Coaches Corner
Coaching
tips for First Time Coaches, Instructional Division
Bats are a safety issue...
Keep all bats in one place on the field. Keep one parent there to
supervise at all times.
Equipment will be lost...
Tell parents to put players' last name and phone number on all
personal equipment (i.e. under the bill of the cap).
Buying a glove...
Find out which hand the player can throw most accurately
with. Buy a glove for the opposite hand. Reccommmend a
glove that closes easily.
Players do not know the field...
For very young players, run them around the bases before
each game.
Home plate is the most dangerous position...
With young players, you may choose to eliminate the catcher
position. Always have a coach with the catcher to guard
against the following:
Batter throwing the bat
Upcoming batters swinging the bat
Catcher being hurt by runner from third
Young players are unfamiliar with the game
Your least experienced players need your best effort.
Parent's who are impatient with their own children...
Compliment their knowledge of baseball, "I see you know a lot
about baseball." Then ask the parent to coach a specific
position other than where their child is playing.
Rubber balls are a great training tool...
Tell the parents and players to practice with a rubber ball at
home. Rubber balls are safer and rebound back to them.
Teach your parents some cheers...
Long game, hot day? Use the cheering parents to energize the
defensive players.
Plastic sleeve for your team roster...
Your copy will get a lot of wear and tear. You also need to keep
your copy dry.
Bats are a safety issue...
Keep all bats in one place on the field. Keep one parent there to
supervise at all times (repeated for emphasis).
Call it alligator catching...
Have the players put their glove down close to the ground for
grounders. Also, have them position the other hand on the
heel of the glove. Otherwise, the ball may pop up and hit the
player in the face.
Teach players to run through first base...
Position a coach five to ten feet behind first base, and just
outside the base line, to give each player a high five as they run
through.
Call the ball...
Teach players to call the ball while catching grounders; calling
grounders makes it easier to teach them to call fly balls later in
the season.
Use a longer base path if possible...
Fifty to 60 feet between bases gives the defensive players time
to get the ball and complete the play. A longer base path also
gives you more room to place extra players in defensive
positions.
Assume all batters are going to throw the bat...
Place an object (i.e. a bat bag) down the first base line. Instruct
all batters to carry the bat to that object and drop the bat at
that point.
Parents who are critical of your coaching skills...
Admit you could use more coaches to help the team. Ask them
to help at the next practice.
Batting tips...
Repeatedly say, “Watch the ball until the ball hits the bat.”
If the player squares up to the plate, the ball will be hit to first
base. Instruct the batter to move the lead foot back from the
plate so the ball is not hit towards first base for an easy out.
Keep all bats in one place on the field. Keep one parent by the
bats to supervise at all times.
|
NEW BOOK! The The SOFTBALL COACHING BIBLE National Fastpitch
Coaches Association |
 |
Subject: Developing
Productive Hitters
by Mike Candrea
Stance
The stance, although cosmetic, can either help or hinder the
hitter's ability to see the softball. I urge any serious player
to have a thorough eye examination that includes testing for
depth perception. No matter how well the hitter performs the
mechanics, if her eyes are relaying bad information to her
brain, her chance of success decreases.
The stance shows the greatest amount of variety from hitter to
hitter. Great hitters have hit from every foot and hand position
imaginable. The primary purpose of the stance is to allow the
hitter to see the ball with both eyes and to allow her to arrive
in a position that creates balance and proper plate coverage. I
have found that whether the hitter's stance is open, closed, or
square, successful hitters stride to square position to get
maximum coverage. Depending on the hitter's dominant eye, the
proper stance can enhance her ability to see the ball with the
greatest amount of clarity.
Two other common characteristics that I have found in the stance
of effective hitters are flexibility and rhythm. A key element
to any athletic movement is balance. Without flexibility in the
ankles and knees, it is impossible to create a balanced and
powerful base from which to hit. It is important for the hitter
to keep her weight on the balls of her feet and not have her
weight falling to her heels. This flexibility explains why you
see many hitters in their prepitch routines bend at the waist
and touch the outside portion of the plate with the bat in their
bottom hand only. This routine is helpful in creating a balanced
base and also ensures that the hitter has proper plate coverage.
Rhythm is another key to hitters with high batting averages. The
ability of a hitter to create rhythm in her stance helps her
execute the stride. It allows the hitter to keep her body and
hands tension-free. Tension is a hitter's worst enemy. The
tighter she is, the slower her reaction is. The locking of any
body parts before contact causes extreme problems in the
execution of the swing.
