Lower Merion Little League

www.lmll.org

AboutGames&Practicesfor57yearolds: TeeBall,Rookies,&MinorsDivisionBaseball
This note summarizes how to run a game and a good practice for a lower division baseball team (57 year olds), including drills, what to focus on in games, safety, andgeneraladvicefromthecollectiveexperienceofgenerationsofLMLLcoaches. Contents: I. RunningaGame:ThingstoKnow II. RunningaPractice:ThingstoKnow III. ASamplePracticePlan IV. FiveUsefulPracticeDrills V. TeachingTheFourMainBaseballSkills

I.

RunningaGame:Thingstoknow
a. Pregame: Knowtherulesforyourdivisionsgames(aretherestrikeouts?Walks? etcetera). Haveaplayerrotationschemeforthefield(seebelow) Visitingteambatsfirst Baselayoutis45apart(roughlyisgoodenough)forTeeBalland Rookies(56yearolds),and60apartforMinors(7yearolds)andup. Batsinapileawayfromdugoutarea b. Onoffense/batting: Haveabattingorderandfollowit. Inteeball,coachatthebox.Onecoachstaysnearthebattingbox, placingtheballontee,helping(asneeded)withstance, encouragement,andensuringbatsafety.

Allages:Kidsseatedinbattingorderindugoutarea.Thisspeedsthe gameandisappreciatedbytheotherteam(forthatreason),shows parentsyouareorganized,keepsthemfromgoofingaround,andsoon. Bataroundrules.AllplayersbateachinninginMinors,Tee,and Rookies. Announcewhenyourlastbatterisup.InTeeandRookies,thelast batterclearsthebases. Batsafety.Nochildpicksupabatunlesshe/sheistoldtodosobythe coach.NoondeckbatswinginginLittleLeague. c. Ondefense/inthefield: Setkidsincorrectfieldpositionseveryinning.Evenifittakesan extraminuteortwo.Ifyouhave10players,theseare:P,1st,2nd,SS, 3rd,RF,RC,CF,LC,andLF.Outfieldersplayshort,coveringtheholes betweentheinfielders. Teachthemtherightpositionsandresetthem(gently)iftheywander aroundthefieldchasingtheball. Rotateplayerpositionsfrequently(notjusteachgame).Coachesassign positions,notkids. Startfieldpositionsdifferentlyeachweeksoeveryonegetsachanceat allpositionsastheseasonprogresses.Parentswillnoticeiftheirkid nevergotachanceat1st,etc.,astheseasonprogresses. Readypositions.Encourageplayerstobeinreadyposition(handon knees,eyesonbatter)beforeeachbatterhits. CoachesstandonfieldduringTeeballandRookiegames,encouraging readypositions,remindingfielderswheretothrowtheball,etcetera. Emphasizetheclosestpersongetsitfieldingrule.Constantly.This isasafetyrule,andisgoodbaseballtoboot. Plays.Throwsgoto1stbase.Makesurethe1stbasefielderiswatching theball,notthesky,grass,sos/hedoesntgetavoidablybonkedbythe incomingball. d. Endofgame/closing: Allgamesendwith2teamsmeetingonthefieldinpassinglineupwith goodgamehifives. Snacktime.Teamsshouldcircleupfora10minsnacktime(parent provided)afteragame. Saywhatplayersdidthatwasgoodthatgame.Positivefeedbackhasa tremendousimpacton57yearoldsenthusiasmandenjoymentofthe game,especiallyfromapotentialauthorityfigurelikeacoach.

 e. Playerrotationschemesinthefield: Coacheshavedifferentstylesforthis.Herearesomecommonmethods: Rotateplayerseverybatter,orevery3rdbatter(say),usingtheSor Snakescheme: RF CF LF 3B SS 2B 1B P RF Rotateplayerseveryinning,usingtheinthenoutrule(switching infieldandoutfieldpositions,movingoveroneinfieldpositioneach time).Workswellwith10players(5infield,5out). Schedulesorpresetrotationschemes.Coachtellsplayerswheretogo eachinning,rotatinginthenouteachinning.Takesanextraminuteor two,butkidslearnyourschemefast.

II.

