Dugout Captain Athlete Development Curriculum
PONY Baseball 2015-2016
1 Introduction Meet the Captain Dugout Captain Inc. is the product of thousands of baseball hours spent on the field, in the batting cage, and in coaching clinics. Whether coaching, speaking, or listen- ing, Dan Keller, has dedicated his life to working with baseball players. He has played youth, high school, and college baseball, eventually being drafted by the Baltimore Ori- oles. More importantly, he has extensive coaching experience at these levels with an earned emphasis on communicating, and working with, beginning baseball players. Dugout Captain founder and CEO Dan Keller began his coaching career in 2001, and has participated in 12+ years of team coaching, conducted over 15,000 individual les- sons, directed more than 150 baseball camp weeks, and led 75+ coaching clinics for youth volunteer managers and coaches. Coach Keller is the author of two baseball in- struction books, Coaching the Beginning Pitcher (self-produced and self-published) as well as The Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Baseball (Human Kinetics) and holds a Masters of Science Degree in Physical Education.
Dugout Captain is the culmination of this diligent work, gritty determination, and in-the-trenches experience. The collective resources available through Dugout Captain provide THE BEST support tool available to youth baseball coaches. In my own words:
“Having long ago had my ego smashed by wild and rambunctious 8-year olds, I know the challenges you face as a youth baseball coach. It can be frustrating and overwhelming, leaving you questioning your decision to take on this thankless job. However, when done correctly, coaching is as rewarding, fulfilling, and enjoyable as any volunteer gig on the planet. Take a deep breath, dive into the Dugout Captain Library, and enjoy the journey! Just donʼt take yourself too seriously - baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun. Have fun, play hard! ~ Dan Keller
Daniel Keller Dugout Captain CEO
2 Table of Contents
COACHING PLAN 4
PRACTICE PLANNING 6
DUGOUT CAPTAIN TOOLBOX 8
GETTING STARTED - A COACHʼS FIRST STEPS 12
SHETLAND LEAGUE 19
Athlete Objectives - Shetland 20
Practice Plans - Shetland 22
PINTO LEAGUE 28
Athlete Objectives - Pinto 30
Practice Plans - Pinto 32
MUSTANG LEAGUE 39
Athlete Objectives - Mustang 41
Practice Plans - Mustang 44
BRONCO LEAGUE 49
Athlete Objectives - Bronco 50
Practice Plans - Bronco 53
PONY LEAGUE 59
Athlete Objectives - Pony 61
Practice Plans - Pony 65
3 Coaching Plan Big Picture
Coaching baseball involves teaching, developing, and mentoring young players. The game is most impactful to young athletes when taught in a structured environment, one that avoids long lines and keeps each young person engaged, occupied, and enter- tained. The Dugout Captain Athlete Development Plan provides the necessary tools to run a great practice and afford every athlete the opportunity for development. Through organized and varied practices, athletes are responsibly prepared to advance to the next level of play at the end of the year. All this achieved with an eye on the most im- portant goal: FUN.
Coaching Philosophy Remember that baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun! As you prepare to take on the role of volunteer coach, itʼs important to give thought to what kind of coach you want to be. Is winning your one and only objective? Or are you interested in developing athletes for their best chance at long term success? The Dugout Captain principles adhere to a well-balanced, fundamentally sound coach that puts attention to development and preparation. Winning becomes a natural by-product of great practices focused on consistent improvement. Itʼs the classic “process vs. results” mantra issued by every John Wooden, Phil Jackson, and Rick Pitino in the world. All this can be ac- complished while having fun and keeping a keen eye on the development of the person, as well as the player. The curriculum containted within the following pages is designed to guide you in your role and responsibilities as a coach. Take some time to put your own coaching phi- losophy to paper, including any team rules or guidelines you intend to follow. Explore and use the DC tools, which include a library of instructional drills, pre-set practice plan templates, homework assignments, and this curriculum. Each of the DC Library drills has specific baseball instruction, bullet points for execution, an equipment list, and Dug- out Captainʼs proprietary DC Keys. DC Keys are helpful tips and tricks unique to the Dugout Captain philosophy. With 18+ years of in-the-trenches experiences working with the recreational athlete, DC Keys will save you hours and hours of frustration and head- aches.
Season Plan “Better to build positive habits early, than try to break bad habits late!” Mechan- ics and technique must be learned correctly, and the sooner, the better. To start your
4 own coaching journey, view the DC videos on Baseball Fundamentals. These selec- tions build a knowledge-base, an understanding of the various baseball skills you intend to teach and drill. Follow up by viewing any number of skill-specific drills. Dugout Cap- tain has structured these drills to teach athletes proper fundamentals, while also benefit- ing team performance and working towards group goals. The curriculum for each level of play begins with athlete learning / coaching ob- jectives in bullet-point format. While ALL of your players will not achieve ALL of these objectives, it is your challenge as coach and manager to present and teach these topics responsibly. Should you choose to follow DCʼs pre-set practice plans, all of this is taken care of for you!
5 Practice Planning Have fun, do work!
A good practice provides structure and comfort to athletes, allowing for ALL kids to engage comfortably, focus, and work hard towards improvement. A great practice accomplishes all this while athletes, at the same time, have fun. The Dugout Captain practice planning philosophy has evolved, improved, and morphed over two decades of research and development. After much ego bruising and many tough lessons learned, Dugout Captain recommends the following itinerary to maximize athlete focus and de- velopment.
** For a video description of the DC Practice Planning philosophy click here. In addition, video descrip- tions of each Practice Plan Absolute can be found in the Coaching 101 section of the DC Library. **
Eight Absolutes of a DC Practice:
• Extra Activity (EA) - Kids looooove to hit. Early Activity is offered fifteen minutes before, and up until, practice starts. The primary goal of this activity is punctuality - kids show up early so practice can start on time. Early Activity also keeps athletes busy, gets extra swings, prevents playing catch before warm up, nurtures camaraderie... oh! It’s also FUUUUN. • Warm Up (WU) - The first “official” practice activity, Warm Up gets the blood flowing, especially important before playing catch. This prevents injury, locks in athlete focus, and can provide time for assistant coaches to set up drills. • Early Baserunning (EBR) - A very short activity conducted at the end of warm up, Early Baserunning takes advantage of the final 4-8 sprints of the warm up to learn or practice a baserunning fundamental. • Throwing (TH) - Very often, father/son catch leads right into team catch, which leads into practice. DC philosophy: “Warm up to throw, rather than throwing to warm up.” Early Activity ➜ Warm up ➜ throw ➜ quick defense ➜ drills! • Quick Defense (QD) - Generally lasting only 5-10 minutes, these activities are categorized as ʻbaseball-athleticismʼ drills. An opportunity to improve
6 hand eye coordination, footwork, and technique, QD leads right into station instruction. • Drills / Station Instruction (DR) - The meat and potatoes of practice. This section is where coaches run drills, and the athletes work, play, and learn. A balance of instruction and repetition, DC recommends a minimum of two coaches, each running a different drill, and switching after 10-15 minutes. Af- ter a short water break, coaches each offer an additional drill (again switching after 10-15 minutes). Two station blocks of two drills each. • Baserunning / Conditioning (B&C) - Get a good sweat, while masking the workload with baserunning instruction. Run the bases, use the foul line, add a relay race. Mix it up, find fun! • Mental / Finish (FN) - Finish with a fun drill, competition, or a short discussion off of the field. This is the time to address any team issues or concerns. In- volve a Life Lesson, use a current event, or play a quick game - something to encourage a smile and leave the athletes wanting more.
Nearly all the DC templates follow the Absolute Eight practice plan steps. Through years of experience working with thousands of kids, we feel this is THE BEST way to maximize a baseball practice and ensure that each athlete works hard, receives quality instruction, and plenty of repetition. Over many practices, they will learn the game and understand what it means to be a team player... all the while having FUN!
7 The Toolbox Work Smarter, not Harder
Think of Dugout Captain as coachʼs toolbox - a really cool, coaching-specific toolbox. DugoutCaptain.com is the control center, where you can view drills from the video library, find ready-made practice plans, purchase coaching kits, and participate in coaching forums or best-practices discussions. Take advantage of these tools to make your role as coach more enjoyable and fulfilling.
MY CLIPBOARD Dugout Captainʼs patent-protected virtual clipboard allows any coach to build an extensive, custom practice plan in minutes. Or grab a ready-made practice plan (DC Template) and share with assistant coaches, players, and families in less than 5 clicks! Use the ʻshareʼ feature so everyone comes to practice prepared, and leaves with an un- derstanding of what was accomplished. Put good help to work and watch as the quality of your practices improve. Players get more fly balls, ground balls, and swings, and your help feels more engaged and involved. As you grow more comfortable with the planning tool, try creating your own practice, or grab a high school or college template. Try the Olympic Competition practices for a break from the routine. Remember, base- ball is a game and games are supposed to be fun.
DUGOUT CAPTAIN LIBRARY The content library at DugoutCaptain.com contains instructional videos, pre-set practice plan templates, your own saved plans, and those plans shared to you by other DC member coaches. It also contains Homework templates addressing all the common challenges coaches face while developing young players. Whether your goal is to minimize time spent planning practices, or to build, create, and share your version of the perfect practice, the DC library has what you need.
DRILL VIDEOS Organized into simple categories, the DC Library contains videos on a wide vari- ety of coaching topics and baseball skills. Videos fall into four main types:
8 Coaching 101 - These are top-level, coaching-based, instructional videos. Prac- tice Planning 101 (PP101) videos highlight the principles outlined above. Other Coach- ing 101 videos include DC philosophies and coaching tips and tricks. Coaching 101 videos should be watched prior to planning practices and consulted as needed. Fundamentals - These videos are as they sound: fundamental. These are “How-to-Do” videos highlighting what actually happens during a baseball skill. How is a ground ball correctly fielded? What are the proper fundamentals to the hitting swing? The goal of Fundamental videos is to lay a foundation in the coachʼs mind. We encour- age ALL coaches to watch Fundamentals before coaching or teaching a skill. The un- derstanding of a skill makes any drill associated with it much easier to execute. And in many cases, these Fundamental videos can be offered as a drill during practice as well. How-to-Coach - For those more involved skills such as hitting, pitching, and fielding, How-to-Coach videos help to provide the plan to follow when teaching that skill: where to start, how to break it down, what to focus on. Often times, how-to-execute a skill is far different than how-to-teach it. These videos can save you time and effort by providing the instructional plan to follow. Save time, save frustration, make progress! Drills - Get to work! These videos cover drills and activities to practice a skill. Once a coach obtains an understanding of the movement, access this section to find a number of different drills to choose from. Videos are tagged by age and difficulty level so any coach of any level can find an appropriate drill.
PRACTICE PLANS Dugout Captain provides a season’s worth of practices at the drag/drop of your mouse. Within five clicks, you can drag the next practice onto your clipboard and share it instantly with your players, coaches, and parents. Organized by age level, these pre- set practice plans (sanctioned and endorsed by PONY Baseball) follow a learning pro- gression as laid out in this curriculum manual. Once on your clipboard, feel free to edit, delete, or add to the suggested practice itinerary. Also included are practice plan tem- plates from high school, junior college, and NCAA teams. Any of these templates can be ʻsaved-asʼ in your My SAVED Plans folder for future use. My SAVED Plans - Do the work once, use a practice plan forever. Save and categorize your practice plans so each coaching season becomes more streamlined. This way, time spent managing decreases and your time spent coaching on the field is more impactful for all. Pull any of the DC template plans onto your clipboard and save to your own folders for future use.
9 My SHARED Plans - This section of the DC library contains practice plans that have been shared to you by other DC member coaches. View, rename, and save as your own. Or simply follow along as the practice “goes live.”