Rhythm is much easier to demonstrate than to describe. Simply
put, a hitter who has rhythm can control her movements in
preparation and execution of the swing. The ability to control
movement and allow proper sequencing is the key to maximizing
power and efficiency. Rhythm is noticeable in great hitters. Any
movements made with the lower body or hands must be minimal and
controlled. The more movement a hitter has when preparing to
swing, the easier it is for the pitcher to disrupt her timing.
When I discuss rhythm with hitters, I stress that the hitter
should match her movement with the pitcher's movement. As the
pitcher moves toward the plate, the hitter must get into launch
position and secure her base for the execution of the swing.
This movement should be smooth and controlled. Many young
hitters wait too late to execute the loading phase; therefore,
they come in late and out of control.
The main purpose of effective pitchers is to throw off the
timing and rhythm of a hitter. The rhythm displayed by hitters
is slightly visible in the lower body and hands. The head, of
course, should always stay as quiet (still) as possible during
the initial stance.
As I mentioned earlier, the stance is purely cosmetic: Although
a hitter does not hit from the stance, a solid stance makes a
huge difference in how she sees the ball, the plate coverage she
achieves, and the preparation of her body and hands to attack
the pitch.
Stride
In my estimation, most of your coaching and teaching probably
centers around the next phase of hitting, the stride. The stride
is nothing more than a small movement that allows the hitter to
achieve a strong, powerful position to initiate the swing. There
are many terms used to describe this movement including stride,
trigger, load, and so on. The important fact of this movement is
that the hitter places her lower and upper body in a position
that allows her to generate a swing on time and on the proper
plane of the pitch, with maximum bat speed while managing some
degree of balance.
Through my years of teaching this phase of hitting, I have found
that many hitters make this move too late and create a base that
inhibits their ability to use their legs properly. A hitter can
never stride too early! The key to this movement is to
understand the proper sequence and the foundation the hitter is
trying to achieve.
As the heel lifts and the knee rolls slightly inward to initiate
the stride, the hands slightly move into the position from which
the batter launches the bat. Contact with the ground is made
with the inside of the foot.
The stride is completed by executing a short, soft step toward
the pitcher, maintaining a degree of closure with the front foot
(45 to 90 degrees in relationship to the plate). Contact with
the ground is made with the inside of the foot.
The lower body has maintained flexibility, the head is perfectly
still, and the hands are prepared to initiate the swing.
Common flaws that exist in the stride occur when the hitter
overstrides to a point that her weight must move forward,
causing her head to have excess movement. When the hitter
attempts to load her hands as she strides, it creates a
separation of her power base (hands and weight, moving in
opposite directions at the same time). Therefore, it is very
important to load the hands before moving the stride foot.
The final point I would like to make regarding the stride foot
is that the heel must get down to the ground to allow a firm
base (front side) to hit against as the hitter begins the
explosive movement of the swing. Many hitters do not actually
move their stride foot forward but rather pick it up and put it
down, or they just execute the loading phase and then hit. This
type of hitter usually spreads her initial stance to achieve a
balanced and powerful position. I have found that hitters move
into a strong hitting position or start in that position.
Swing
After the hitter has achieved a good base from which to hit, it
is time to execute the swing. The swing is initiated by a
sequential unlocking of body parts. Powerful hitters unwind from
the bottom up with a combination of linear and rotational
movement. The back side rotates against a firm front side. The
word firm is important: If the hitter locks the front side, her
weight actually moves back as she executes the swing. This
movement does not allow the hitter to create a positive weight
shift that delivers her energy toward the contact point. When
locking occurs, I like to use the term negative movement
(hitter's weight is moving away from the contact point).
If we divide the body down the middle from the head through the
belly button, the front side of the body supplies the direction
while the back side provides power. This principle is the same
when you are teaching proper throwing mechanics. Let the back
side knock the front side out versus using the front side to
pull the back side through.
A key element of generating the proper leg and hip action is the
position of the back (pivot) foot. By watching the pivot foot on
contact, you can tell what kind of weight shift occurred by the
position of the heel of the pivot foot. Another key is the
position of the back leg: L-shape versus straight leg. We like a
hitter to have her heel up at contact. This tells me that she
has achieved a positive weight shift. The closer the heel is to
the ground, the more weight remains on the back side and is not
transferred to the contact point. Some hitters actually finish
on the toe of the pivot foot. This habit is common for hitters
who hit off their front foot-for example, Laura Espinoza. Front
foot hitters need to be strong in the upper body and gifted with
great hand-eye coordination. Obviously, Laura has both, as she
is the NCAA leader in home runs. As long as the hitter can
achieve a positive movement to the contact point, the pivot foot
takes care of itself. I have found more young hitters who have
worked so hard pivoting that they actually overrotate, forcing
their front sides to fly open and create a long swing.
