The Wheel

Wiffle BP

All Messed Up

Field 3

WARM-UP

 

Running drills:

 

Description: All players are side by side on a line. Players do the exercise on a 45 feet distance, going and returning.

 

Variations and progression:

A. Military walk

D. Cross steps, front and back

H. Sprint, baseball start

I. Backpedal run

 

Warm-up:

 

Description: Warming up with various exercises giving opportunities to stretch the body and prepare itself for baseball practice.

 

Throwing and receiving:

 

Exercise "The Wheel"

 

Description: In pairs, the players play catch using the proper mechanics.

 

Equipment: 1 “Incrediball” for each player

 

Variations and progression:

C. On both knees

D. On 1 knee (throwing arm's knee).

F. Execute 3 circles before throwing:

- small circle

- medium circle

- large circle

G. Add one step with the glove side (giant step), just before throwing.

 

HITTING

 

Exercise "Wiffle BP"

 

Description: With a coach standing in front of the player at 20 feet and throwing, simply ask the player to hit the ball.

 

Equipment: Various bats and balls (wiffle balls)

 

Players are usually set up as follows:

- 2 players hitting

- 2 players catching behind the hitters

- 1 player feeding balls to the coach

- rest of players in the field (gathering balls)

 

Players rotate (in pairs) from the field, to catching behind the hitters, to hitting, and finally back to the field.

 

After a coach has thrown the ball to one hitter, he/she immediately throws the next pitch to the other hitter.

 

Players rotate after each group has had 10-15 quality swings.

 

Key points:

Feet must be wider than shoulders

Hands high and back

Hands together on bat

 

BASE RUNNING

 

Exercise "Gimme 5"

 

Description: Place bases 30'-40' from players; 4 groups of 3. Players, in turn, take a swing at an imaginary ball, drop bat, run as fast as possible past their base, give the coach “high 5,” return to base as if running to 2B.

 

Equipment: Set of bases (4), bats (2)

 

Variation and progression:

A. Simulate a swing with a plastic or aluminum bat.

B. Hit a badminton birdie.

C. Hit a wiffle ball tossed.

D. Hit an object and run towards 1st base.

 

Key points:

Make sure players are running full speed across the bag, slowing down only after touching it.

 

RECEIVING

 

Exercise "All Messed-up

 

Description: In pairs with no gloves, players face each other about 6 feet apart. Stationary, players throw the ball up in the air, left, right and below the waist; the receiving player must catch the ball without moving their feet.

 

Equipment: Various balls

 

Variations and progression:

- Use gloves

- Use tennis balls

- Use foam balls

 

Key points

Put thumbs together when catching balls chest high or higher to the left and right

Put pinkies together when catching balls below the waist

Fingers always pointing to the outside

Catch the ball using both hands

 

Exercise "Field 3"

 

Description: Form 2 teams of 6  - 1 batter, 1 catcher, the rest are fielders.  Set up 2 separate activity areas at a safe distance apart. There will be 1 adult pitcher in each area for each group of 6. Set up bases on diamond.

 

Equipment: 2 bats, 2 balls, 2 sets of catcher’s equipment, 2 helmets, 2 sets of bases

 

One batter at a time bats off an adult pitcher, with one player in catching equipment.

 

When a fielder has successfully fielded 3 groundballs or has caught 1 fly ball, they become the batter.

 

- Players rotate positions.

- Make sure all players get an opportunity to bat and catch

 

GAME & GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

 

Exercise "Out"

 

Goal: Teach and explain to players how to make an out.

 

Description: Play a game and instruct players to touch the runners to make an out.

 

Variations and progression:

-Make a couple of teams and play mini-games using only one base.

-Play mini-game using 4 bases.

-Rotate the teams to change match-ups.

 

Key points:

Touch the runner with the ball before the runner touches the base.

 

Exercise "Ball/Strike"

 

Strike: A strike is when a batter swings and misses at a pitch or doesn't swing at a pitch that goes through the strike zone. It also counts as a strike if a batter hits a pitched ball into foul territory (see 'The Field'). This is called a foul ball.

 

Ball: A ball, the opposite of a strike, is a pitch that does not go through the strike zone, and the batter chooses not to swing at.

 

The strike zone is an imaginary area that is as wide as home plate and extends from the batter's chest to his knees.

 

To get a strikeout, the pitcher must throw 3 strikes to the batter before he throws 4 balls.

 

However, a batter can never strike out (be given a 3rd strike) on a foul ball.

 

If a batter gets 4 balls before he gets 3 strikes it is called a “walk” and the batter automatically goes to 1st base.