HOMEWORK PLANS Organized in the same fashion as practice plans (DC Homework Templates, My Assignments, and Shared Homework), Dugout Captain contains a library of Homework Plans to address common coaching challenges. Whether it is a team struggling to play catch on defense, an offense getting beat by the curveball, or a pitcher flying open, DC has a fix! Address your own athletesʼ needs by selecting the perfect drill and holding that athlete accountable to daily homework practice. Or follow DCʼs proven teaching methods in coaching hitting or pitching fundamentals. Drag, drop, and share a Home- work plan in 5 clicks!
MY DUGOUT DC member subscribers operate and manage their teams through the My Dugout control panel. Add contacts, invite member families to join your team, and manage player performance and evaluation. The MyDugout resource area includes homework assignments, prizes, evaluations, reports, and full messaging capabilities. Print athlete- of-the-week certificates, purchase gifts for assistant coaches, and use gameday lineup templates to make your coaching life easier.
PRACTICE ASSISTANT (Android / IOS Application) Once a practice goes “live,” the Dugout Captain App serves as your Practice As- sistant. Parents and team contacts can follow along in real time, watch drill videos, re- ceiving push notifications, and pick-up-your-kid alerts. Coaches receive 5-minute warn- ings as each drill nears completion, 2-minute alerts to pick up baseballs, and audible “rotate” sounds when time to switch stations. The Practice Assistant enables the coach to quickly snap a photo, and tag it to both the specific player and the drill involved. Later, a member coach can use this info to provide a homework assignment, evaluation, or as part of end-of-season feedback. Use the Appʼs messaging feature to notify team members of a weather alert or a last-minute field change. Member coaches can also use the App to plan and share a practice. Last-minute coaches can drag a template onto their clipboard and share a plan in seconds. Player families and team assistant coaches will be able to view drill videos contained in the
10 practice plans through their free version of the app. Any subscribing member at the Learn or Coach level can always view the drill library via the App as well.
11 Here We Go! Start the Engine
Have you drafted your team? Held your first parent meeting? Laid out your coaching philosophy, including rules for playing time and positions to be played? With Dugout Captain as your partner, please review the Coaching 101 and Fundamental videos to put you in a position for coaching success. Following is a brief outline of the administrative steps to take prior to taking the field.Itʼs time to start practicing, letʼs plaaaaaaaay ball!
COACHING EQUIPMENT
Like that “golfer-gadget-guy,” a baseball coach can quickly become inundated with the latest gimmicks and equipment designed to aid baseball performance. And al- though each of these fine pieces of technology likely has a time and place, most are not critical to the success of an eight-year-old. The following is a reasonable list of things to have with you when running a youth team. Please keep in mind that Dugout Captain has once again provided a total solution to the coach that is short-on-time: The DC Coachʼs Starter Kit. Solve this area of responsibility with a couple clicks and get to planning your first practice immediately!
ITEMS THAT A COACH SHOULD CARRY In the book, Survival Guide to Coaching Youth Baseball, I wrote: “To run an effective workout, a coach should carry a clipboard (with practice plan), a whistle, and a watch... and the coach should look darn good doing it. Sunglasses with reflective lenses, eye black, and tight elastic shorts are not necessary.” The Dugout Captain Appʼs practice-assistant feature replaces any need for clipboard, whistle, or watch. The eye black and elastic shorts, however, are still highly recom- mended. Cell Phone - A cell phone for emergency purposes is required and should be kept in a pocket or readily available nearby. So long as you are utilizing the DC tools through a mobile device, this is taken care of as well. Gear Bag - Coaches of teams with players under seven years of age should use tennis balls or safety baseballs (soft stitch) to help avoid injuries as young kids learn to throw and catch. Start with small plastic disc cones and a batting tee. Other recom- mended equipment includes an equipment wagon to carry from car to field, whiffle balls,
12 a catch net (pop-up net for catching balls batted off a tee or from a soft toss), and an extra glove, bat, and helmet to accommodate those individuals in the rotating role of forgetful kid and excuse-filled parent. Dugout Captain provides a total solution in the Coachʼs Starter Kit. Baseballs - Simply put, the more baseballs you have, the easier your practice will be to run. The first-time coach will need to collect as many baseballs as possible. Whether they are safety or regular baseballs, the number of balls dictates the ability to break the team into smaller groups and run multiple drills at once. This allows assistant coaches to keep kids entertained, engaged, and having fun. Most coaches use buck- ets to gather and carry baseballs, and every coach should have a minimum of one full bucket that can be divided into at least two workout areas. First Aid Kit - Most off-the-shelf first aid kits will work well, but be sure that the kit includes an instant cold pack, elastic bandages, Band-Aids, and CPR flashcards. Coachʼs Binder - This administrative binder can be kept in your car or in the team gear bag. It should include emergency procedures as well as contact information and medical conditions (including allergies or health issues) for each player. The binder should also include any specific pickup or drop-off guidelines, birth certificates, league paperwork, and schedules (for practices, games, and snacks).
PLAYER EQUIPMENT
Whether seeking equipment for your own kid or for the other 11 kids you are about to adopt, you can rest assured that a player only needs a minimal amount of gear in order to participate in a full practice. Most kids nowadays bring their own supplies to each event, including a helmet, bat, glove, and protective cup (never too early to protect oneʼs manhood). Players usually carry these supplies in a baseball bag, and if you have an athlete you need to take care of, click here to view and purchase the Dugout Captain Athlete Starter Kit.
Player Equipment Bag - Although any backpack or bag will do, baseball- specific athletic bags are available for purchase at sporting goods stores and can help to avoid lost equipment. These bags have a long pocket available to hold a bat, and they also have enough space to cram a helmet, cleats, and glove inside. Batting gloves are a nice option to include, and a baseball with family initials can make this bag ready for a big-league workout. Pack a bottle of water, and be sure to label everything with a last name and phone number. Kids may struggle to hit or pitch, but they usually excel at leaving their equipment behind! Teams will often be issued helmets, so be sure to ask about this before purchasing a helmet.
13 Player Uniform - At practice, athletes should wear baseball pants, a protective cup, and a hat. Some coaches like their athletes to wear a team T-shirt or other specif- ics, but this will vary. Athletes should bring a jacket and both cleats and athletic shoes. Hereʼs a great tip to keep cars and homes clean: Instruct your athletes to arrive and leave in regular athletic shoes. They should keep their cleats inside the bag until they reach the ball field. At that time, the athletes take the cleats out of the bag, put them on, and put the athletic shoes in the bag. After practice, they reverse this procedure and put the normal athletic shoes on. Athletes should be sure to knock any dirt off of the cleats before jamming them into the bag. Your car will thank me later!
TEAM MEETING & COMMUNICATION Your first task as a new manager is to hold a team meeting. This meeting is for both the players and their families, and it should be held off of the diamond at a team memberʼs house (better start cleaning). The initial team meeting provides a chance to meet teammates and parents alike. At this meeting, you can break the ice and clearly communicate team goals as well as your own coaching philosophies. The key to a smooth season as manager is honest and consistent communica- tion. By agreeing to take this youth baseball team, you have signed on as a manager of people—youth and adult—and communication skills are an absolute necessity. This meeting is your first opportunity to establish the guidelines for the season ahead, to let parents know what will be expected of them, and to secure as much help as possible.
TEAM MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Open the meeting by introducing yourself and each athlete and family. These are the players whom you scouted during tryouts and you selected during the draft get ex- cited about your squad and pass that energy along to the families for the upcoming season. Share your own contact information and discuss important issues clearly and quickly—no one likes a yawner. Here are some issues that should be discussed:
! Emergency Information - Protect yourself and your players. Collect vital infor- mation from parents by having them fill out a medical card (most leagues provide stan- dardized and organization-mandated cards). Ideally, you should be CPR trained, carry a cell phone at all times, and have emergency supplies and procedures on hand. Make sure the forms include an area where parents can provide their own contact information and can share any sensitive information or other requests.
14 ! Schedules - Parents appreciate early notice so that they can plan around your practices. Before the initial team meeting, you should finalize the practice schedule leading up to the first week of games. You can always switch days or times if necessary, but doing this early will help with practice attendance and allow for consistent develop- ment. Clearly communicate your expectations regarding punctuality and attendance—it is appropriate to expect everyone elseʼs commitment to match your own.
Practices - Practices should be scheduled on regular days and times, and you should complete the practice schedule as early in advance as possible. Parents appreciate this because many schedule their lives around their childrenʼs activi- ties.
Games - The game schedule will be provided by the league, but you can estab- lish a regular regimen for the pregame, including the arrival time (45-60 minutes before game time).
Snacks - Quite possibly the most important schedule of all, the snack schedule should rotate the responsibility for bringing snacks among the parents. Publish the schedule at the team meeting and allow parents to switch if necessary. Communicate how important snacks are and keep a backup (nonperishable) snack supply in your car—you donʼt want to have a snackless squad of soldiers.
! Get Help: Involve Parents - There is a distinct difference between managing a team and serving in the role of coach. Youʼve taken on the manager position and volun- teered to schedule practices and lead the team. Therefore, you will need as much help as possible. Youʼll need assistant coaches, a team mom, and a Web site or communica- tions officer. Youʼll also need some game volunteers to keep score, count pitches, clean the field, and handle other responsibilities. The league will undoubtedly assign several roles that you must find people to fill. Many coaches struggle to do this. Use the team meeting to fill these roles—do not leave this meeting without filling each league respon- sibility and volunteer role! You should select two or three able and willing assistant coaches. These coaches will be in uniform for games and will assist with practices. Enlist as many addi- tional volunteers as possible to also help with practices and team functions. The more the merrier—delegate your heart out! Youʼve made the most difficult commitment; youʼre in charge, but youʼre going to need help. The team meeting is your best chance of se- curing helpers.
15 COACHING PHILOSOPHY - DEFINE, ESTABLISH, & COMMUNICATE For this final part of the team meeting, you may want to send the kids into the ga- rage to play table tennis or out into the yard to play Wiffle ball. Take this opportunity to clearly communicate your coaching philosophy—something that youʼll have to take some time to think through before the meeting. Sharing your philosophy with the par- ents will help you avoid issues down the road. Unfortunately, competition coupled with egos will undoubtedly bring out the worst in many parents. If you clearly communicate your philosophy and big-picture perspective at the team meeting, the critical decisions during the season will be much easier for you to make and much easier for other par- ents to understand. Coaching youth baseball is a delicate balance of playing to win versus playing to develop. The chance of a high school athlete playing some form of professional base- ball is .5 percent (and even more slim when it comes to playing in the big leagues). For a youth baseball player, making the high school squad has grown increasingly competi- tive as well. At an average high school, seven athletes in each graduating class will let- ter on the varsity baseball team. This means that the majority of your youth players will not play high school baseball, let alone in college or professionally. Develop and define your role as a youth baseball coach: You are a teacher of the fundamentals of the game, a provider of opportunities for athletes to perform and suc- ceed, and the captain of a ship that will zig and zag but eventually reach the end-of- season port. Practices and games should blend fun with competition. Make sure your athletes smile regularly. Remind them that at its core, baseball is a game and must re- main one. Your athletes will learn valuable life lessons and will endure pressures and stresses, but this game is supposed to be fun. At times, you should do something silly and funny to break the tension. Cut a practice short and play over-the-line, do relay races as a warm-up, or finish practice with a sunflower seed spitting contest. Stay posi- tive and emphasize what you do want done—not what you donʼt want done. Good sporting behavior is key, and respect for everyone builds a true champion. Say it, mean it, and write it down . . . you will be tested. When developing your coaching philosophy, you should also address each of these points:
! Team Goals - Your goal is consistent improvement. Practices are for coaches; games are for the players. This means that practices will be the opportunity for coaches to help athletes work on fundamental skills. Games will then be the chance for athletes to play—with aggression and confidence and without fear of failure. Over the course of the season, athletes should physically improve and mentally work to avoid making the same mistakes over and over.