Now that we understand that the legs lead the swing (unwind from
the bottom up), it is time to discuss some key elements of the
hand action to the contact point.
The bottom hand (the pull hand) sets the plane of the swing; the
top hand (the throwing hand) finishes the swing. Both hands work
together and have equal importance. Successful hitters keep
their hands relatively close to their bodies and have a knack
for controlling the barrel of the bat.
I use the phrase Throw your hands inside the ball. If the hitter
is going to deliver the barrel to the ball, her hands must be
inside the ball. Hitters who always try to hit the outside of
the ball often have poor results. The only pitch hit on the back
of the ball is the inside pitch. All other pitches are contacted
on the inside half of the ball.
Some common attributes of the upper body in good hitters are:
Hands are held in a strong position to throw the bat head
(barrel).
Hands are at the top of the strike zone. I like the bottom hand
at the top of the strike zone.
Bat is held at 45-degree angle. Stay away from extremes, like
the bat positioned perpendicular, flat, or wrapped behind the
head.
Elbows are down.
Lead arm forms an L.
Both arms form an upside down V.
Front side is soft.
Front shoulder is slightly lower than back shoulder.
Wrists are in an active or cocked position to allow a throwing
motion.
One of the easiest ways I have found to describe the proper hand
action that results in a short, compact swing is to isolate the
bottom hand. When the batter holds her bottom hand in the
hitting position, her lead arm has three joints: shoulder,
elbow, and wrist. When the hitter unlocks in the proper
sequence, the first joint to move is the shoulder, then the
elbow, and finally the wrist. Another cue I use: I ask the
hitter to imagine she is drawing a line through her chest with
her bottom hand, then executing a karate chop to the contact
point.
This skill is easier to demonstrate than to describe. If you
watch a successful hitter from the pitcher's circle, you notice
the first movement is her elbow, then the knob of the bat, and
the last thing to arrive is the barrel. Proper sequencing of the
lower and upper body produces a key ingredient of great hitters
known as bat lag. The barrel of the bat stays very close to the
hitter's back shoulder as the hands are delivered toward the
contact point. If the bottom hand does its job properly, the top
hand takes care of itself.
As the bat head arrives at the contact point, the arms maintain
flexion, contact is made, and the hitter extends through the
ball. A common flaw is when hitters reach extension before
contact, therefore losing bat speed. A hitter's hand position at
contact is usually from palm-up/palm-down in the lower position
of the strike zone to backhand-of-the-bottom-hand/palm-of-
the-top-hand in the upper portion of the strike zone. The
rolling of the wrist is a follow-through motion and should not
be overemphasized.
Contact points vary depending on the location of the pitch. I
actually put three balls on the ground that signify the proper
contact points for the inside, middle, and outside pitch. A key
coaching point for proper contact is the following:
For an inside pitch, the barrel is in front of the hands.
For a middle pitch, the barrel is even with the hands.
For an outside pitch, the barrel is behind the hands.
As the hitter completes the swing, her hands should finish
somewhere around her front shoulder. Hitters vary with the
location of their follow-throughs, either above the shoulder or
at the shoulder. The follow- through should allow the hitter to
maintain balance and assure a quality head position.
Read More From This Great Book......Click Here »
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Does Your "Coaching Toolbox" contain the "Ultimate
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These pages may be given out freely to players and coaches with the
following credit, please:
Developed by Richard Todd
coach@webball.com
Welcome to WebBall, the first
Baseball Skills Clinic
to provide one-page printable tips and drills for coaches and players.
How to play the field
By The Dudley Staff |
| Like hitting, fielding
doesn't seem to be a great mystery. Knowing the "job" of your position
and playing as a team is all there is to it.
But it doesn't always work that way out there...a
team's fielding can weigh heavily on the games outcome; even more so
than hitting. You spend half of your game fielding and you can stop even
the best hitting team dead in their tracks with a good fielding defense.
Communication is a major key to both fielding and
teamwork. When there's a hit, if everyone's communicating, then everyone
in the field can keep their eyes on the ball and do their fielding jobs,
be it shortstop, centerfield, second base, etc.
Here are some tips that can improve fielding for
teams and individuals:
- Work out some gestures, signals, keep the
communication on the field.
