Some Links I Ve Collected Not Noted Below in Agendas (Youtube Is Your Friend!)

Some links I’ve collected not noted below in agendas (youtube is your friend!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C34T6NCPxpo http://www.angelfire.com/oz/coaching/drillsfielding.htm (just hit cancel, ok, ok) Drills http://goinggoinggone.ms/faults.htm swing flaws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97h2eKuygac pepper drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUqlFX39viQ pitching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9N6LYEX7Dk basic throwing mechanics http://www.ndgbaseball.org/hittingbasics.pdf hitting mehanics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s Long toss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nejmqy9Gu0Q hitting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKtCatmNClA hitting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYP2txnZm4I Hitting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIbuSE-4pj0 Wamrup and throwing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMg3sE-eH9E pitching

Practice time. I know everyone has a life and gets to practice when they can. But when kids arrive on time they are actually late. Using my warm-up order kids want to run as soon as they get to the fields. But they all need to do stretches together. I start warmup as soon as we have a quorum of kids. When kids are on time putting bags away, getting their stuff out, they are eating up practice time and missing warm-ups.

Warmups. Run, stretch then throw. Not the other way around.

Game day. I have a routine I use that fills the time. Arrive 45 min prior to start time. 15 min spent on warm ups. 15 minutes spent on hitting. This includes one coach throwing baseball pepper, another coach throwing wiffle full swing. Kids move from one station to the next. Then 15 minutes on fielding. This includes two lines of kids with two coaches. Start with throwing running flys, then go to throwing grounders. I alternate these two sets of drills depending on if we are home or away.

Organizing practices

Each practice is typically 1:45 long. This essentially gives us 15-20 minutes for warmups. Then what I like to do is break up the practice into two 45 minute sessions. I like the first 45 minutes used for common, routine, repetitive drills (grounders, flys, situational throws, etc). Then in the second half I focus on competitive, fun stuff.

There are three aspects of baseball I focus my practices on – hitting, fielding and knowledge. Each practice focuses on one of these aspects. The drills and competitions for a practice are built to achieve the baseball aspect. For example a hitting practice will focus on 45 minutes of hitting drills, followed by 45 minutes of shotgun. The practices rotate between the three aspects. For example, Monday is hitting, Wednesday is fielding and Friday is Knowledge.

Here are the practice agendas I used in managing 2013 Minors Fallball. This team included Novice 8 year olds to experienced 11 year olds. The agendas evolve over time.

Agenda 8/19

Practice agenda: Fielding (Throwing) Practice warm-ups (30 mins)

-2 laps -Stretches (introducing new stretches/exercises tonight) Kids pair up based on skill -Throwing (always start with hand flick-20 reps, mini-long toss and pull down - here is a demonstration of long toss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s ) -Double knee throws (second to last drill here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXu- UJntQog) 20 reps -Single knee throws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l38EuwPz_o ) 20 reps

5-10 minutes instruction of throwing mechanics basics – kids line up around base lines looking at mound. I will give the instruction. Coaches, watch and instruct the kids while I talk.

Drills (I need these drills run fast - 30 mins for both)

-Follow the ball fly balls+relay. Instead of coaches hitting the fly ball to the outfielder. A kid throws a fly ball to the outfielder, outfielder throws to relay, out fielder then runs to relay position. Relay throws to "home" fielder, then runs to home fielder position. Home fielder throws the fly ball to the next kid in line in outfield. Home fielder then runs to back of line. We can do two lines for this from the corner outfield foul lines into center. Coaches assess for fly catching technique, thrown catching technique and throwing. We will start with a 20 undropped rep goal for this and assess when we see the play.

-Tag+throw relays (get to 20 consecutive throws) One line at 2b and one at 3b. Ball starts at 3rd, kid tags, throws to 2nd. Fielder at second catches, tags and throws back to 3b. 3b catches, tags and throws to 2b and so on until 20 undropped reps are completed. If the ball drops they start over. Kids rotate lines after throw.

-Coach will be running the balance beam drill during these two drills. Get 10 throws on beam and get a new kid.

Competition (30 min) With the remaining time we will run shotgun.

Practice agenda: Fielding

Parents, at home on your own Basic instructions for catching and fielding grounder http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=XdBKGMYlMcE – remember to teach your kids to extend their hands away from their body and give the thrower a target. Good one-on-one drills for catching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTuopUgmg1w Good fly-ball instructions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrjLHkTHmGE I strongly recommend 2 hands on all catches – grounders, flys and thrown.