16 ! Playing Time - Many leagues dictate minimum innings played, which will provide a starting point for playing time. All athletes should sit out at some point each game, and playing time should be allocated equally at the youngest levels. If you establish a clear formula for playing time, the emotion of making decisions about playing time is re- moved, and all parents know where their athletes stand. Even with equal playing time, a team can still compete by playing its more skilled players at important positions during the early and late innings.
! Positions - Athletes should rotate between positions. As athletes grow older, the number of positions played will decrease, and the number of innings spent at one or two positions will increase. For beginning baseball, all athletes should spend time both in the infield and the outfield. Safety must be taken into account, keeping in mind that first base, pitcher, and catcher are the most difficult positions to fill. Find ways to let as many interested athletes play these positions as possible. If an athlete wants to pitch, find the situation where he can pitch—whether itʼs when youʼre down by 10 or up by 10, there will be a time to get him onto the mound.
! Homework - A big part of consistent improvement in young athletes is parent support and buy-in. Communicate the importance of the parentsʼ support in their chil- drenʼs development as baseball players. You will be using the DC Homework Clip- board to assign regular homework to the players, and the parents need to follow up to ensure that the players get the necessary work off of the field.
! Attendance and Punctuality - You might not be able to avoid having late play- ers or other attendance-related issues. However, you need to find a way to drive home the message that commitment is key, practice makes perfect, and punctuality at all func- tions is a sign of respect for the volunteers donating hours of their time. Include guide- lines for what to wear and bring to practices, proper attire (baseball pants, protective cup), and supplies (water, glove, hat).
! Communication - Address appropriate communication procedures for all people who are a part of this team:
Coaches - Remain positive, avoid profanity, and lead by example.
Parents - Avoid coaching from the stands, berating umpires, or negatively engag- ing any members of the opposing team or their parents. Request that parents approach you and address any issues away from the field and the athletes. Pro-
17 vide days and times that you can be reached to discuss anything related to the team.
Athletes - Should not argue with umpires, and they should not taunt or disrespect their opponents. Respect and positive sporting behavior should be shown to umpires, opposing teams, and their parents.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Additional resources for all things team-management can be found in the MyDugout section of Dugout Captain website. In addition, visit the DC Bulletin Boards to post questions to other coaches in situations like you. Thereʼs strength in numbers, we get it.
18 SHETLAND LEAGUE (6U) Fun Times
Shetland is PONYʼs level of play for the 4ʼs, 5ʻs, and 6ʼs. The beginning of youth baseball, where kids experience their first taste of the game. With players at such an impressionable age, the Shetland coach has an amazing opportunity to engrain a posi- tive view of baseball and more specifically, baseball PRACTICE. Just as a studentʼs first days in the classroom can make or break a school year, we want to pay special at- tention to the athleteʼs experience during the first week of baseball practice. Make spe- cial effort to infuse fun and games into practice, encourage interaction between players, and force participation at all times. Think back to your days at practice, it wasnʼt that long ago. How can you channel your inner athlete to make sure each and every timid child that walks up to practice behind mom or dad... leaves as an excited athlete, run- ning and jumping into Mom or Dadʼs arms? Here is your chance to mentor an athlete and hook him on this wonderful game. Paramount to the Shetland division is FUN! Nothing should be more important than fun for a five year old ballplayer. Yet, development does not need to be sacrificed to achieve this goal of fun. Teach skills, but ensure practice is fun. Incorporate “games” into practice wherever possible. To help, many DC Drills specifically highlight the com- petitive twists to turn a drill into a game (example: Cricket Whiffle). Finally, put together a firm coaching philosophy. What ARE your rules for playing time and positions-played? Undoubtedly, this WILL come up with parents and it helps to have a clearly communicated set of guidelines to follow. This includes parent conduct, athlete behavior, and even coaches rules. Thatʼs right! Hold yourself to a high standard and lead by example. And keep in mind that a major responsibility, or opportunity rather, of the Shetland coach is to ensure the athletes come back to play another year. Use Dugout Captain to help you hit 1.000 in your KPA (kids playing again).
19 Athlete Development Objectives - Shetland League
Dugout Captain follows a fun-first philosophy, but does so without compromising the goal of teaching fundamentally sound baseball players with the attitudes of champi- ons. We simply believe that a balance of both is possible, and that the 4-6 year old player can develop for the Major Leagues without turning baseball into a job. Following is a list of learning outcomes to provide coaching guidance for the season. Use the DC Practice Plans to responsibly introduce the athletes to the following areas by the end of the Shetland division:
A. Warm Ups • Arrival procedure and equipment etiquette • Dynamic (movement) warm up principles vs. static (stationary) • Basic movements - side shuffle, high knees, jumping jacks, arm circles
B. Baserunning • Identify each base on the diamond • Athletic posture, starting position, stay low when you go! • Run through first base • Base hit turn at first base • Force play vs. tag play
C. Throwing • Proper grip (4-seam ball position) • Direction - Feet & shoulders • Throwing arm path • Glove arm path - Extension (reach) and finish (chest) • Basic footwork • Loaded power position
D. Catching / Receiving • How/where to hold the glove • Receiver Position - Feet, hands, eyes • Moving to the four-corners / receiving positions • Catching the ball overhead (waiter tray position)
E. Infield • Ready position
20 • Basic ground ball receiving o Fielding Triangle o Exit Footwork • Basic Cuts & Relays • Force play vs. Tag play • Knowing where to throw the ball once fielded, start with first base
F. Outfield • Basic fly ball receiving • Footwork - Drop-step, crossover, go
G. Hitting • Batting Stance • Grip • Stride, Load, & Finish • Introduction to tee work, soft toss, front toss, overhand toss
H. Baseball Rules • Field of play • Positions on the baseball field • Running to my position • When to switch over innings (3 outs) • Dugout rules and etiquette • Sportsmanship - Positive competition • Sportsmanship - Being a good teammate • Foul Ball vs. Fair Ball
A coachʼs responsibility is to introduce and teach the above bullet points. As so much is out of a coachʼs control, it is not a requirement that all athletes are proficient in all areas.
21 Shetland League - Practice Plans
Think back to the feeling of getting dropped off at your first team practice. Were you nervous? Excited? Terrified? Your players will encompass all of those emotions, and your job is to quickly engage them and get busy! Encourage interaction, force par- ticipation, and communicate consistently.
Establish a Routine Establish your practice structure early. Like a teacher in a classroom, start with a firm hand and loosen up as you go. This is your opportunity to establish player behavior expectations as well as the respect level for coaches and adult volunteers. Communi- cate expectations to both player and parent early. Lead by example and show that punctuality IS important to you by arriving at the first practice early, and make sure the field is set up before the first athlete shows up. Place an assistant coach on the field to run an Early Batting Practice drill while you personally greet each athlete and parent. Guide them to the dugout, place a nametag on their hat or shirt, and help to place gear appropriately. The fun-first philosophy will take over as the athlete takes to the field, with an early activity or batting practice drill followed by an obstacle course to kick off the dynamic warm up. Continue to walk-the-walk to establish that practice will be high- energy and full-throttle, that getting to work is not only expected... itʼs cool! Then, you can hold both player and parent accountable to principles such as punctuality and hard work going forward. Assess Players Keep a keen eye during the first couple practices as to who and what you are deal- ing with. Did you find a diamond in the rough? Or did a great tryout turn into a difficult dose of reality on the athleticism scale? Safety is paramount and the head coach quickly needs to make sense of how athletes should be organized into groups based on ability. An example of when/how to do this is during catch play. The Shetland plan calls for No-Partner Catch which provides the coach a safe and constructive format for play- ing catch with a clear view of the athletes and their ability levels. Let us know your feedback after you try NPC! Throwing As mentioned above, the first three Shetland Practice Plans employ No-Partner Catch variations (beginning fundamentals, legs, and arms). Practice Plan #4 uses a Feet in Concrete throwing drill taken from our progression series video (2-Knees / 1-
22 Knee / Feet in Concrete). The full drill uses three movements: (1) Two-knees, (2) One- knee, and then (3) No-stride / No-Step (called Feet in Concrete). Shetland athletes start their partner catch-play with the Feet in Concrete Drill (skipping 2-knees and 1-knee catch). Staying on their feet, athletes can move to get in front of the ball (or out of the way, whichever is called for). Subsequent practices introduce the throwing variations on the knees, and eventually allow for a full throwing progression.
Shetland PP#1
Shetland PP#2
You’ve now had two practices and you’re starting to get a feel for your team. Which of your athletes can play a little bit? Which like to work hard? Trouble getting to practice on time? Issues at home? Team clown? Think about placing your most chal- lenging athletes in leadership positions. Rather than argue or discipline them, challenge them early by empowering them to lead. Examples include “line-leader” during warm up and “judge” (or scoreboard official) during drill competitions. Often times, this trouble- some athlete is seeking attention. If you can beat him to the punch with positive atten- tion, many times this can change the course of a season for both team and athlete. This is also a good time to communicate your team philosophy. This should have been explained to parents and athletes at the preseason team meeting, and now it is time to follow through. Fun? Winning? Development? Life Lessons? DC recom- mends a balance of all of these. Can you take this philosophy of competitive develop- ment one step further and use each practice to engage important topics such as charac- ter, work ethic, and sportsmanship? Each DC Practice Plan template contains a Life Lesson quote and bullet point suggestions to outline a discussion on one of these pow- erful character-development points. As coach, you have assumed a position as leader and role model, and can be a powerful force in developing the characteristics of a champion. Suggestion: Come up with a team motto. Dugout Captain videos sign off with the tagline, “Play hard, have fun!” Whatever your coaching philosophy is, establish a team motto that keeps the game in perspective. Regardless of whether it was a good
23 practice, a mess of a workout, or somewhere in between, athletes can shout this motto and celebrate a day of working hard with their team.
Shetland PP#3
Shetland PP#4
With four practices under your coaching cap, the players have likely categorized themselves into three groups: Jets / Planes / Tankers. The jets can flat out play. They move like athletes, play catch well, and listen (for the most part). Planes are your aver- age ball players. With coaching, the Planes will improve and will likely dictate the suc- cess of your team’s win/loss record. The Tankers face an uphill battle. Either they are overweight, less-than-blessed athletically, or are simply playing because Mom and Dad want a constructive after-school activity. A coach’s challenge is to engage the Tankers and earn from them the biggest smiles of all. Coaches and players can start working into a rhythm. Assign your assistant coach with the most baseball experience into stations working instruction and teaching skill fundamentals. Position those coaches with less baseball knowledge into fun sta- tions built upon repetition and competition. Here, the emphasis is less on instruction and more on activity. Likewise, you may want to subtly begin to establish groups based on ability. This is done so each athlete is challenged appropriately and can maximize development, but also for safety purposes. Be careful that this is not outwardly dis- cussed among coaches or that any athlete is made to feel less adequate than another. Offensively, Live BP is now being incorporated. This is an activity run with the entire team that involves multiple, smaller groups (or an individual rotation). An exam- ple is: (1) Live BP on field, (2) cages, (3) shag group. You are in charge of selecting the topic (or lack thereof) for each station. Is “Live Hitting” using a tee, soft toss, front toss, or overhand throwing? Same question for the “Cages” (could also include whiffle balls in the previous list of options). Shag group helps to pick up baseballs for “Live BP.” Hereʼs where you can put extra help to work and pick up baseballs faster. Finally, in- volve some sort of baserunning into the “Live” group. Example: Finish off 6 swings by running through first base after the final swing.