RunningaPractice:ThingstoKnow
Plan.Haveaplanforpractice,andpayattentiontotime.Planscanbe justscratchedoutinthecaronthewayover,orfollowthesampleplan providedbelow(itemIII). Trainingtheparents.Start&endontime.Ifyoustartontime,parents will(morefrequently)showupontimetoo. Pacing.Kidsthisagehavehighenergybutlowstamina.Varythehigh effort(running)andlowereffort(throwing)activitiesevery10minorso. Waterbreaks.Payattentiontowaterbreakswhenitgetshot.Many shortwaterbreaksarebetterthanonelongerone. Names.Reintroduce/gooverplayersnamestostarteverypractice. Youandtheyneedtoknoweveryonesnamestomakepracticefun. Startphysical.Kidsarefullofenergywhentheyarrive,toomuchto focusonacoachtalkingaboutthegame.Startwithshortstretchingand ahighphysicalactivitynext,suchasrunningthebases(goodtostart with,warmsemup). Baserunningadvice:Runbasesinthecorrectdirection.Always. Baseballhustle.Teachkidstorun(hustle)everytimecoachcallsthem in,sendsthemouttothefield,whatever.NoPhillieeverwalksoutto hisposition! Breaktime.Checkwithparentssotheyknowwheretobenextweek, addresstheirquestions,andthelike.

III.

ASample60minutePracticeLayout
a. TeamMeeting(5min) Firstpracticedistributeuniforms,gameschedule,fieldmaps Players&coachesnamesdoeverypracticetostart Explaintodaysprogram b. Warmupandbaserunning(10min) Jogaroundbases Stretchasateam(2min)withcoach Runbasesfast,butonebaseatatime,oncoachesmark c. Throwing(10min) Demonstrategrip1min Show/reshowcorrectbodypositionand4throwingsteps (turn,point,step,andthrow)1min Bonkthebucketgamewithwholeteam d. Splitintotwogroupsforbattingandfielding(10min) Batting:Onecoachtakeshalftheplayerstooutfield: Do510hits/player(astimeallows), 11or12instructionwitheachbatter Otherbattersfieldthehitswhilewaitingturn Fielding:Othercoachworkswithrestofteamononeof: Fieldinggrounders: Rollgroundballstoplayers. Showrightgloveposition(downlow,outinfront) Chargetheball,catchandcoverwithotherhand Throwtocoach(pretendcoachisat1st) Hustlegame Catchingballs: Tossfromcoaches(&parent?)toplayers Playerslineup2armslengthapart,facingcoach Gloveinfrontofchest,fingersuporsideways Squeezeandfreezewhencatching Countgame(easy)orBallRelays(advanced) e. Reversethetwogroups(10min)coachesstayatsamespots! f. Positionsinstructionandclosing(5min) RunBreakgametoteachpositions,cooldownbeforeend.

Variations&notesonthesamplepracticeplan:
ClosewithawholeteamactivityliketheBreakgame.Playerpositions areagreatthingtoreviewasthelastiteminpracticeatthisage. Thereisneverenoughtimetoteachbatting,beingaoneononethingand onlyonetee.Thekidslookforwardtothisthemost,usually. After23practices,kidswillknowyourbasicpracticeplanandyouwill havetimetoteachafewmoreskillsateachstation.

Hereareusefulextensionstoworkintoyourpracticesovertime:
Runningright:Playersrunonballsoffeet,notonheels,inbaseball(and sprintinggenerally).Kidscallthistoerunning. Baserunning:teachtorunthru1stB,turnoutside,thenreturn.Butyou muststoponthebagat@2nd,3rd. Fielding:Spreadplayersoutandroll/hittothemwithoutcallingtheir names(teachesfocus).Teach:closestpersongetsit.Havethemthrowto anotherparent/coachstandingwhere1stshouldbe.Speedupsotheyre alwaysontheirtoes. Fielding:Switchtohoppinggroundballswithbetterplayers,ratherthan rollingthemonground.Startwithlight1hop(1bounce)tossesthatgo knee/thighhighandhavekidscatch&coverthose(yes,itshardforthemon the1stday,butmostareamazinggoodatthisbythe3rdtimetheypracticeit) Fielding:Switchfromthecoachrollingballstothecoachhittingballs (gently)partwaythrutheseason. Catching:Withbetterplayers,switchtolowthrowseveryothertosssokids learntoswitchfromgloveuptoglovedownbasedonincomingball height(toughforthematteeballage,easierastheyageandcoordination improves).

IV.