- Pick somebody to let everyone know where the
play is, how many outs, etc (i.e. catcher or short stop)
- Get ready as soon as it looks like the pitcher
is going to put one in there.
- Keep knees slightly bent.
- Always have your glove at the ready.
- Always keep eyes on the ball.
- Maintain balance.
- Watch the ball from the pitcher's hand to the
catchers glove (or off the bat).
- Watch the ball enter your glove (or your team
mate's)
- At practice: vary the hits, even throw in some
crazy ones so that your fielders are ready for anything.
--The Dudley Softball
Staff |
Tee Ball Tips
(2003-10-13)
The starting point for any hitter is finding the right bat size. Have the player grip the bat at the end of the handle and lift it with one arm, fully extended, straight out from their body. They should be able to hold it level with the ground for three seconds without wobbling or shaking. If not, find them a lighter bat.
|
(2003-06-03)
Young players don't pay attention to others around them when they swing a bat. For the safety of your players, set a rule during the first practice that no player is to pick up a bat unless instructed to do so by a coach and then enforce the rule. Also remind your players to never go near another player who is holding a bat.
|
(2003-10-13)
A good training aid at practice can be useful in helping a beginning batter learn the proper stance in the batter's box. Try using a flat piece of rubber approximately 19' long and 5' wide, like the flat pitching rubber that is included with many throw-down practice base sets. Place the aid in relation to the tee where you want the toes of the batter. This will allow the player to assume the proper batting position with minimal assistance.
|
(2003-10-13)
Let the batters practice pivoting their back foot by pretending to "squish a bug". By pivoting the back foot during their swing, the batter will generate more power using their hips and have fun learning how.
|
(2004-12-28)
Many young players get excited and throw their bat after a hit. That can be dangerous for the other players if not corrected. An easy remedy is to place a glove near the tee during practice and have the batter drop their bat on the glove when starting to first base. After a few repetitions they will do it without being told. J. Hamilton |
|
|
|
(2003-10-13)
For
beginning
players,
it is
helpful
to use a
rhyme to
help the
players
remember
the
proper
throwing
motion.
Say
"Nose,
Toes and
Throws"
as they
practice
throwing.
"Nose"
is for
looking
at the
target
before
throwing.
"Toes"
is for
stepping
toward
the
target
with
their
glove-side
foot and
"Throws"
is for
throwing
the
ball. It
works!
Have
them
begin
their
throwing
motion
with
their
glove-side
shoulder
facing
the
target
to force
them to
turn
their
shoulders
as they
throw.
|
(2003-10-13)
To
develop
accuracy,
use a
fun
drill
that
will
make
them
want to
practice.
Take a
5-gallon
bucket
and lay
it on
the
ground
with the
open end
facing
the
player.
Have
them
practice
throwing
into the
bucket
using
their
throwing
technique
(Nose,
Toes and
Throws).
You will
see a
huge
difference
in their
accuracy.
The best
part is,
it's a
lot of
fun. The
kids
won't
even
know
their
practicing.
|
(2003-10-13)
With
groups
of three
or four,
teach
beginners
how to
field by
showing
them the
proper
hand and
body
position
for
fielding
grounders.
With
their
gloves
off,
have
them
hold
their
hands in
front of
them and
place
their
pinkies
side-by-side,
in a
cupped
position.
Next,
demonstrate
for them
how to
bend
their
knees
and get
their
hands
near the
ground
while
keeping
their
pinkies
together.
Remind
the
players
to keep
their
backs
straight
as
possible.
With
their
gloves
still
off,
hand
roll
grounders
to them
from
eight to
ten
yards
away.
Roll it
as slow
as
necessary
for them
to be
successful.
By
starting
this
drill
without
gloves,
it
allows
the
players
to see
the
correct
hand
position
during
fielding.
Let them
have
several
turns
and then
try it
with
their
gloves
on,
using
the same
hand
positions.
|
(2003-10-13)
To help
young
players
develop
quick
hands
and
learn to
hussle
for a
past
ball,
use a
fun
drill
that
encourages
speed.
Have
three or
four
players
line up
side-by-side
with
enough
space
between
them
that
they
can't
touch
each
other
with
their
arms
out.
From
about
ten
yards
away
have a
coach
hand-roll
balls to
each
one, in
order,
as many
times as
possible
in one
minute.
Do it
again
and try
to
increase
the
number
each
time you
do it.