24 Shetland PP#5
Shetland PP#6
After six practices, the team is 2-3 weeks through the preseason. You have a good idea of each athleteʼs strengths and weaknesses and should start thinking about lineups and positions. Practice plans will now include stations to prep for more game- like situations (cuts & relays, ground ball put-outs, tag plays, and ready position review). Creating the first gameʼs starting lineup is easy and fun. The real challenge arises after two innings when you need to start rotating positions and ensure all athletes get onto the field? Hereʼs where your written (and well communicated) coaching phi- losophy comes into play. Some suggestions to consider: • Athletes will rotate from infield to outfield each inning • No athlete sits twice, until all athletes have sat once • Safety - Prime positions such as first base require than an athlete can safely catch a thrown or hit baseball. Keep in mind that adult coaches will be allowed onto the field of play. For that reason, rotate the athletes frequently into positions - even if this challenges a particular “tanker.” Ensure safety by asking an assistant coach to stay with those hot-spots. Addi- tionally, any score kept is “unofficial.” This is done to ensure that development trumps winning in all coaching philosophies at the Shetland level. Focus on sufficient playing time for all athletes, especially as these games involve only a couple of complete in- nings. Finally, keep in mind that many Shetland League games may only last 3-4 in- nings.
Shetland PP#7
25 Shetland PP#8
Pre Season is nearing an end, you’ve chosen your batting order, and assigned positions. HAVE A SCRIMMAGE! Station Block #2 of Practice Plan #9 involves a “drill” titled Scrimmage. Take a deep breath, smile, and take some notes! Did the kids have fun? Were all the kids engaged? Are there safety issues? Discussions such as throw- ing the bat or crying that need to be had? Parents to reign in (or coaches)? Give spe- cial thought to potential remedies, potential drills, or Mental/Finish topics to discuss? NOTE: Baserunning has two drills for Plans #10-11. Split the team in half and send one group to the diamond to run bases, while the other group stays at the warm up cones for breaks and change-of-direction work. Review home-to-first, base-hit-turns, doubles, and home runs on the bases.
Shetland PP#9
Shetland PP#10
With games now underway, practices will include lots of “needs-based” drills. Has baserunning been an issue - kids going left (3rd base) when they should be going right (1st base)? Increase Early Baserunning time and connect-it to Baserunning/ Conditioning more intentionally. Special skills need work? Connect Quick Defense ac- tivities to Station Instruction / Drills in an effort to work footwork or receiving both as a skill and as applied to a baseball play or situation. Look for this type of connection in Practice Plans #11 and #12. As you work through the rest of the season, feel free to edit or update a previous DC Template, or use the DC Practice Planning Tool to create your own practice. Access the DC community to search for a drill or practice to address your teamʼs unique needs.
26 Shetland PP#11
Shetland PP#12
Congratulations on your season Coach! You have tackled the unknown and in- troduced a special group of young athletes to the Great American Pastime. What once were feelings of overwhelmed anxiety have turned to a quiet confidence. Whether or not you played and regardless of how many years you have coached, ANYONE can make the baseball experience great for a young athlete with preparation and execution! Take time to note how you have grown as a coach and manager. What lessons were learned during practice? What issues did you experience with parents? What will you do different during games next season? A coaching philosophy is fluid and evolving. Each year, the goal should be growth as a coach. This includes increased knowledge of baseball skills like hitting and fielding, as well as emotional or psychological issues such as easing the fear of being hit or dealing with an overaggressive parent. As parent drama is almost impossible to avoid, work hard to keep a big picture perspective. Be patient with parents and sched- ule a time away from practice or game to discuss. The ultimate team game requires a culture and focus on the same thing - the team! Work to create a “we” attitude, rather than a “you vs. me.” In the end, everyone is there for the kids... and to Protect Our Na- tionʼs Youth.
27 PINTO LEAGUE (8U) Live Pitching, Coming Soon!
Comprised of 8 year olds and under, the Pinto Division brings with it several steps towards more “competitive” baseball. Positive competition is encouraged with a healthy balance of fundamental development, character building, and an increased knowledge of the game. As coach, your perspective should include both short term and long-term goals. Short term: How can I provide the best baseball experience for this group of young athletes? Can we play to win a championship while respecting both the game and our opponents? Long term: Can I go 12 for 12 in returning my athletes to baseball next season? Can I provide opportunity for these athletes to develop as play- ers - hitters, infielders, and perhaps even pitchers!? News flash: Facing a live pitcher changes the game of baseball COMPLETELY. The safety and security of a tee or machine fades as the fear of a thrown baseball be- comes real. Some athletes dig in and swing aggressively, seemingly unaware that the little 8-ounce white thing can really, truly hurt! Others become paralyzed by fear, but not by choice. It is the challenge of you, coach, to bring the athletesʼ focus back to being aggressive and attacking the baseball. Dugout Captain can help this process, and oth- ers along the way as the game slowly takes shape as traditional baseball. Pinto League practice plans involve pitching instruction at Practice #6, although your local league guidelines will dictate at what point pitchers need to be ready to “toe the rubber.” DEFENSE READY! A teamʼs ability to collect defensive outs at the Pinto level is a game changer. This starts with a pitcherʼs ability to throw strikes, and continues with infield putouts, and potentially even catching a pop-up to the outfield (gasp!). Even though all three of these may require an entire season of development, the phrase “de- fense wins ballgames” could not be more accurate. Of course, home runs and mus- taches have equal effects on success at the Pinto level, but weʼll focus on what we can control! Pinto Philosophy Dugout Captain recommends waiting to throw curveballs until the age of 13, even though a good curveball could really help a pitcher at 8 or 9 years old. This is often done at the expense of a pitcherʼs ERA. Meaning, by NOT throwing curveballs we are making it MORE difficult on a pitcher to get outs. Similarly, Dugout Captain recom- mends the development of more than 2-3 pitchers at the Pinto Level. Truly, a coach could get by most weeks pitching the same “horses” selected on draft day as pitchers
28 one, two, and three. Actively searching for opportunities to develop pitchers (and short- stops and catchers for that matter) is done for the benefits of long-term arm health, ath- lete enjoyment, and providing all the chance to extend a career. Another challenging area of coaching Pinto baseball is baserunning. At the Pinto level, runners can move when the ball leaves the pitcherʼs hand. This exciting step brings with it the cat and mouse game of the stolen base, and you have a decision to make. Will you, too, take a base whenever possible? Example: Batter reaches first base with a hit, walk, or error. Two pitches later, the same athlete stands on third base with two stolen bases on his stat line. Virtually any ball hit will likely score the runner from third, and the offensive team is up a run. Way to go coach, youʼve successfully taken advantage of a loophole in an effort to win. This is the Pinto reality: It is HARD enough to play catch, let alone throw out a stealing baserunner. Another social reality, the game is played to win. Your parents will want you to do the same, especially if they see the opposing team making their own kids look silly. This brings the focus back to your coaching philosophy. How far are you willing to turn the “winning” knob, even though you know it is watering down “development.” Defensively, you may have to dedicate the teamʼs strongest arm to the catcher position, work to defend against the stolen base, and handle the dancing jackrabbit of a baserunner after each and every pitch. Offensively, will you limit the number of times you allow a pitch ripped for a single to become a triple in the next two pitches? Most importantly, will you communicate your plan to the parents before games begin? This will help... a lot! Dugout Captainʼs Pinto League Development plan is geared for those leagues employing player pitch rules. Were a league to use machine or coach pitch, practice plans can be easily modified to remove pitching instruction.
29 Athlete Development Objectives - Pinto League
Pinto is the second step of what we hope to be a long PONY career. Build upon the fundamentals laid down during the Shetland years, infuse more position-specific in- struction, and enhance the athletesʼ understanding of the game. Following is a list of learning outcomes to provide coaching guidance for the season. Keep in mind that not all athletes will be proficient in all areas. Regardless, use the DC Practice Plans to re- sponsibly introduce the athletes to the following areas by the end of the Pinto division:
A. Warm Ups • Protective / safety equipment familiarity and use • Basic movements - Carioca, walking lunge, change-of-direction
B. Baserunning • Identify each base on the diamond • How/When to run to the bases - Ground ball, fly ball, line drive • Stealing fundamentals - Ball leaving pitcherʼs hand • Secondary leads • Tagging Up • Sliding Fundamentals - Feet first
C. Throwing • Throwing arm path / circle • Glove arm extension / point • Loaded, power position • Which base to throw the ball • Basic pitching mechanics - 1, 2, 3 number system** • Pitch Types - Fastball, Change Up
D. Catching/Receiving • How/where to Hold the Glove • Athletic “pop” movement to power / loaded throwing position • Catcherʼs gear / Safety equipment familiarity and use • Catchers stance - Comfort and Men on Base • Catchers sign giving
E. Fielding
30 • Basic ground ball receiving - Ready, approach, fielding triangle, exit foot- work • Basic fly ball receiving - Dropstep, crossover, go • Situations - Where to throw the ball once fielded • Cut & Relay throw execution
F. Hitting • Basic hitting mechanics - Stride/load, contact point, finish • Use of trunk and hips • Getting hit by a pitch safely • Familiarity with stations - Tee work, soft toss, front toss, live pitch • Bunting fundamentals • Attitude and approach - aggressive!
G. Pitching • Stretch and Windup Fundamentals • Grips - 4-seam, 2-seam, change-up • Mechanics - Balance, power, finish • Attitude and approach - aggressive!
H. Baseball Rules • Baseball positions, field of play, rules of the game • Dugout rules, etiquette, and equipment safety • Sportsmanship • Foul ball vs. Fair ball • Play free - No fear of failure
** Pinto League pitching rules vary by league.
A coachʼs responsibility is to introduce and teach the above bullet points. As so much is out of a coachʼs control, it is not a requirement that all athletes are proficient in all areas.
31 Practice Plans - Pinto League Organization and practice structure are the most important ingredients to a fun practice. This is true for both players and coaches, and especially important at the teamʼs first practice. Whether you have made your own practice plan, or chosen DC Pinto Practice Plan #1, use the Dugout Captain “share” feature at least 24-hours in ad- vance to send it to all team members. Assistant coaches will have the chance to view drill videos and get a feel for your expectations as head coach. Parents will be in the loop as to drills and skills covered at practice, and they can practice with their own ath- lete at home. All will all be impressed that you have your act together!
Establish a Routine The DC practice planning philosophy follows the Absolute Eight. Consider view- ing the instructional videos on this topic from the DC Drill Library for more information on why and how this itinerary was developed: 1. Early Activity 2. Warm Up 3. Early Baserunning 4. Quick Defense 5. Throwing 6. Drills / Station Instruction 7. Baserunning / Conditioning 8. Finish / Mental These recommended practice components work together to maximize player de- velopment and enjoyment for all. Establish this structure at practice #1, and reinforce it through the first two weeks of practice. Athletes thrive with structure and will quickly grow comfortable knowing whatʼs to come. And while it can take a coach several prac- tices to stop referring back to his clipboard (electronic or particle board), the Absolute 8 structure works! Trust us.
32 Season Plan We at Dugout Captain practice what we preach and follow a structured path to- wards accomplishing the Pinto athlete development goals. Over the course of many practices, skill development follows this instructional path: (1) Introduce fundamentals; (2) involve fundamentals in drill format; and, (3) expand drill offerings. Letʼs expand a bit to establish a coaching philosophy based on development:
1. Introduce Fundamentals - Two points to make here. First, up to half of your team MAY never have played baseball before. They need fundamentals in a bad way. Second, your athletes are 7 and 8 years old. They ALL need fundamentals in a bad way. It is THAT simple! Your challenge is to control the pace and informa- tion during station instruction to keep all athletes engaged and having fun as you walk through the base of their baseball knowledge. They will use this information for the rest of their baseball careers. 2. Involve Fundamentals in Drill Format - This means you get to repeat the material, but mask it with a “drill.” Youʼll review and train the same fundamental steps to a movement, but with a twist to make the station new and exciting. This type of positive manipulation thus begins your master-gepetto, puppet-string pulling ways as the coach / sports psychologist you will become. Make building funda- mental skills fun! 3. Expand Drill Offerings - Enforcing fundamentals always, you must decide when, and with which athletes, to turn up the execution requirement. This brings to light the recommendation to group athletes by ability for skill instruction and stations. Never an exact science, grouping athletes can allow you to “coach up” or “coach down” a drill to make sure each athlete is challenged appropriately. You will con- tinue to do this, for your team, and your groups of athletes, as you run any num- ber of various drills. Keep in mind one final point, there are times when it is important to get a bulk amount of repetitions. You may have to channel your inner Phil Jackson, and let the kids learn on their own, but ensure that each gets 25 ground balls or takes 25 swings. There are important lessons to learn by reading angles, seeing hops, or reacting to spin. Lessons that canʼt be simulated without the help of live repetitions.