Practice warm-ups -2 laps -Stretches Kids pair up based on skill -Throwing (always start with hand flick-20 reps, mini-long toss and pull down - here is a demonstration of long toss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s ) -Single knee throws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l38EuwPz_o ) 20 reps

Instruction 5-10 minutes instruction on catching thrown ball, ground ball and fly ball. Minors will demonstrate.

Drills These drills will be run in stations. Kids will move from one drill to the next. Move the kids through fast. Kids can hydrate after one complete cycle through. I would like to go through 3 cycles. No bats will be used by coaches. Nice easy slow tosses for the kids.

Grounder at 2b throw to 1b, 3 rollers (Coach roll em and Dad catch at 1b) Flyball corner-to-corner drill (Big Als version), 3 crossing patterns, back-and-forth-and-back at right foul to right center (james) Rapid fire: 10 throws - version of this guys drill http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=JTuopUgmg1w run in left center. (Coach) Prove it: 3b/SS position. Kids have to demonstrate all three catches to me. I will toss, in random order, a thrown ball, ground ball, fly ball.

Competition If we have enough kids and time we will run scrimmage with kid pitchers.

Practice agenda: Hitting

Parents, at home on your own Play pepper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2lqU2ESp9Q Heavy ball/bag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nejmqy9Gu0Q (I use a little 3 pound ball)

Practice warm-ups -2 laps -Stretches Kids pair up based on skill -Throwing (always start with hand flick-20 reps, mini-long toss and pull down - here is a demonstration of long toss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s ) -Single knee throws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l38EuwPz_o ) 20 reps

Instruction 5-10 minutes instruction on hitting

Drills These drills will be run in stations. Kids will move from one drill to the next. Move the kids through fast. Kids can hydrate after one complete cycle through. --Back toss drill ON balance beam. (Coach) about 5 balls per kid. Run at home plate and hit into the fence. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4x9_Jmo6ts ) --Tee work. (Coach) Use net and tee and do about 5-10 balls in a corner outfield. --Heavy ball hitting (Coach) --Pepper. (Coach) about 5 chop or bunt hits back to you. These are not full swings! The intent is for eye+ball tracking and bat coordination. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=U2lqU2ESp9Q

Competition We will run shotgun and/or see who can hit the farthest.

Practice agenda: Fielding (throwing)

Parents, at home on your own Basic throwing mechanics http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9N6LYEX7Dk Throwing on a balance beam or a line http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUqlFX39viQ Lots of little tips in this video for good arm and hand positions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-lS351mEkQ

Practice warm-ups (Jesse, Vince) -2 laps -Stretches (Kids pair up based on skill) -Single knee throws 20 reps (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l38EuwPz_o ) -Hand flick-20 reps -mini-long toss and pull down - here is a demonstration of long toss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s )

Instruction (James) Review basic throwing mechanics. 5-10 minutes. Check positions of feet, glove hand and throwing hand from out of glove to stretch-back finishing with release/follow through position.

Drills (All coaches, Coach leads) -Throwing relay race (Big Als version, 3 kids per team) -Follow the ball - flys. Start ball with the outfielder>cutoff>"home" position. The home position throws fly-ball to the next outfielder in the line. -Follow the ball - grounders. #1: Grounder (by coach)>2b>1b>4b #2: Grounder>SS>2b>1b>4b -Around the horn (players are teamed up and timed throwing from 4b>3b>2b>1b>4b)

Competition (All coaches, Coach leads) -Shotgun: Use a kid pitcher and kid catcher. Max 3 pitches per hitter. Pitchers who need to be worked are …. -Do the running race thing around the bases if there is time.

Practice agenda: Fielding, emphasis on fly-balls

Practice warm-ups -2 laps -Stretches -Throwing --hand flick-20 reps, --Single knee throws http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l38EuwPz_o 20 reps, --Mini-long toss and pull down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s

Instruction 5 min review fly ball catch, thrown ball catch, ground ball catch.