Have
them run
for past
balls
and make
it fun.
|
(2003-10-13)
Remember that beginning players will not know to run to first base when the ball is hit. Try something very simple that teaches base running. At the end of every practice, line up all the players on the first base side of home plate. During their first practice just let them take one turn running to first base, all the way around the bases and back home without stopping. Make sure the players in line at home plate are not blocking the runners path as they finish. With each practice, add something new like base coaches at first and third stopping the runners randomly at different bases. This will get the players to watch their coaches for instruction and reinforce the need to be on a base when they stop. Later, let them hold a bat before they start and be sure they drop it at the plate when they run. Make them start over if they sling the bat more than three feet from the batters box.
|
(2003-10-13)
One sure way to get runners in the habit of running through first base after an infield hit is to have a base coach give the runner a hand signal. The coach should give the signal while the player is running toward first base after a hit. The signal could be something simple like holding one or both arms straight up in the air. Have the base coach stand about four feet past first base and give the runner a "high five" as they pass. Have the player run seven or eight feet past the base.
|
(2003-10-13)
Line your team up on the first base side of home plate for a base-running drill. Before each player runs, ask them where a different base or field position is located. For example, ask the player "where is center field"? After a correct answer, or a simple point of the finger, let the player run the bases. Let each player have one or more turns. This will help them remember where all positions are located and that will make it easier to get them in the right spot during games. They think running bases is fun. |
|
|
|
(2003-10-13)
Keep
meetings
with
players
and
parents
brief
since
young
kids get
restless
quickly
and
create
distractions.
To
communicate
important
information
such as
league
rules,
game
schedules
and
uniform
information,
use
handouts
that the
parents
can read
later.
|
(2004-12-28)
One sure
way to
build
team
unity is
to teach
your
players
to
support
their
own
teammates.
Have
each
player
learn
the same
"high
five".
Keep it
simple
such as
two
smacks
of the
hand or
maybe a
forearm
bash. If
everyone
knows
and uses
the same
one it
can
create a
positive
team
spirit
and the
kids
love it.
|
|
T-Ball
Articles
T-Ball -
Important
Time in
a Young
Players
Development
by
Lar
Gilligan
For a
young
player,
T Ball
is the
first
step in
organized
baseball.
Most
towns
supply
the
players
with
hats and
shirts
that
give the
player a
sense of
being on
a team.
While
players
are
getting
ready to
hit
their
first
single,
coaches
are
dusting
off
their
old
gloves
and
clip-boards.
T-ball
is the
building
block of
the
future
of your
Little
League
and high
school
teams.
Teaching
the
proper
mechanics
will
give a
child
confidence
on the
field
and off
the
field.
As a
coach
and as
parent,
you are
responsible
to pass
as much
good
information
as
possible.
Tee's
are for
babies.......why
don't
you say
that to
a Major
League
Player ?
I
often
refer to
the tee
as a
hitters
best
friend.
When I
was in
higher
levels
of play
(college
and pro
ball)
working
off a
tee each
day was
mandatory.
As a
young
player
my
father
made
sure I
worked
off a
tee.
Although
I wasn't
convinced
until my
freshman
year at
the
University
of
Tennessee.
It was
at UT
when I
met one
of the
greatest
hitters
of
baseball,
Don
Mattingly.
Don
worked
out with
me and
shared
the
importance
of
hitting
off a
Tee.
Mattingly
told me
how each
day
before a
game he
would
hit off
the tee
for two
hours.
Batting
Mechanics:
In
order to
use the
batting
tee
correctly,
a player
or coach
must
know the
proper
mechanics.
I will
go over
two key
steps to
focus
on.
Step
1
Have you
ever
heard
the
phrase,
"Keep
your eye
or head
on the
ball?"
Well
it's a
true
statement,
but do
coaches
really
instruct
or just
say it?
During
practice
have the
young
player
swing
off the
tee. The
batter
will
swing
and
after
contact
the
player's
head
should
be
resting
near the
back
shoulder
starring
down at
the tee
he just
struck
the
ball.
This
will
teach a
player
what is
referred
to in
professional
baseball
as Head
Discipline.
Step
2.
Swinging
Down
(not
level) -
Young
hitters
love to
try to
hit fly
balls.
Lifting
the ball
off the
tee is
especially
bad for
young
hitters
learning
to swing
the bat.
A Major
League
hitter
swings
down at
the
ball. He
does
this
because
it gets
him to
the ball
faster.
When a
ball is
pitched,
a
downward
swing
creates
back-spin.
Depending
on where
you hit
the
ball, a
hitter
will hit
hard
line
drives,
singles,
doubles
and
homers.