33 Pinto PP 1
Pinto PP 2
As you form appropriate athlete groups, be careful of names or labels used by players or coaches. Allow athletes to choose, but filter and approve all suggestions. Establish and be consistent with coaching keywords for fundamental instruction. Ex- amples include dropstep, crossover, go (outfield), fielding triangle (infield), and POP (in- field, outfield, catcher). Certain coaches like certain terms such as alligator hands (ground ball) or squishing the bug (hitting). Have fun determining which work best for you and your team! And use them consistently to keep athletes focused on fundamen- tals even during the most fun of drills. The job of a coach is to put athletes in the best position for success and assist in building confidence. This holds true for assistant coaches as well. Position the assis- tant with the most baseball experience into stations working fundamental instruction. Allow this coach the opportunity to teach. Position those coaches with less baseball knowledge into fun stations of repetition and competition, where the emphasis can be less on instruction and more on activity.
Pinto PP 3
Pinto PP 4
After four practices, you have likely determined a loose player ranking for the team. Games are around the corner, and it is time to incorporate specific pitching and
34 catching instruction (if appropriate). DC recommends taking all athletes through intro- ductory pitching and catching stations during practices #5 and #6 respectively. You will soon face the parent or athlete that wants to pitch, but canʼt throw strikes... and the par- ent or athlete that wants to catch, but spends more time chasing the ball than catching it. Focus on building fundamentals, and provide opportunity for development. Provided your league allows athlete-pitching, youʼll need to adjust groups for a pitching station starting Practice Plan #6. At a minimum, the 3-5 athletes most prepared to pitch can get bullpen work and prepare to pitch in games. DC recommends dedicating one coach to bullpen work starting practice #6 during offensive stations and pull athletes individually for pitching practice. This coach will continue to work with pitchers each practice, fol- lowing Dugout Captainʼs How-to-Coach - Pitching series. Expect a significant chal- lenge in developing pitchers, building arm strength, and creating opportunity for all ath- letes that have an interest in pitching. Dugout Captainʼs practice plans for Pinto League do not include specific catching instruction beyond introducing fundamentals during practice #6. However, it is highly recommended to view How to Coach - Catching and find a special time to teach these mechanics to your catchers.
Pinto PP#5
Special programming note for Pinto Practice Plan #6: PP#6 calls for How to Coach - Ground Balls #3 to be run concurrently with Ground Ball Put Outs . DC recommends taking How to Coach GBs to the best patch of outfield grass available, while dedicating the infield to GB Put Outs. Be warned, GB Put Outs is a difficult drill that will present challenges to athlete ability and coach sanity. Use the advantage of a full baseball diamond to teach the principles of force plays and tag plays. Leave the coach working How to Coach GBs to fend for himself somewhere in open space!
Pinto PP#6
Pre Season is nearing an end. Coaches and players alike will appreciate a break
35 in monotony. SCRIMMAGE TIME!! Planning a scrimmage requires the specifics only you will know: • How many athletes will be there? • How many assistant coaches or helpers can be recruited? • How many sets of catching gear does the team have? These and other questions determine the best structure for a scrimmage. A team of 10-12 athletes can easily be broken into two “teams” of five to six athletes each for a scrimmage. Be careful to balance the teams competitively and script the first four pitch- ers (two for each team). Provided you can plan two scrimmages somewhere between practices #7 and #10, you will have the opportunity to see up to eight pitchers in action. Other recommendations for scrimmages: • Allow all athletes to hit before switching from offense to defense. • Clear the bases in the case that one team collects three outs. Then, stop to take a breath and thank the baseball gods as this wonʼt happen often! • Rotate defensive positions but be aware of safety risks (use your help here) • As head coach, stand behind the pitcher with a bucket of baseballs. Not only can you direct both sides of the scrimmage, but you can replace the baseball when wild pitches and passed balls continue to happen. • Walk Rule - Decide, and communicate, how you will handle the walk. Sugges- tions: Last batter (not on base) takes first base. Coach pitches (no pressure!). • Breathe deeply and control your emotions. This is a game and games are sup- posed to be fun.
Pinto PP #7
Pinto PP #8
Olympic Competition After three weeks of practice, you have established a consistent routine and filled prac- tice with efficient drills and learning opportunities. If you feel the time is right to shake
36 things up, purchase some cheap prizes and insert a gentle dose of chaos. The Olympic Competition Practice Plan is intended to ramp up the energy and inject some fun and energy back into practice. From a coaching perspective, this mimics game-like pres- sures and brings to light the Life Lesson topics of Confidence and Dealing With Adver- sity. Be careful issuing prizes as some parents are sensitive to lifeʼs reality of “winners and losers.” Find a subtle way to reward those who win competitions without disparag- ing those that do not. For an easy solution, access MyDugoutʼs Resource section to print Olympic Medal Certificates for Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners. Baseball pro- vides an avenue to teach, DC recommends making the most of it.
Olympic Competition
Pinto PP#9
Pinto PP #10
As games begin and your team rounds into shape, be diligent in returning to ar- eas of instruction that are most required. Use the Dugout Captain Virtual Clipboard to insert a drill that addresses a specific need. Was there a drill that you believe worked well for your group? Or one that the athletes simply enjoyed? Edit an existing template, repeat a practice plan, or create your own. Make this teamʼs progress YOUR goal! Continue to push development by tying skill training with game-like situations. Example: Cuts and relays with roles and rotations. Start the team drill with infielders and outfielders doing live cuts and relays to second base. Next, move to third base and finally home. Whenever necessary, stop the drill and return the baseball to an area for a “do-over.” What a wonderful concept the do-over is. Use it to force correct fundamen- tals as appropriate.
37 Pinto PP #11
Pinto PP #12
38 MUSTANG LEAGUE (10U) “Real” Baseball
Welcome to the Mustang division (10U)! If youʼve experienced a couple seasons each at Shetland and Pinto, you can exhale and expect a jump in ability level. The combination of physical maturity and an increase in skill and coordination levels makes for a much more “real” game of baseball. Kids can better play catch, drive the ball with the bat, and perhaps even pick up a ground ball and throw it across the diamond. How- ever, an undeniable fact is that 1/3 to 1/2 of your team will still be novice players or be- ginners and require loads of development, patience, and encouragement. Fact of the game: Athletes grow bigger, faster, and stronger, but fundamentals remain the same. The Mustang Division brings with it rules of the game that make it more like “real” baseball. Kids now pitch and baserunners can lead off and steal. Prac- tice plans must incorporate team defense topics such as defending the bunt, a potential 1st/3rd play, or simply attempting to throw out a stealing baserunner. A greater empha- sis is placed on “thinking the game,” and so the coaching process now involves ad- dressing both physical and mental aspects to skill development. Physical Skills - Letʼs use a stealing baserunner as an example of how involved coaching can become. The catcher is taught to pivot his feet, use a compact arm mo- tion, and deliver a rainbow, or laser throw to second base. At the same time, the short- stop breaks to the bag and receives the throw with a straddle, swipe, and show tag-play movement. These movements happen at the same time, in reaction to a single, simple, unplanned event - a stealing baserunner! The Mustang Division also presents the op- portunity to teach hitting with much more detail, and introduce athletes to the round mound of dirt in the center of the diamond. Very exciting! Mental Skills - Returning to the steal-play example, several other positions are also involved, but more mentally than physically. The first-baseman must yell “runner” to alert teammates that the baserunner has taken off. The second-baseman should back up the play, moving into an athletic ready position behind the bag. And the center- fielder should be moving in towards second base in case of an overthrow. This is done to prevent the baserunner from taking third, but there really is no physical technique other than running. This play, and this division of baseball, requires players to be en- gaged mentally as well as physically. Seemingly every baseball play presents a unique mental “challenge,” with responsibilities constantly changing. With a baserunner now leading off, when does a first-baseman hold the runner on, play behind, or in front of
39 that baserunner? With a man on second base and a single struck to center field, who becomes the relay man and who is a bagman... and to which base? The challenge, and beauty, of the Mustang Division is the opportunity to coach both physical and mental baseball skills. A huge challenge revolves around defensive roles, responsibilities, and rotations with men on base. We also start to see the occa- sional home run, double play, and sacrifice bunt. The biggest change of all, however, is player pitch. While some leagues involve player pitching at the Pinto Division, all leagues move to player-pitch at Mustang League (10U). Incorporating pitching (and catching) instruction into practice plans can be a big challenge. Dugout Captain rec- ommends introducing all athletes to introductory Pitching and Catching fundamentals. After that, pitching instruction is ideally offered via a dedicated coach and station. DC Practice Plans list an extra station for both pitchers and catchers. If a dedicated coach is not available, options include an additional practice per week with pitchers and catch- ers only, throwing bullpens live to hitters, or extending practice to work with pitchers and catchers in the bullpen after team drills are complete.
40 Athlete Development Objectives - Mustang Division Teach baseball skills, engage the baseball mind, and push positive competition. All of these goals are possible with great practices. Before you take the field as coach, allow Dugout Captain to handle the managerial responsibilities. Grab a practice plan and share it with assistant coaches and player families. Get help, and put it to work! Engage parents and get them excited about this seasonʼs development goals. Ulti- mately, EVERYONE benefits from getting involved. The Shetland League brings with it the opportunity to dive deeper into baseball instruction. But just as baseball fundamentals donʼt change, neither do the principles of practice planning: Occupy ʻem (Early Activity), warm ʻem up (Warm Up and Throwing), drill them (Quick Defense), and train them (Drills / Station Instruction). Wrap up the practice with a sweat (Baserunning / Conditioning) and a life lesson (Mental / Finish). Keep it simple, but have a plan. Let DC help with both. It is not expected that all athletes will excel in all areas by the end of the Mustang baseball season. However, DC issues the challenge and provides the tools to coach athletes through the development objectives listed below:
A. Warm Ups • Arrival procedure and equipment etiquette • Dynamic (movement) vs. static (stationary) warm up principles • Intermediate movements - high knees, butt kickers, carioca, arm circles, walking lunge, backwards running • Protective / safety equipment familiarity and use
B. Baserunning • Running 1st to 3rd • Scoring from 2nd base • Lead off fundamentals - 1B, 2B, 3B • Fundamentals of the stolen base • Secondary leads • Tagging up • Sliding Fundamentals - Feet first • 1st & 3rd Offense
C. Throwing • Proper grip - 4-seam ball position
41 • Throwing arm path - Arm circle • Glove arm path - Extension (reach) and finish (chest) • Loaded power position • Principles of direction and momentum • Long Toss
D. Catching/Receiving • How/where to hold the glove • Receiver Position - Feet, hands, eyes • Moving to the four-corners / receiving positions • Catching the ball overhead (waiter tray position) • Athletic “pop” movement to power / loaded throwing position • Catcher Position • Gear / Safety equipment familiarity and use • Stances • Sign giving
E. Fielding • Ground ball receiving o Ready position o Approach o Fielding Triangle o Exit Footwork • Cuts, relays and responsibilities • Force play vs. Tag play • Short hops • Double play feeds • Double play turns • Steal defense
F. Outfield • Intermediate fly ball receiving - 2 hands vs. 1, catching fly balls on the run • Footwork - Drop-step, crossover, go • Crow hop technique • Communication principles • Trends, tendencies, anticipation
G. Hitting • Formats - Tee work, soft toss, front toss, live pitch
42 • Basic hitting mechanics - (1) Stride/load, (2) contact point, (3) finish • Getting hit by a pitch safely • Bunting fundamentals • Bunting concepts - sacrifice, drag, push, squeeze • Intermediate hitting instruction o “Hands “inside” the ball / lead with the knob o Front foot down early o Three points of contact - In = front, middle = center, outside = deep • Quality At-Bat (process vs. results) • Attitude and approach - Aggressive!