FiveUsefulPracticeDrills(Games)
BonktheBucket Putanemptybucketuprightonatee(takeoutneckinsertfirst). Lineupplayersbetween1st&3rdbaseacrosspitcherposition Playersthrowatbucketsimultaneously.Kidslikethisgame. Recommendations: Rollballsouttoallplayers,havethemfindgrip,thenwaitforcoach; Oncoachswords,players:TURN,POINT,STEP,andTHROWat thebucket.Paceappropriatelyforyourteam. Bigcheerifanyonehitsthebucket.Theylikethis.Really. Asstcoachhelpscorrectkidswhoneed11helpwithmechanics, bodyposition,andsoonduringthisdrill. Thisdrillteaches: Throwingaccuracy(essentialtobaseballatanylevel) Throwingmechanics&musclememoryofcorrectthrows. Listeningtocoach&instructions Success.

Hustle(ChargeIt)Game Lineupplayerssinglefile,orintwoparallellinesifaparentis availableaswell Rollballstoplayers,havethemfieldit,throwtocoach,andreturnto endofline. Fastmoving.Manyskills/lessonstoteachhere(below) Recommendations: Teachtocatch&coverballwhenfieldinggrounders,thenstand andthrow. Nodivingonballfielditontwofeet! Playersshouldchargeshortorslowmovingballs.Domanytoteach this.Iftwolines&even#ofplayers,makeagameofwhichlinecan fieldallitsgroundersfirstwithoutanoverthrowbacktocoach. Coachesshouldhaveapileofballsatfeet.Letoverthrowsgo.Keep itmovingfast. Withweakplayers,rollballsgently.Betterplayers:Rollfaster,or throwhoppinggrounders. Markastartlineforplayers(ortheywillcreepuptoyoufast).Use balls,orabat,tomarkwheretheystart.

Onthrows,emphasizecorrectprogression(turn,point,step,throw). Thisdrillteaches: Focus:Anticipatingaballsmovement Agility/bodymovement/balance Wheretothrowafterfieldingaball(1stbase!) CountGame Asimplecatchinggame.Lineupplayersarmslengthapart,all facingacoach. Coachunderhandtossesaballlightlytoeachplayerinsuccession (switchtooverhandafterafewpractices/whentheyareready) Count#ofconsecutivecatches,andseehowhightheteamcanget. Restartat1afteranyonedropsball.Trytogettoahighernumber thanbestonefromlastpractice. Recommendations: Startonly5awayfromplayers.Movebackasseasonprogresses. Allthrowstoplayerschest(abovewaist!)forfirstfewweeks.Then switchtothrowstoright,toleft,orhigherpopupcatches Emphasize:Correctgloveposition.Squeezeandfreezeoncatches. Thisdrillteaches: Eye/handcoordination. Properwaytocatchaball(bodyinfront,freezeoncatch,squeeze glovetightoncatchwithotherhandonbackofglovehelpingto squeezeimportantatthisage). BallRelays Amoreadvancedthrowing/catchinggameafterthecountgame haswornthinandplayerscanthrowsomewhatreliably. Divideplayersevenlyintotwogroups(say,4each).Positionintwo parallellines,eachplayerabout1020apart. Placeaballatthefootoftwoplayersatoneendofthelines. Oncoachesmark:Playerspickupball,throwtonextplayerintheir line,whothrowstonextplayer,tolastplayerinline,whoreturns throwtoplayerhe/shereceiveditfrom,whothrowsbacktonext playerinlineinreverseorder,andsoonbacktostartingplayer. Whicheverlinecompletesdrillfirstwins.Kidslikethisgame. Thenswitch2playersbetweenthelinestoeventeamsout,and repeat.