Drills (non-pitchers, James leads, perform these drills in left and center) -Bounce picks: All players pair up about 10 feet apart in a ground ball fielding position. One player lightly tosses and bounces the ball in front of the other player. The receiving player fields and tosses+bounces back. Encourage back hand catches. -Over the head: Start player facing coach about 10 feet away. Coach lightly tosses a fly ball over the players head. Player must turn and run to catch. Teach kids not to back peddle with glove up, but turn their back to the ball. Throw to right and left to teach kids which way to turn. -Keep it in front: Coach hits a fly ball with bat into outfield. Kid must have hand on fence, then catch the ball. Teach kids to wait, track the ball and keep it in front.

-Call the ball: CF and Corner Field lines of players. Ball thrown in between players. Players need to call, catch and backup the catch. (Coach lead)

Pitchers -Rotating players in and out of pitching practice with Coach on the mound during drills (order of kids here …)

Competition I want to make sure we have time to run scrimmage, Coach pitch.

Parents, at home on your own Basic instructions for catching and fielding grounder http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=XdBKGMYlMcE – remember to teach your kids to extend their hands away from their body and give the thrower a target. Good one-on-one drills for catching http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTuopUgmg1w Good fly-ball instructions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrjLHkTHmGE I strongly recommend 2 hands on all catches – grounders, flys and thrown.

Practice agenda: Baseball knowledge

Parents, at home on your own Up to now I have focused practices on different skills - throwing, catching and hitting. Many of these skills can (AND SHOULD!) be worked on at home. As we get closer to our games I will start focusing practices on game "situations." This is one of the harder things for younger kids to learn – where to throw the ball when its hit to you in a game. Better performance will come with more reps, but unlike skills, these can only come from practicing with the team on the field. Here is what you can do: -Encourage them. They will forget what to do. They will throw the ball in the wrong direction during practice. Some kids will get embarrassed, frustrated and discouraged. -Watch baseball. Talk to them about where the ball should be thrown when its hit.

Practice warm-ups -2 laps -Stretches -Throwing --hand flick-20 reps, --Single knee throws ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l38EuwPz_o ) 20 reps --mini-long toss and pull down - ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s )

Instruction Quick talk about change in practice drills, working right side of field

Drills (All team) Follow the ball grounders (minors go around cone): --2b>1b --SS>1b --3b>1b Grounder cover first: Roll ball for 1b, P positions to field, 2b covers 1b. Line starts at 2b, rotates to 1b, rotates to P, rotates to SS (SS covers 2b, if throw misses at 1b). Grounder cover first with runners: Use minors. Flyball right (use cones+coaches): Coach throws fly to right side (landing on cone) for 1b, 2b or RF to call and catch. Line starts in RF, rotate to 1b, rotate to 2b, rotate to SS (SS covers 2b if vll is dropped). Flyball right with runners: Use minors.

Competition Relays: Around the horn, big Als cut relay and running bases.

Practice agenda: Baseball knowledge

Practice warm-ups

-2 laps -Stretches -Throwing --hand flick-20 reps, --Single knee throws ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l38EuwPz_o ) 20 reps --mini-long toss and pull down - ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s ) Drills (All team)

Tag practice: Player line and coach at 3b and SS. Coach says go, player straddles base, receives toss from coach, player catches and applies tag for an out. Tag relay: Player lines at 3b and SS. Ball must be caught, apply tag and thrown back to other base without dropping, 20x. Middle field grounders (add in runners): CF, SS, 2B, 1B Middle field flys (add in runners): CF, SS, 2B, 1B

Competition If we have enough kids and time we will run scrimmage with kid pitchers.

Practice agenda: Hitting

Parents, at home on your own Play pepper http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2lqU2ESp9Q Heavy ball/bag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nejmqy9Gu0Q (I use a little 3 pound ball)

Practice warm-ups

-2 laps around bases: Knee-highs x1, Butt kicks X1 -Stretches -Throwing --hand flick-20 reps, --Single knee throws ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l38EuwPz_o ) 20 reps --mini-long toss and pull down - ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3xwYIx17s )

Drills (station to station) --Back toss drill. About 5 balls per kid. Run at home plate and hit into the fence. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4x9_Jmo6ts ) --High-Low.Toss a ball high and low and call off which one to hit into the net. --Hit the batting buoy --Pepper. About 5 chop hits back to coach. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2lqU2ESp9Q

Competition Team scrimmage

9/23 Today's agenda: Split practice (pitchers with Coach, others with designated coach for team fielding drills)

Practice warm-ups

-2 laps around bases: Knee-highs x1, Butt kicks X1 -Stretches -Throwing --hand flick-20 reps, --Warm up arms

5-10 minute instruction Recap the game and the practice agenda.