H. Pitching • Stretch and windup fundamentals • Pitches and Grips - 4-seam, 2-seam, change-up • Mechanics - (1) Balance, (2) power, (3) finish • Stride length distance and direction • Glove arm principles • Attitude and approach - Aggressive!
I. Baseball Rules • Baseball positions, field of play, rules of the game • Dugout rules, etiquette, and equipment safety • Offensive signs • Dropped third strike • Balks • Sacrifice bunts / flies • Sportsmanship • Play free - No fear of failure
A coachʼs responsibility is to introduce and teach the above bullet points. As so much is out of a coachʼs control, it is not a requirement that all athletes are proficient in all areas.
43 Practice Plans - Mustang Division A teamʼs first practice is the coachʼs chance to set the tone for the remainder of the season. Showing up organized and prepared is a MUST. Dugout Captain recom- mends sharing the practice plan 48-hours in advance of the first practice. Use the Dug- out Captain invite feature to provides parents and assistant coaches ample time to reg- ister and download the Dugout Captain App. Doing so allows them to view the practice plan, drill videos, and associated times and details, which ensures collective expecta- tions for hard work are clear. As head coach, you will make sure that practice is posi- tive, fun, and starts on time. And by sharing your plan, everyone will be on the same page to work towards the goals of your practice plan. Take time to visit the Drill Library to review Dugout Captainʼs practice planning structure. The chronological order of the practice was created with a purpose of maxi- mizing development, keeping athletes occupied and engaged, and do so with an expe- rienced eye for safety. Each practice absolute builds upon the previous, and prepares for the next. Similarly, practice plans are laid out to follow a smooth learning progres- sion from #1 - 12.
Mustang PP#1
Mustang PP#2
During the first several practices, take time to assess talent levels for groups and safety. Establish a practice structure and stick with it. By providing a comfortable and predictable schedule, athletes quickly let go of Mom and Dad, and lose themselves to baseball! This accelerates both team and individual development curves. The sooner that athletes know itʼs okay NOT to be great at something, the quicker they can im- prove. Compete with a smile, and work hard to build a culture of TEAM first.
Mustang PP#3
44 Mustang PP#4
Starting practice #5, arrange for one coach to be dedicated to pitchers and catchers.
Pitchers and Catchers: Report to spring training! Practice #5 will introduce ALL athletes to introductory fundamentals of the pitcher and catcher position during station instruction. Specialized pitching and catching instruction begins during practice #6 and continues thereafter. Ideally, a dedicated coach schedules short workout sessions for individual or small groups of athletes in a bullpen or foul territory. These can involve no baseballs, throws to target nets, coach-catching while sitting on a bucket, or live pitches to a catcher. Be patient with developing pitchers and balance the instruction vs. repeti- tion scale. Try to layer fundamentals each practice and increase the number of pitches thrown (suggested pitch counts are included in Practice Plans). You are working to en- hance the athleteʼs ability to throw strikes as well as prepare the young arm to throw 40- 50 pitches Game #1. Dugout Captainʼs practice plans for Mustang League do not include specific catching instruction. However, it is highly recommended to view How to Coach - Catching and make time to teach these fundamentals to your catchers.
Mustang PP#5
Mustang PP#6
Two challenging topics to any coaching philosophy: 1. Winning vs. Development - What is your position on this topic as coach? 2. Playing time and positions played - What is your stance? As you settle into a routine, practice plans prepare the athletes for game play. You must make decisions about how you intend to handle batting and defensive lineups, as well as playing time. Will you abide by the minimum-play rules or make a commit- ment to equal playing time? Some suggested rules to follow can be found in the
45 Coaching 101 section of DCʼs Drill Library. Playing multiple positions is a great way to develop baseball athleticism as well as a general knowledge of the game. Be careful not to lock an athlete into one or two positions at this young age.
Mustang PP#7
Mustang PP#8
After eight practices, the season is fast approaching. Two DC recommendations: (1) Play a scrimmage; and, (2) Schedule an “Olympic Competition.” Scrimmages can bring to light a different side of the players and the team. Do certain players step up or shy away during game competition? You may find that your team is farther along in ar- eas like team defense, or lags behind in pitching and catching. Also, team scrimmages always identify several areas of the game that need further practice or instruction. Dug- out Captainʼs Mustang Practice Plans call for team scrimmages during practice #8 and #12. The first scrimmage will open your eyes - every team has a LOT to work on. By the 12th practice, use the scrimmage to set up common baseball situations. Play a couple innings of ʻrealʼ baseball and then present game scenarios:
1. Runner on 1st - 0 out, 1 out, 2 outs 2. Runner on 1st and 2nd - 0 out, 1 out, 2 outs 3. Bases loaded - 0 out, 1 out, 2 outs
It can be helpful to “reset” the diamond at the end of each play. Meaning, each player would bat with the same defensive assignments: Man on 1st, one out (as an ex- ample). After a batter connects with a fair ball, that batter eventually resets to first base and the bases are otherwise cleared. This allows the defense 5-6 defensive plays with the same situation. In the example above, the defense could work on force plays at second, cuts and relays to 2nd or 3rd base (heck even home), or putouts at first base. If things got crazy, they might even sneak in a 6-4-3 double play!! At the same time, each offensive player would have the opportunity to hit and then run the bases twice. Once as the batter and a second time as the runner on first base.
46 The Olympic Competition practice is designed to provide the opportunity to per- form under pressure. With competitions at each station, this itinerary involves hitting, throwing, baserunning, infield and outfield games. Winners of each skill competition earn points, which are tallied at the end of the practice for Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal award winners. This not only breaks up the monotony of practice, but the Olym- pic experience also provides lessons that only live competition can teach and is wildly fun. The kids work hard, play games, and have fun!
Olympic Competition
Mustang PP#9
Mustang PP#10
Practice Plans #9-#12 circle back to review Team Defense fundamentals and kick up pitching and catching instruction, as well as live hitting. At a minimum, a Mustang League team must have one bunt-defense play as well as one first-and-third play. Prac- tice Plan #11 addresses both of those topics during Team Defense. Cuts and relays, roles and responsibility concepts should be reviewed again to prepare for game play as well. Finally, include a live BP session with athletes pitching live to batters (PP#11). Place one coach on the field guiding a hitter vs. batter competition, with live defense making defensive plays. A second coach can prepare the next pitcher in the bullpen, teaching the mechanics of taking the mound and holding runners, and help to keep the drill moving along.
Mustang PP#11
47 Mustang PP#12
Games have now begun and your team is competing well. With one practice per week (maybe two), much of your practice planning will be reactive to game perform- ances. There is always the need for repetitions, so visit the DC Library to pick out fun drills for hitting, ground ball, and fly ball work. Process vs. Results - Fall in love with the process, and the results will come This phrase sums up the Dugout Captain philosophy and applies to both individ- ual baseball player and the team as a unit. Game success is a by-product of great practices. And great practices happen one drill at a time, one day at a time, one week at a time. Come gametime, all players should be encouraged to play free, no fear of failure! Each level of the Athlete Development Plan includes this goal under the Base- ball Rules listing. Couple final coaching suggestions: Introduce the topic of a Quality At-Bat and emphasize being aggressive. Safe or out does not always dictate a successful at-bat. The same rules hold true for pitchers and defensive position players. Stick to your fun- damentals, play the game with passion, and let the results take care of themselves. As coach, you need to do the same thing. Establish your own coaching philosophy, as well as the rules that you intend to manage the game by, then stick to your guns and let the kids play! No fear of failure.
48 BRONCO LEAGUE (12U) One Size Up
Welcome to the Bronco division. Comprised primarily of 11ʻs and 12ʻs, there is a huge size difference between the athletes. While some could grow beards, others still watch Mickey Mouse - some do both! The field is bigger, the baselines longer, and the pitcher’s mound further. Without a doubt, size plays a major role in player success at the Bronco level. However, fundamentals are still fundamentals and all athletes have the need to develop. The big hitters and hard throwers need to be taught that size will one day even out. Sure, you may be the big man on the block now... but how will you keep yourself “ahead of the pack?” And if you are undersized and have yet to sprout, can you outwork the bigger player and beat him with skills and savvy? The larger diamond is definitely something that takes getting used to. An athlete who excelled as a Mustang shortstop, may spend a year as a Bronco second baseman as his body catches up to the field. Be careful not to pigeon-hole an athlete to a single position. Strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies can all change as fast as body types do. Continue a focused development on baseball skills, and encourage multiple posi- tions as best you can. The balance of winning and development is a hot-button topic for youth baseball. Get in front of this issue by publishing your coaching philosophy to the parents before the first practice. It is highly recommended to have written rules to guide playing time as well. This is especially helpful when you yourself feel the pressure of removing a pitcher, catcher, or shortstop from their position when you know it may cost you a game. Perspective goes quick when game emotions run high, even at the 12U level. Regardless of coaching experience, take advantage of the Dugout Captain tool- box to enhance your playersʼ experience. Pull a new drill from the DC Library, ask a question on the message boards, keep notes on player development, and distribute practice plans electronically to team members. Dugout Captain can help streamline manager responsibilities before getting to the field. Once there... you get to COACH!
49 Athlete Development Objectives - Bronco League
Following are Athlete Development Objectives for the Bronco age level. This is a running list, meaning that objectives are summarized from beginning baseball through the end of a Bronco League season. While many of the introductory areas may be as- sumed, it is important to quickly confirm that your players are proficient in those skill be- fore pushing ahead. It is not expected that all athletes will excel in all areas by the end of the Bronco baseball season. However, DC issues the challenge and provides the tools to coach athletes through the development objectives listed below:
A. Warm Ups • Arrival procedure and equipment etiquette • Dynamic (movement) vs. static (stationary) warm up principles • Intermediate movements - High knee pulls, Frankenstein straight-leg walks, inchworms, bear crawls • Protective / safety equipment familiarity and use
B. Baserunning • Situational baserunning - Picking up base coaches, communicating to teammates (on deck batter) • Lead off fundamentals - Left vs. Right-handed pitcher • Stealing bases • Secondary leads • Tagging up • Sliding Fundamentals - Feet first and head first • 1st & 3rd Offense
C. Throwing • Proper grip - 4-seam ball position • Throwing principles - Throwing arm, glove arm, loaded power position • Long toss catch play
D. Catching/Receiving • Receiver Position - Feet, hands, eyes • Moving to the four-corners / receiving positions • Catching the ball overhead (waiter tray position) • Athletic “pop” movement to power / loaded throwing position
50 • Catcher Position • Gear / Safety equipment familiarity and use • Stances - Sign giving, baserunners • Backing up First • Blocking • Framing fundamentals
E. Fielding • Ground ball fundamentals o Ready position o Approach o Fielding Triangle o Exit Footwork • Backhands and forehands • Throwing on the run • Cuts & relays with baserunners / Double cuts • Double plays - Feeds, turns • Steal defense • Rundowns • Pickoffs to all bases • Backing up throws • Steal defense
F. Outfield • Intermediate fly ball receiving - 2 hands vs. 1, catching fly balls on the run • Footwork - Drop-step, crossover, go • Crow hop technique • Communication principles / priorities • Trends, tendencies, anticipation
G. Hitting • Formats - Tee work, soft toss, front toss, live pitch • Basic hitting mechanics - (1) Stride/load, (2) contact point, (3) finish • Intermediate hitting instruction o “Hands “inside” the ball / lead with the knob o Front foot down early o Three points of contact - In = front, middle = center, outside = deep • Getting hit by a pitch safely • Bunting fundamentals
51 • Bunting concepts - sacrifice, drag, push, squeeze • Quality At-Bat (process vs. results) • Pitch selection, anticipation, strike zone knowledge • Attitude and approach - Aggressive!