 Recommendations: Onoverthrows:Closestplayergetsit,thenmustthrowbackto thrower,whomustmakeagoodthrowtocontinuerelay. Teachkidstopauseandaim(pointglovearmout)foraccuracy beforethrowingball Startwithkidsclose(10orso),spreadoutastheygetbetter. Payattentionthatbothlineshavesamespacing,itisunfairif otherwiseandkidswillrealizeit. Thisdrillteaches: Throwingaccuracy Focusandattention Catching/eyehandcoordination Turnaroundtimematters BreakGame(learningfieldpositions) Asimple5mingametoteachplayerswheretostandproperlyinthe field,tobeinreadyposition,andtohustleoutandin. Assembleteamaroundcoachatpitchersmound. Haveteamclosetheireyes.Tellthemtoremembertheirposition. Tapachildsheadandsayauniqueposition(e.g.,3rdbase,center field,catcher,andsoon).Continuethruteamquickly. Wheneveryonehasauniqueposition,sayBreak Kidshustle(run)totheirpositionsandassumereadyposition (handsonknees,orhandingloveatmidwaistlikepros,readyfor theball). Seeifeveryonegetsitright.Correctmispositions(e.g.,teachthat2nd doesntplayonthebag,buthalfwaybetween1stand2nd). Callthemin,andrepeatwithnewpositionassignments. Runthisgamefast,ittakesonly5mintodoit5times. Recommendations: Kidsthisagehavetroublewithrightversusleft.Teach:Rightis behindfirst,leftbehindthird.Orforrighties,use:Rightisyour throwinghandside. Askidsgetbetter(after34practices):Teachcorrectinfieldfielding positions.For1st&3rd:Play5stepsinand3stepsback (approximatelyrightforkidsthisage.)ForSS&2nd,play5stepsoff 2ndbaseand3stepsback. Useassistantcoachestohelpoutfieldersfindrightpositionswhen theywanderandforget.

Enthusiasmforwholeteamssuccesswhentheyallgetitright. Kidswillforgetwhatyoutoldthemthefirstfewtimes.Bylater practices,theywillpayattentionandrarelyforget.Itworks,really. Thisdrillteaches: Visualization/spatialpositioning/memory. Attentiontothecoachsinstructions. Rightversusleft. Hustletofromassignments.

V.
1. Batting: Foursteps:Stance,Focus(eyeonball),Swing,Followthru Stance: o Feetinstraightlinetopitcher,shoulderwidthapart o Kneesslightlybent o Frontfootevenwithsidepointofplate(toconnectwithball infrontoftheplayer). o Frontfoot3steps(eachtheplayersshoelength)fromplate. o Check:Alevelbatswungwitharmsfullyextendedshould hitcenterofplateinwidestpartofbat.Kidstendtostandtoo closetoatee,andtoofarfromplateincoachpitch. o Checkfootplacementaftereveryswing.Ifstanceiswrong, thechanceofagoodhitisprettymuchzilch. o Recommendation:Markaperpendiculartoelineanda midlineinthebatterboxdirt(useastickifongrass,or anythingtomarkit)thatshowsbatterwheretolineup:Body overmidline,toesontoeline,sobatterisincorrect positiontohitballnearendofbatwitharmsfullyextended. Howtoholdthebat: o Fronthandgoesbelowbackhandingrip(remindem!) o Handstogether,nospacebetweenthem. o Knucklesshouldbelinedup(roughlyisOK) o Batslightlyoffshoulder,mostlyvertical.Donotwrapbat aroundheadorlayflatmakesswingslowandinaccurate. o Batsteady,nomovementstance(wigglingthebatisforthe pros,todistractapitcher.Notforlittleleaguers,).

TeachingtheFourMainBaseballSkills:ThingstoKnow

Focus. o TeeBall:PlaceballonTwithsamepositioneverytimee.g., aredletterEonEastonballsfacingstraightback.Tell batter:eyesonthe(e.g.)redEonball. o Alllevels:Kidslookawaywhenbatting,orblinkasball approachesplate.Headstaysdownthruswing.Correct everytimeifbatterlooksupearlyduringswing. o Teachingfocusatcoachpitchlevel:Putablackdimesizedoton halfofthebaseballs.Aftereachpitchaskthebatteriftheball hadadotonit.Whentheyreportwhichdoandwhichdont consistently,theyvegottheirfocusdown.Kidslikethis.Do firstwithoutswings,thenwithswingingatthepitch. Swing. o Shortstep(thestride)withfrontfoot.Backfootstays planted. o Swingdownthenlevelacross. o Armsfullyextended(elbowsalmostlocked)atpointofball contact o Headdown,chinmovesfromtouchingfronttoback shoulder o Rotatehipsopentofacepitcher o Frontleglocked(straight)atpointofballcontact Followthru. o Swinghardthruball,notjusttoball o Squashthebugwithfull90degreeturnofbackfoot.Back toesstillinplacefirmlyonground. o Headdownonplate,notlookingupatpitcherorhitball. o Finishwithhandsbetweenshoulderandtopofhead o Checkswingwiththreethingsinfollowthru:Balance,two handsonbat,headdownfacingplate. 2. Throwing: Thethrowinghabits/skillsyouteacha57yearoldwillstaywith him/her,andaffecttheirlifelongplay,morethananythingelseyou teachthem.Herearetheessentialsofgoodthrowing: Thegrip: o Teachkidstogriptheballwithfingers,insteadofgrabbing theballinthepalm.