Look at
big
league
hitters
on deck.
They are
constantly
swinging
downward.
Since
a ball
on a tee
has no
movement,
the
proper
mechanics
of
swinging
down on
a tee
should
produce
low line
drives
and hard
hit
ground
balls.
You may
find
this
type of
T-Ball
not as
entertaining
as
hitting
high
pop-ups.
Remember,
allowing
students
to
continue
incorrect
mechanics
will
expose a
player
later in
Little
League
and
discourage
him or
her to
play to
the next
level.
Always
remember
the idea
of
T-Ball
is for
young
players
to have
fun,
learn,
and
prepare
for the
next
level of
play.
Article
provided
by Lar
Gilligan
-
two-time
All-American
and
former
Chicago
White
Sox and
St.
Louis
Cardinals
organization
player. |
A Good
T-Ball
Practice
Schedule
by
Karl M.
Cunningham
You
will
never be
satisfied
or know
for sure
whether
you are
teaching
them too
much or
not
enough.
Chances
are
both. At
T-Ball
you have
some
kids who
love the
game and
are
talented
mixed in
with
recreationalists
who are
their
for
entertainment
and who
know
what
else.
I
recommend
that you
make
some
games
that
reinforce
basics.
Start
with
running
the
bases in
order -
have the
kids
yell the
base
when
they hit
it and
just go
all the
way
around.
You will
tire
them out
and
teach
them the
bases.
If you
can get
some
parents
to play
with
them
they
will
have
more fun
(plus
the
family
thing
and the
exercise
thing).
Next you
might
teach
them
when to
run
situational,
that is,
on
grounders
when
forced,
on
pop-ups
after
tagging
up. So
you get
a
partner
to toss
the ball
to you
either
in the
air or
on the
ground
after
you tell
them how
many
outs
there
are and
they run
accordingly.
Start
out with
simple
situations
then
move on
to
decision
making.
The
base
running
can keep
you busy
for
several
practices
alone
but you
should
break it
up with:
Pick-ups
and
Catch.
Again,
get
parents
to work
on the
pick-ups
with the
kids,
otherwise
it will
not do
any
good.
Just so
you know
-
pick-up
is a
simple
drill of
slow
rollers
back and
forth
that
gets the
kids
shuffling
their
feet
side to
side and
picking
the ball
with two
hands in
front of
them.
Don't
let them
field it
to the
side.
The
"roller"
is not
suppose
to try
to fool
the
player,
just
easy
rolls to
help the
kid go
back and
forth.
This can
be a
game by
seeing
which
kid can
field 20
rolls
fastest.
Oh, the
fielder
just
underhand
tosses
back to
the
roller
who is
only 6-8
feet
away.
Catch
can also
be
turned
into a
good
game.
Since
their
ability
to catch
and
throw
accurately
is very
limited,
the game
may have
to be
more of
a
judgment
on form.
When we
do
catch,
we have
one line
of kids
line up
on the
outfield
foul
line and
the
other
line
making
perpendicular
throws
to this
line.
The
games
can be
consecutive
throws
without
touching
the
ground
(this
doesn't
last
long) or
you can
put one
line
against
the
other by
checking
their
form.
-
did
they
point
their
elbow
and
shoulder
at the
target
-
did
they
reach
back
properly
-
did
they
grip
the
ball
properly
-
did
they
follow
through
-
did
the
receiver
keep
his
elbows
in and
catch
with a
vertical
glove
-
did he
move
to the
ball
They are
only
allowed
to throw
on
command
and even
though
it is
difficult
to watch
them all
you can
get
parents
to help
and you
can
usually
encourage
them
that it
is very
close
and they
are all
improving.
The
point
is, when
they are
competing
they
will
listen
and try
to do
things
properly.
For
batting,
I
recommend
you hit
into a
net with
these
kids.
You can
have
somebody
working
with
them on
this
while
the
other
kids are
doing
the
other
drills.
Put a
string
across
the net
that is
just
slightly
above
the
point
where
the ball
sits on
the T.
The goal
of the
kids is
to hit
all
their
balls
UNDER
the
string
yet not
on the
ground
(low,
sinking
line
drive).
If you
have a
second T
you can
place it
behind
the
actual
hitting
T so the
kids
have to
come
down
onto the
ball
properly.
Anywise,
one
parent
can keep
quite
busy
with the
kids
batting
and
giving
them
some
individual
attention.
This
article
provided
by Karl
M.
Cunningham.
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