Fielding drills Cover 2b: Practice steal throws at 2b. 2b and SS movements. Cover 3b: Practice steal throws at 3b. 3b and SS movements. Cutoffs: Practice right and left side cutoffs to 2b. Practice lead offs Practice flyball read and tag up.

Pitching drills Control versus power talk Transferring weight back foot to front foot. (lunges) Weight inside drive leg on leg left. Back pocket to wall Belt buckle to 3rd base (or first for lefties) on stride http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0- vOceb1Cho Finishing pitch: (head over knee, hand to ground, chest to glove) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRrA- nKuWrs chair drill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CahGQZWjbGY Throwing arm motion http://www.thecompletepitcher.com/pitching_drills.htm

Practice agenda: Fielding

Practice warm-ups -2 laps around bases: Knee-highs x1, Butt kicks X1 -Stretches -Throwing --Normal throwing for a few minutes to get arm warm

Drills (team drills) -Follow the ball --Throw-outs at first - (2b>1b)-(SS>1b>)-(3b>1b) --Double play - (2b>SS>1b)-(SS>2b>1b) --1st & 3rd - (2b>1b>3b)-(SS>1b>3b) --2b steals (for catchers) - (4b>SS)

Competition Team scrimmage

Today's agenda: Fielding

Practice warm-ups

-2 laps around bases: Knee-highs x1, Butt kicks X1 -Stretches -Throwing --hand flick-20 reps, --Warm up arms (5 minutes)

5-10 minute instruction Recap the game and talk about awareness.

Fielding drills Follow the ball, cover 2b: Practice steal throws at 2b. With kids rotating from SS > 2b > C. Kids make the throws from home to 2. Practice grounders at SS and 2b (throws to 2b and 1b) We will do this until they show us improvement/consistency.

Side drill (individual players) Catchers – … players here. Gear up and throw at them one at a time. Competition (depends on performance of drills) Two team fly ball challenge.

Big Al's three man throwing relay. Two team tag relays (first to 10) Running relay

Today's agenda: Hitting/Comp

Practice warm-ups

-2 laps around bases: Knee-highs x1, Butt kicks X1 -Stretches -Throwing --Single-knee throws-20 reps, --Warm up arms (5 minutes)

Drills Review 2b drills from monday Cover 2b for steal: Practice steal throws at 2b. (Coach will make throws from home) Turn 2: Practice grounders at SS and 2b (throws to 2b and 1b)

Competition (depends on performance of drills) Shotgun Scrimmage

What you can do at home for hitting: Pepper: Soft toss a baseball at about 10 feet and have them tap it back to you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2lqU2ESp9Q This helps with bat-eye coordination. It seems simple, but some of our lids have trouble with this. Soft toss: If you have a bucket of balls and a net or wiffles. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=OqdXA9bNkMA (If anyone wants to borrow the hitting buoy, you are more than welcome) Cages: Cae and some of the other kids like to go to stadium cages. They have different speeds 40 up to 70.

Today's agenda: Split practice (group A focus on hitting, Group B focus on pitching) Practice warm-ups

-2 laps around bases: Knee-highs x1, Butt kicks X1 -Stretches -Throwing --hand flick-20 reps, --Warm up arms

5 minute instruction Recap the game and the practice agenda.

Group A Hitting (kid names here …) Pepper Wiffles Hitting buoy or tee

Group B Bullpen session (Kid names here …) One catcher and pitcher at each bullpen. Rotate after 25 quality pitches.

Team drill Soft toss (with L fence) to Group A, Group B shag.

Practice warm-ups -2 laps, Stretches, Throwing

Drill recommendations T-work/Soft toss/heavy ball – Kid names Soft-toss/T-work – Kid names Bullpen sessions — Kid names. Throw+catch sessions — Kid names. Tag relay, follow the ball — everyone.

Competition Running relay + signs Shotgun

10/21 Practice warm-ups -2 laps, Stretches, Throwing

Drill (hitting and throwing) T-work – Kid names Pitching drills – Kid names Bullpen – Kid names 2b putout, Tag relay, follow the ball — everyone.

Competition Shotgun