H. Pitching • Stretch and windup fundamentals • Pitches and Grips - 4-seam, 2-seam, change-up • Mechanics - (1) Balance, (2) power, (3) finish • Stride length distance and direction • Glove arm principles • Progression - Straddle, step on, look in, come set, options • Pick off fundamentals - 1B, 2B, 3-1 Move • Attitude and approach - Aggressive!
I. Baseball Rules • Baseball positions, field of play, rules of the game • Dugout rules, etiquette, and equipment safety • Umpires and etiquette • Offensive signs • Dropped third strike • Balks • Sacrifice bunts / flies • Sportsmanship • Play free - No fear of failure
A coachʼs responsibility is to introduce and teach the above bullet points. As so much is out of a coachʼs control, it is not a requirement that all athletes are proficient in all areas.
52 Practice Plans - Bronco League
Climbing the ladder from Shetland, to Pinto, Mustang, and now Bronco, the game of baseball continues to evolve, growing more complex and detailed. However, the challenge of coaching a team with a wide variety of skill levels remains. While the eight Practice Planning Absolutes do not change, and practice structure by itself is not en- tirely different, each coach at each station must adjust the instruction to the ability level of those specific athletes. This may vary significantly between groups of the SAME team. During many of the Dugout Captain drill videos, we refer to this as “Coaching Up” or “Coaching Down” and, most simply put, this is the level of difficulty or instruction de- tail. The following process highlights DCʼs recommended structure for learning and then coaching baseball skills:
1. Watch the DC video series on Fundamentals. These are offered within a majority of skill categories and help to give the coach a ground-floor un- derstanding of the movements involved. 2. Run the Fundamentals Drill as an activity during practice. Introduce, teach, and drill the basic movements associated with the skill you are coaching. 3. Run the How-to-Coach Drill(s) as part of the learning progression. Certain categories provide a roadmap for building a skill base with structure and layered instruction. Not all skills have How-to-Coach videos associated with them. 4. Run a drill. Continue to follow DCʼs practice plans for recommended drills as part of a structured development program. Or, select your own drill from the DC library and get after it!
Bronco PP#1
Bronco PP#2
53 Groups can be formed by practice #3. This is most relevant during Throwing, Quick Defense and Drill stations, for the nuts and bolts of your practice plan happens during these three segments. During Early Activity, Warm Up, Early Baserunning, and Baserunning/Conditioning, groups are not as important for safety or development. Hav- ing athletes pick names for their groups is a fun way to be transparent that you will be dividing them, starting with the throwing station. Celebrate group names and do not shy away from the fact that while athletes are a part of a sub-group, they are first members of one team. Throwing, by the way, can be done with a single catch-play partner, or a rotation amongst group members. There is a conflicting school of thought between varying catch-partners each practice and keeping catch-play partners the same for an entire season. As long as skill levels allow for safe games of catch, DC recommends rotating partners every several practices. After all, athletes will be throwing to each other in games and must learn strengths and weaknesses of their own teammates. Practice Plan #4 begins Pitching and Catching instruction at the Bronco level. The entire team is introduced to both skills during station instruction (Fundamentals - Pitching and Fundamentals - Catching). More specialized pitching and catching instruc- tion will begin during practice plan #5.
Bronco PP#3
Bronco PP#4
A realistic goal should be to have your athletes comfortable with practice struc- ture by the fourth workout. As you share practice plans through the Dugout Captain share feature, be sure to emphasize the option and availability of an Early Activity. While a positive outcome of the Early Activity is a quantifiable number of extra swings or other repetitions, the biggest benefit is punctuality - you start practice on time. Precious field space can be used on time, and maximized to the fullest extent. Keep in mind that the Early Activity station does not have to be a hitting drill. So long as the athletes are fully engaged and kept from playing catch without being warm, Early Activity can be a
54 fun competition, an infield drill, or even a selection from the Mental / Finish category of the DC Drill Library. Starting practice #5, arrange for one coach to be dedicated to pitchers and catchers. Bronco Practice Plan #5 has this coach leading How to Coach - Pitching #1, fo- cusing on the stretch position stance as well as leg-lift fundamentals while each pitcher throws 25 pitches. Practice Plan #6 has the same coach focusing on the catchers, working through How to Coach - Catching #1. Pitchers will reinforce stretch stance and leg-lift mechanics, while this time throwing 28 pitches. Going forward, this coachʼs fo- cus will stay with developing pitchers by working through DCʼs How to Coach series for pitching. Perhaps the biggest challenge is how best to incorporate pitchers and catchers into the practice. The coach dedicated to pitchers and catchers is ultimately assigned the challenge of ensuring each pitcher receives instruction and throws the proper num- ber of pitches. However that is accomplished, the P/C coach is there to help the ath- letes improve as well as build up arm strength and pitch volume in preparation for the season. With a portable rubber and home plate, this coach can sit on a bucket and catch bullpens himself. Or, he can use catchers to assist with bullpens and rotate those athletes as well. Take some time to determine WHO and HOW your want to address coaching pitchers.
Bronco PP#5
Bronco PP#6
Dugout Captainʼs pre-set practice plans call for a team scrimmage during prac- tice #7. This provides the opportunity to observe athletes under more intense and pressure-filled situations and teach through the game. Play a couple innings of ʻrealʼ baseball and then present game-like situations:
1. Runner on 1st - 0 out, 1 out, 2 outs 2. Runner on 1st and 2nd - 0 out, 1 out, 2 outs
55 3. Bases loaded - 0 out, 1 out, 2 outs
Especially this early in the season, it can be helpful to “reset” the diamond at the end of each play. Meaning, each player would bat with the same defensive assign- ments: Man on 1st, one out as an example. After a batter connects with a fair ball, that batter runs the bases as the defense attempts to make an out. The batter eventually returns to first base and the bases are otherwise cleared. Another fun way to compete during scrimmages is to create a points system for executing correctly. This works well for small-sided teams, only requiring 5-6 athletes per team. Cut the field in half with a cone-line from home plate to centerfield, and use athletes at LF, CF, 3B, SS, and 2B. Place a coach at first base and compete with de- fensive assignments each inning: Infield: Play to first vs. double play. Outfield: Cut & Relay to second base, third base, or home. The team on defense earns points based on proper execution every play (defensive ef- fort = 1 point, accurate throw / relay / catch = 1 point, diving play or otherwise outstand- ing play = 3 points. The offensive group also earn points based on their performance each play (hard ground ball = 1 point, line drive = 2 points, homerun or otherwise out- standing play = 3 points, and a bonus point for proper baserunning). See Points- Based Scrimmage in the DC Library for a video explanation of this drill.
Bronco PP#7
Bronco PP#8
! Bronco League practices #9 and #10 are focused on game-preparation. Instruc- tion for pitchers, catchers, and hitters intensifies, with Station Instruction focused on team concepts such as cuts & relays, bunt defense, and double plays. Build belief in the double play by successfully completing them in practice. Start slowly and ratchet up ground ball speed, direction, and coaching intensity as the number of repetitions in- creases. As with any successful youth baseball coach / sports psychologist, you must first set a goal through visualization before attempting to manifest it. Ha!
56 Bronco PP#9
Bronco PP#10
Dugout Captainʼs Olympic Competition is scheduled for Practice Plan #11. The Olmpic itinerary is included as a break in the monotony for all levels of play. Youʼll need to plan this well in advance and be prepared to run several stations. If only two coaches are present, youʼll need to modify practice to the following itinerary (sample start time of 4:00pm):
3:45-4:00 Early Activity
4:00-4:10 Warm Up
4:10-4:25 Throwing
4:25-4:45 Coach #1 - Infield / Coach #2 - Outfield
~ Water Break (5 min) ~
4:50-5:10 Coach #1 - Throwing / Coach #2 - Hitting
5:10-5:20 Both Coaches - Baserunning (as a team)
5:20-5:30 Mental / Finish - Tally points and present awards**
Skip Early Baserunning and Quick Defense segments in an effort to dedicate as much time as possible to the Olympic Stations. ** You may want to present awards at the following practice. Doing so allows you to total points earned and designate winners of Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals after the competition. Olympic Medal Certificates can be found in the Resources section of MyDugout. Simply input names, print documents, and hold an Olympic Ceremony either at the beginning or end of the next practice. Notify parents in advance to really blow them away - who is this coach!?!
Olympic Competition
57 Bronco PP#11
Bronco PP#12
Game Day Warm Up Game day warm up is a condensed version of a normal practice. Designed to get the blood flowing, and the baseball muscles firing. Players get prepared for the game, but not worn out before it starts. It is consist primarily of the following stations: Warm Up / Early Activity / GB & FB Reps / Pregame.
Gameday
The remainder of the season is yours. Review and use the practices or drills you like best. Search the DC Drill Library for new drills that best serve the needs of the team. Stick to the structure, relax, and have fun. Your players will follow their leader!
58 PONY LEAGUE (14U) Prepping for High School
Pony! Pony! Pony! The final stepping stone to full-size baseball, Pony League uses 80 ft. basepaths and a mound distance of 54 feet. Besides pitch-count limitations and any other league-enforced limit rules, this is baseball as seen on TV or your nearest stadium. The importance of great practices is most important at the Pony level. Increased coaching experience and baseball knowledge contribute to a better coach-to-player re- lationship. The emergence of travelball or “club” baseball has impacted the Pony league most heavily. In the early 2010ʼs, a massive exodus over to ʻclubʼ or ʻselectʼ baseball occurred. The reasons for this were both legitimate and unfortunate. Player families, mostly parents, were searching for more competitive baseball. However, as travelball participation numbers have risen, the quality and elite differentiation has de- creased. Dugout Captain is spearheading a return to high-quality, well-coached recrea- tion baseball. This all starts with great practices led by enthusiastic, high-energy, and positive coaches. Dugout Captain has your back in creating a memorable baseball ex- perience for your local community. In addition to accessing the DC Library, planning practices, and assigning home- work, the Dugout Captain App has a live practice-assistant feature. At a scheduled start time, each practice automatically goes “live”. Once in live-mode, the DC Appʼs timer counts down each station for you, complete with a 5-minute warning sound, an audible nudge to pick up equipment at the 2-minute mark, and a horn sound to signal ʻrotateʼ when it is time to switch stations. Coaches can capture photos or drill feedback directly into the app, even tag a player to associate that feedback to a specific athlete (time stamped as well and saved to your MyDugout). Later, use the DC Homework Tool to select and send an assignment intended to practice a weakness or work skill develop- ment. The DC Homework Library contains assignments intended to address baseballʼs most commonly faced coaching challenges, as well as techniques for teaching infield, hitting, and pitching. Parents can follow along at home on the free version of DCʼs mobile app, viewing drills in real time and watching associated Dugout Captain videos when available. Get this: The Practice Assistant feature automatically sends a notification to member fami- lies when 15-minutes remain at practice - Come pick up your kid! Any volunteer coach knows they donʼt leave until every athlete is picked up. More times than not, there is
59 one parent that gets tied up at work, hits “every red light,” or outright forgets. The prac- tice assistant will help protect your time, for a coachʼs time is as valuable as the ath- leteʼs.
