a routine. b. Throwing ( 10 min) 20 yards (2 min), 30 yard (2 min), 40 yard (2 min), 30 yard (2 min), 20 yard (2min) c. Hitting (20 to 25 min) Use plastic balls, or softy balls. Usually space is a factor so tighten it up. 10 swings each. If they move fast you may get in 2 rounds. Make this a goal d. Fielding (field availability) 1. Use space between baseline and bench for ground balls, single line. 2. Use your half of outfield for fly balls. Use cut off for throws in and switch players. Shorten throws, reduce circus.

Pre-Game (Continued) 2. Taking Infield a. Develop Routine 1. Bring it home (throw to catcher) 2. Get one (throws to first base) Do 2 to 3 times. Keep it simple and repetitive. 3. Force at 2 nd (minors only, no throw to first) majors get 2 (Rare opportunity at this level, but teach it. 4. Home and follow (throw to catcher, follow in for slow grounder, throw to first).

1. Practice Pre-game (15 minutes) a. warm-ups and throwing routine 2. Drills (10 to 15 minutes) a. bare hand ground balls b. ground balls with glove c. quick throws 10 yards d. spin and find pop-ups etc.

3. Situations (20 to 30 minutes) a. infield only, all 6 positions, others running (helmets etc.) alternate runners and positions. nobody on nobody out, one on one out, bases loaded etc. b. Add outfield and try cut offs. If runners available use them. If you are bad at fungos throw! 1. go over base coverage 2. cover cut offs and back ups. Shorten throws. c. Bunt defense 1. Minors, first base stay home. Pitcher fields most bunts. third can cheat in. Get catcher involved. 2. Majors, options (bunt one, bunt 2 etc.)

a. Bunt one, same as minors, first stay home. Best with runners on base. 2b cover 2b and short covers third. b. Bunt two, have first base come in, 2b to first, short to 2b. Best with no runners on. 3a. Communication drills (10 to 20 minutes) 1. Left, center and short pop ups. Call it. Ball, ball, ball. 2. Right, center and second pop ups. Call it. Ball, ball, ball 3. Third, short and left. Call it. Ball, ball, ball. 4. First, second and right. Call it. Ball, ball, ball. Getting them to talk is not easy, but this is good time to start.

4. Hitting (30 Minutes) a. Full defense by position 1. minors field and toss to bucket. 2. Majors field and make plays. Don’t rush pitches b. 10 swings, play last swing live. 2 to 3 hitters in. 1. If time allows second round, 5 swings. C. bunting 1. sacrifice (square around early) 2. suicide (difficult in Little League w/ no lead offs.

A. Create Hitting Games (20 to 30 Minutes) 1. Split into 3 teams (one bunt, 5 swings each) a. 1 point for getting bunt down b. 1 point for ground ball through infield c. 2 points for ball landing in outfield (in the air) d. 4 points for hitting the fence etc. B. Base running (15 minutes) 1. Home to first a. run through base, teach slight turn right. Hustle back to base. b. run through base, turn towards 2 nd Put on breaks. ( watch for foot on base, front inside corner)

c. Home to second, slide or quick stop. (Coaches signal) d. Home to 3 rd. Home to home etc. 6. Sliding ( 15 minutes) a. crab walk, leg tuck b. socks (wet grass or morning dew) use loose base. Old socks. relax body.

1. A couple key Safety Rules a. No practice swings for on deck hitter b. use plastic balls or softy balls for pre-game hitting. 2. Fun hit by pitch drill Put batter in box with bat. No swings. Throw plastic balls at batter and have him practice getting out of the way. Some struggle with this. Helps eliminate fear of getting hit. 3. Arm Safety a. see pitch count hand out b. 11 and 12 year olds can use bands/light weights/sand cans

1. Non-wood bats (Little League) a. 2 ¼” 33” or less b. BPF ( Bat Performance Factor) 1.15 or less c. Recommendations: minus 12 ( 29/17 for 8 and 9). ( 30/18 for 10 and 11) (32/20 for 12) -10 for large 12 year olds (32/22) d. LL approved

2. Gloves a. find appropriate size. (don’t have him use your old softball glove) Be prepared to buy more than one. b. Break in new glove. 1. no heat, dries out leather 2. Oils soften leather, use rubber mallet (wrap in rag) and pound glove.

10. You get to leave work early to get to the fields. 9. You get to leave work even earlier to pick up kid w/out rides. 8. You get to drive around a bunch of dirty kids in your car. 7. You get thick skin by being second-guessed 2000 times by parents. 6. You get to be the last one home after the game. 5. You get a great farmers tan. 4. You get to spend your own money on extra balls and equipment 3. You get to rake fields and set up bases just like a real grounds crew. 2. You get to treat at Diary King. 1. You might find yourself coaching Varsity baseball some day.