How to Maximize Your Baseball Practices
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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author. PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ii DEDICATED TO ••• All baseball coaches and players who have an interest in teaching and learning this great game. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to\ thank the following individuals who have made significant contributions to this Playbook. Luis Brande, Bo Carter, Mark Johnson, Straton Karatassos, Pat McMahon, Charles Scoggins and David Yukelson. Along with those who have made a contribution to this Playbook, I can never forget all the coaches and players I have had the pleasure tf;> work with in my coaching career who indirectly have made the biggest contribution in providing me with the incentive tQ put this Playbook together. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS BASEBALL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS ......................................................... 1 FIRST MEETING ............................................................................... 5 PLAYER INFORMATION SHEET .................................................................. 6 CLASS SCHEDULE SHEET ...................................................................... 7 BASEBALL SIGNS ............................................................................. 8 Receiving signs from the coach . 9 Sacrifice bunt. 9 Drag bunt . 10 Squeeze bunt. 11 Fake bunt and slash . 11 Fake bunt slash hit and run . 11 Take........................................................................................ 12 Steal ........................................................................................ 12 Stealing third base. 13 Hit and run. 13 Run and hit ................................................................................... 14 First and third double steals. 14 Visual signs with runner(s) on base. 15 Signs for the infielders from the dugout. 15 Signs for the outfielders from the dugout . 16 Signs for the first baseman from the dugout. 16 Signsforthecatcherfromthedugout. 16 Signs for the pitcher from the dugout. 17 Signals between catcher and pitcher. 17 OFFENSIVE SIGN STRUCTURE . 20 STRUCTURED BASEBALL PRACTICE SESSIONS ..................................................... 23 Preparation of daily practice schedules. 23 Pre-practice schedule ...........................-. 26 Meeting prior to practice. 27 Stretching program. 27 Warming up. 27 Availability of equipment. 28 Batting practice . 28 Defensive work in practice . 37 Conditioning work in practice. 37 Simulated situations . 40 Defensive practice check list. 41 Scrimmage game practice. 45 Pitchers control chart ........................................................................... 51 Production rating chart . 53 OUTFIELD-INFIELD DRILL. 57 Basic one ball outfield-infield drill . 57 Multiple ball outfield-infield drill. 58 MANAGERS RESPONSIBILITIES - PRACTICE. 66 FUNDAMENTAL DRILL SERIES . 68 Drill series number 1 . 70 Drill series number 2. 88 BUNT DEFENSE ................................................................................ 104 Runner at first base- standard play ................................................................. 106 Runner at first base- second baseman early break ..................................................... 108 Runner at first base- first baseman early break ........................................................ 110 Runner atfirst base- Pick-off early break ............................................................. 112 Runner at first base- Pick-off from pitcher ............................................................ 114 iv Runners atfirst and second base ................................................................... 116 Standard play ............................................................................... 116 Shortstop early break ......................................................................... 118 Pick-off early break ........................................................................... 120 DOUBLE STEAL DEFENSE ....................................................................... 122 Throw back to pitcher ........................................................................... :124 Fake throw by catcher ........................................................................... 126 Throw through by catcher ........................................................................ 128 Throw to shortstop ..............................................................................134 Steal on stretch ................................................................................136 Intentional pick-off ............................................................................. 137 DEFENSIVE SITUATIONS ........................................................................ 139 PICK-OFF PLAYS ............................................................................... 200 Signal system .................................................................................200 Pick-off plays atfirst base from the pitcher. ...........................................................202 Pick-off plays at second base from the pitcher .........................................................203 Pick-off plays at third base from the pitcher ...........................................................204 Pick-off plays from the catcher to the infielders ......................................................... 205 RULES FOR FORCE PLAYS IN THE INFIELD ........................................................ 207 RULES FOR CUT-OFF PLAYS ..................................................................... 209 FLY BALL COMMUNICATION FROM THE INFIELDERS ................................................ 213 FLY BALL COMMUNICATION FOR ALL FIELDERS .................................................... 215 INFIELD COMMUNICATION ....................................................................... 219 DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT BY THE COUNT .......................................................... 222 BASERUNNING ................................................................................ 225 SLIDING ...................................................................................... 259 Teaching area and dress .........................................................................259 Bent leg slic;le .................................................................................259 Pop-up slide off the bentleg slide ...................................................................260 Hook slide ....................................................................................261 Breaking up the double play slide ..................................................................261 Head first slide ................................................................................262 BASIC RUNNING FUNDAMENTALS ................................................................ 263 SPRINT FORM DRILLS .......................................................................... 264 FIRST BASE COACH GUIDELINES ................................................................. 265 THIRD BASE COACH GUIDELINES ................................................................ 267 HITTING ...................................................................................... 269 Bat selection ..................................................................................270 Grip on the bat .................................................................................270 Knuckle alignment .............................................................................270 Position in the batter's box ........................................................................270 Feet in stance .................................................................................271 Knees in stance ................................................................................271 Waist in stance ................................................................................271 Shoulders in stance .............................................................................271 Head and eyes in stance .........................................................................271 Arms, elbows and hands in stance ..................................................................271 Inward rotation ................................................................................272 Stride ....................................................................................... 272 Hips on the swing ..............................................................................272 Front shoulder on the swing .......................................................................272 Head and eyes on the swing .......................................................................272 Weight distribution .............................................................................273 Rear foot. ....................................................................................273 Bat arc ......................................................................................273 HITTING: COMMON FAULTS AND CORRECTIONS .................................................... 274 Mental factors .................................................................................276 Physical factors ................................................................................277 v ISOLATED HITTING DRILLS ...................................................................... 287 HITTERS EVALUATE THEMSELVES ...............................................................