60 Athlete Development Objectives - Pony League
Pony League development objectives build upon each previous level of play. The cumulative list follows below - this is everything your athletes should know before high school. The high school coach is searching high and low for athletes prepared for high school instruction. They want athletes with an understanding of baseball funda- mentals in addition to an advanced skill set. Certainly, players do not need to be expert players, but they differentiate themselves by thinking the game, showing an ability to make adjustments, and present a work ethic familiar with concepts such as front toss, bullpen work, and pregame infield/outfield. It is not expected that all athletes will excel in all areas by the end of the Pony baseball season. However, DC issues the challenge and provides the tools to coach athletes through the development objectives listed below and put a smile on the local high school coachʼs face:
A. Warm Ups • Arrival procedure and equipment etiquette • Dynamic (movement) vs. static (stationary) warm up principles • Advanced movements - Power skips, lateral skips, high-knee pulls, inch- worms, agility variations • Resistance bands - Warm up principles
B. Baserunning • Situational baserunning - Picking up base coaches, communicating to teammates (on deck batter) • Lead off fundamentals - Left vs. Right-handed pitcher • Stealing bases • Early and delay steals • Secondary leads • Tagging up • Sliding Fundamentals - Feet first and head first • 1st & 3rd Offense • Game Situations - Breaking up the double play, sliding into home plate,
C. Throwing • Proper grip - 4-seam ball position • Throwing principles - Throwing arm, glove arm, loaded power position
61 • Long toss catch play • Arm slot / arm angle - low (middle infield), 3/4 (pitcher), over-the-top (OF) • Arm action - short to long (C ➝ Inf ➝ OF ➝ P)
D. Catching/Receiving • Receiver Position - Feet, hands, eyes • Moving to the four-corners / receiving positions • Catching the ball overhead (waiter tray position) • Athletic “pop” movement to power / loaded throwing position • Catcher Position • Gear / Safety equipment familiarity and use • Stances - Sign giving, baserunners • Backing up First • Blocking • Framing fundamentals • 1st / 3rd defense • Bunt defense
E. Fielding • Ground ball fundamentals o Ready position o Approach o Fielding Triangle o Exit Footwork • Backhands and forehands • Throwing on the run • Cuts & relays with baserunners / Double cuts • Double plays - Feeds, turns • Steal defense • Rundowns • Pickoffs to all bases • Backing up throws • Steal defense • Slow rollers • Diving plays
F. Outfield • Advanced fly ball receiving - o 2 hands vs. 1, o Fly balls on the run
62 o Head down and go - pick up the baseball • Footwork - Drop-step, crossover, go • Crow hop technique • Communication principles / priorities • Balls off the fence • Diving catches • Trends, tendencies, anticipation
G. Hitting • Formats - Tee work, soft toss, front toss, live pitch • Basic hitting mechanics - (1) Stride/load, (2) contact point, (3) finish • Intermediate hitting instruction o “Hands “inside” the ball / lead with the knob o Front foot down early o Three points of contact - In = front, middle = center, outside = deep • Getting hit by a pitch safely • Bunting fundamentals • Bunting concepts - sacrifice, drag, push, squeeze • Quality At-Bat (process vs. results) • Pitch selection, anticipation, strike zone knowledge • Situational hitting - Advancing runners, slash play, RBI situations • Attitude and approach - Aggressive!
H. Pitching • Stretch and windup fundamentals • Pitches and Grips - 4-seam, 2-seam, change-up, curveball • Pitch theory - inside/outside, up/down, fast/slow, spin • Mechanics - (1) Balance, (2) power, (3) finish • Stride length distance and direction • Glove arm principles • Power production - Load and explode principles • Progression - Straddle, step on, look in, come set, options • Pick off fundamentals - 1B, 2B, 3-1 Move • Attitude and approach - Aggressive!
I. Baseball Rules • Baseball positions, field of play, rules of the game • Dugout rules, etiquette, and equipment safety • Umpires and etiquette
63 • Offensive signs • Dropped third strike • Balks • Sacrifice bunts / flies • Game situations - Bunts, run-prevention, double-play depth, no-doubles • Sportsmanship • Handle failure • Play free - No fear
A coachʼs responsibility is to introduce and teach the above bullet points. As so much is out of a coachʼs control, it is not a requirement that all athletes are proficient in all areas.
64 Practice Plans - Pony League
Read independently, the list of Athlete Development Goals for Pony League can be quite overwhelming. Rest assured, the team at Dugout Captain has put together a series of practice plans to guide you each step of the way. Much like a player is to ap- proach competition one game at a time, even inning by inning... a Pony league coach should tackle the season one practice at a time, even a single station at a time. Gather team contact information at the first pre-season meeting, load that info into Dugout Cap- tain, and set the tone early. “We will work hard, we will have fun, we will compete each and every play.” Share Practice Plan #1 at least 48-hours priors to its start time in an effort to clearly establish expectations. Your time is important, your playersʼ time is im- portant, and their familyʼs time is important. Together, letʼs establish some team goals to guide our practice time: • Arrive to the field 15 minutes before practice is set to start • Make best use of time at the field • Coaching-to-athlete ratio at 6:1 (possibly 4:1) • Lines kept to a minimum • Standing around is something that only happens during water breaks
Station Structure - Defense Before Offense As a rule, DC practice plans have two, 30-minute time blocks for station instruc- tion (i.e. running drills). Typically, defensive stations precede offensive stations. The reason? Kids always have the energy to hit. The thought of 30-minutes of hitting is like dangling a carrot in front of the horse - butt down, hands out men, there are swings ahead! At the Pony level, stations blend together and practice combinations are often more varied. As an example, a 30-minute Station Block #1 during Practice Plan #9 features three drills:
(1) Double Play Feeds / (2) Double Play Turns / (3) Live GB - Double Plays
In this example, the team would split into two groups for 10 minutes of Double Play Feeds and then 10 minutes of Double Play Turns. To finish, the groups would come together as a team for 10 minutes of live ground ball repetitions. In Practice Plan
65 #7, drill stations show one station of Live BP, following by three stations of Scrimmage. This is to be interpreted as an extended station of batting practice, which will precede a lengthy scrimmage. For Live Batting Practice, all athletes will hit, rotating through as many swing-stations as there are coaches. Provided you have planned well and se- cured a third volunteer coach, this could mean four groups: cages, open-area, live on field, and shag. Typically, the head coach stays on the main diamond where he can control the live hitters as well as the shaggers, and rotate the groups after each athlete has hit. After BP, take a water break and clean up hitting equipment. Send two pitchers and two catchers to the bullpen to get loose, break into teams, and explain how innings will flow. This sounds confusing, but itʼs really not. As you grow comfortable with the Dug- out Captain Practice Planning Philosophy, take 5-10 minutes to review the next prac- tice plan to determine how best instruction can flow for you.
Pony PP#1
Pony PP#2
Keep in mind that many of the DC drills are designed for all ages and skill levels. Drill videos describe format and structure to the drill, but you as coach decide how in- tensely to ratchet up instruction. In the end, drill intensity is determined by the group at YOUR station, a subset of YOUR team. At the Pony level, this can approach high school intensity for the more talented kids. However, this might mean keeping expecta- tions basic and a focus on building positive fundamentals. This is rec ball, and your teamʼs ability level will vary wildly. Reality says that your “bottom third” will be athletically challenged. Coaching clinics sometimes discuss coaching up the bottom third to contributory levels. Can they field their position, play catch, and put the ball in play at the plate? Challenge hereby issued!
Pony PP#3
66 Pony PP#4
The DC Athlete Development Curriculum commonly refers to a coaching philoso- phy of development over winning. At the Pony level, however, the pendulum is swinging to a more competitive balance between the two. Not all athletes can play all positions. That being said, however, work to find that balance. At itʼs core, DC believes that win- ning is a byproduct of practicing correctly. Practices are for coaches, games are for players. Some rules to consider, in advance of game competition:
• +8 / -8 = Whether up by 8 runs, or down by the same margin, a +8/-8 score repre- sents the opportunity to make dreams come true! Choose two items off the “re- quest list” and make the change. Be smart about not combining substitute pitcher and catcher at the same time, or third-base and shortstop, second and first base, etc. Instead, move one athlete to 2nd base while another gets the chance to pitch. • No sitting twice, ʻtil everyone sits once - This simple rule is a fantastic way of managing the defensive lineup to ensure that no player experiences more innings on the bench than on the field. • 1st Half vs. Second Half - On this line of thinking, the first half of the season will be played with equal playing times and positions played amongst players (within reason). During the second half of the season, the number of innings in the out- field vs. the infield does not have to be even. • Tournament Time - Similar to 1st Half vs. 2nd Half, Tournament Time identifies the playoffs as the line of demarcation for tightening up rotations. In all reality, Pony ball is not “play to win” and shouldnʼt be managed as such. At the same time, this is the real world and there canʼt be nine shortstops. As you coach to prepare athletes to put forth their best effort at high school tryouts, establish your play- ing time rules, communicate them early and often, then stick to them - regardless of game score or parent input.
Pony PP#5
67 Pony PP#6
Pony League is considered 14U. That means you have a dozen 13-14 year old athletes under your guidance. What a fantastic opportunity, at such an influential age. This group of young men deserves your dedicated attention and your best coaching ef- fort. The tools at DugoutCaptain.com allow you to do just that - COACH! By sharing a DC template or your own practice plan, your managerial duties are complete before ar- riving at the field. Once on site, your efforts can be dedicated to coaching athletes and running drills to be best of your coaching ability. Think back to your previous coaching years without a tight practice plan. Can you hear the players asking: “What are we doing next? Can we hit? What time is it? Iʼm thirsty?” Dugout Captain was built with this experience in mind. Having been there, done that, every effort has been taken to help you avoid that. It is the goal of the DC team to have young coaches never experience the same frustration. We believe that if YOU are fulfilled through a great practice experience, then your athletes will be thrilled with a productive, high-energy, and fun workout. THIS is truly a win / win relationship.
Pony PP#7
Pony PP#8
Get creative! We did. Practice plans #9 and #10 balance individual and team development. Individual instruction is a combination of instruction and repetitions. Ob- serve station specifics and drill selections with that in mind. With regard to team devel- opment, practice plans address defensive concepts of bunt coverage and pick off rota- tions. In addition, pitching and catching instruction is highlighted below Station Block #2. These topics are to be covered by a dedicated coach in an area off the field of play, preferably a bullpen. Dedicated groups can rotate through this coach, or he can select
68 and call individual pitchers and catchers over for sidework. Topics are suggested, but developing pitchers often follows an individualized path of instruction.
Pony PP#9
Pony PP#10
Scrimmages and Olympic Competition. Learn them, run them. Dugout Captainʼs Olympic Competition practice plan combines five stations, each of which involves a skill- specific game. There are stations for hitting, throwing, infield, outfield, and baserunning. Each station involves a first, second, and third place, with each place earning a prede- termined number of points (5, 3, 1). At the end of five stations, each athlete has un- doubtedly earned some sort of point total. Tally the points, determined overall winners of Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals.
Scrimmage games can be played as intersquads (your team only) or scheduled against another team. Consult league rules to ensure all is “by-the-book”, you are a leader of men for heckʼs sake! Determine a lineup and play to learn. Mistakes are learning opportunities and should be celebrated, but only to a certain extent. Communi- cate to the opposing coach your intention of using game situations to teach baseball. And ask for the opportunity to re-do any play to experience proper fundamental execu- tion.
Pony PP#11
Pony PP#12
69 Thank You
Thank you coach. Thank you for 5 hours per week, for the better part of four months (thatʼs 80 hours by the way). Thank you not only for your time, but for your ef- fort, consideration, generosity, money spent, and the coaching hours you didnʼt get to spend on your own kid. Thank you for your patience, thank you for laughing, thank you for yelling, and thank you for caring. You have forever changed these young peopleʼs lives, for the better. Coaching is like operating a business unit or leading an extended family. Drama often occurs, many times in the form of emotional parents, troubled youth, or both. Through it all, you have swallowed your ego and humbly put the needs and wants of the athletes ahead of your own. All the while, pulling the strings of development as best you can to provide opportunities for success. As athletes, parents, and fellow coaches, we salute you. Thank you Coach.
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