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Teeage:threefingersontop,spreadout,pinkytuckedon side.Thumbonbottom. o Biggerhandedkidsthruadultsusefirsttwofingersontop, thumbonbottom. Propermechanicsofthethrow: o Bodystartssidewaystotarget o ArmsfullyextendedoutinaT:front(gloved)handpoints attarget,back(ball)handstraightback,thumbpointing down o Circularmotionaboveshouldertothrow o Throwingelbowshouldgoaboveshoulder,arminLshapeat apexofthrow. o Followthruwithwholebody,armcomesacrossasbody turns.Backlegcomesacrossfrontasweightshiftsduring release. o Eyesontargetentiretime. Watchfor: o Sidearmthrowers.Interveneandcorrectthis.Rotatorcuff injuriesareaheadforakidwhoreleasestosideofbody(as he/shegetsolder). o Lowelbowthrowers.Produceselbowinjuriesovertimeif notcorrected.Elbowgoesaboveshoulderwhenthrowing. 3.Catching: Focusofcatchingtrainingat57yearoldlevel:Catcheveryballwith twohandsongloveinthecenterofbody. Gloveposition: o Throwtokidsat(their)chestheight o Teachplayerstocatchwithglovefingerspointingupor sideways,andotherhandonbackofglove(tohelpsqueeze it).Thisshiftstoonehandedastheirhandstrengthdevelops age810,notbeforethen. o Squeezeandfreeze:After(if!)theballenterstheglove, squeezewithbothhandsandfreezethehands (momentarily)inplace.Kidstendtomovehandswhen catching,whichmakestheballpopout.(Tellparentsto showhowRyanHowardcatchesat1stbaseontelevision.His gloveismotionlessatthepointwhenhecatchestheball). o

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Forveryearlycatchers: o Startwithtwohandedcatcheswithoutaglove.Ifchildcant catchasoftunderhandtossfrom5withtwobarehandsmost ofthetime,thateyehandcoordinationmustbedevelopedto thatlevelbeforeabaseballglovewillbehelpful. o Askparentstoworkonthiseachweekfor15min(say,2x week)withtheirchild.Moreisbetter.Catchingcomeswith (andonlywith)practice,practice,practice. Forkidsscaredoftheball o Kidsmaybescaredofincomingballatanyspeed.Thisis expectedforballsathighspeed.Itisaproblemtoovercome ifexhibitedforsoft,easytosses. o Correctthisearly.Teachplayer:Ifscared,useglovetoblock ball.Theglovewillstoptheball.Donthidefromitthen youcantseewhereitis! o Gametohelpovercomethis:Blocktheball.Tosssoft underhandthrowstoplayerschestfromshortdistance(e.g., 5feet).Havethekidwhack(orblock)theballswith his/herclosedglovebeforetheyhit/getpasthim.Turnitinto agame(theyusuallylikethisexercise).Repeatoften,until theplayerseyesfollowtheballeverytimewithoutturning (averting)eyesorhead.Whentheydothisconsistently withoutexhibitingaversiontotheincomingball,thenthey arereadytocatchitwithaglove.Thenswitchtoblocking withgloveopeni.e.,catchingitinsteadofblockingthe ball. Aboutgloves: o Shouldberoundedshape,notflat. o Playersage56shouldhave9inchsizegloves,nevermore thana10inchsize.78yearoldswillusuallybenefitfroma 10inchglove.Sizeiswrittenontheglove. o Keepaballinglovewhennotinuse(maintainsshape). o Keepglovesinacool,dryplace. 4. FieldingGrounders Basicmechanics: o Fieldballinfrontofandbetweenlegs o Makeatrianglebetweentwofeetandglove o Funnelballwithtwohandsintomidsection(catchand cover)

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Comeupreadytothrow,feetinlinewithtarget. Generalpoints: o Teachkidstochargetheballifitisslow/rolling(butclosest persongetsit!) o Hoppingballsaredifficult.Teachbytossingonehoppersto kidsfrom10feetout.Requiresafieldnottoouneven. (Parentscanteachthisinaparkinglotoronpavement duringtheweek,whichhelpsandiseasiertofield) o Fieldinggroundballsrequiresrepetition.Teachwithrolled ballsforlongtimebeforehittingtothemkids. o

PlayBall!

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