Throwing: When throwing a baseball simple fundamentals are key. Something to immediately look for is proper rotation or spin of the ball when the player throws the ball. The ball should have back spin, not a twirling spin or side ways spin. Have the player concentrate on throwing the ball with two fingers (three fingers for smaller hands). The ball should be rested in the fingers, not the palm. Upon bringing the ball to the release point the fingers should be behind the ball and tips of the fingers should be on top of the ball. This will help create the proper spin, maximum speed, accuracy and keep the player's arm healthy.*An old rule was to throw from the ear (wrong unless you are a catcher throwing a runner out or have to make a quick throw) or show the ball to 2nd base (puts strain on the elbow). Think getting the arm long in a circular motion staying on top of the ball when throwing to gain velocity and throwing accuracy. When holding the ball allow fingers to stay behind the ball upon the release.
Warm-up throwing from knee-Ball starts from chest or stomach with glove tucked to chest, then to the lower thigh and is pulled back and up to the sky, throw and follow through to opposite knee. Upon standing up, proper mechanics continue with players following simple ball throwing rule, "thumb to thigh-take it to the sky". Also concentrate of player’s front shoulder pointed toward their target and foot landing toward their target as they throw.
Long Toss- Effective way to build arm strength. Have players take a small shuffle step prior to releasing the ball. Teach players to stay on top of the ball in order for the ball not tail and follow through using their legs.
GROUND BALLS:
Ground balls-Following simple rule; butt down, feet spread, head up, field ball in front of your body, limit bending at the waist. Alligator the ball by covering the ball with throwing hand as it enters the glove. Pink to Pinky, keeps both hands out in front of the body, once ball is in glove, ball is brought to the stomach and quickly transferred to throwing hand.
Cross fire drill- Have half of the team go to short and the other half go to second. One player from the group at second starts out at first base. A ground ball is hit to the short stop who fields and throws to first. After throwing the ball to first the player at short stop goes to cover third base. The player from first base runs around the group to the short stop line. A ground ball is hit to second base and the player throws across the diamond to third. The player from second goes to cover first and the player at third goes around to the line at second. Then start again with a grounder to short and keep the lines moving. This will give everyone time to field, throw and catch.
Drop ball drill and stopped balls- Players can be thrown a fly ball or rolled a ground ball. Upon correctly receiving the ball, players are instructed to toss the ball in front, behind or to the side about 3 feet. Upon doing so the player should go to the ball, picking it up between his/her legs with their front shoulder pointed at their target in throwing position. This will help allow pitchers and fielders field bunts, stopped balls and errors to get rid of the ball quickly.
Short Hops- Standing about 15 feet from the player throw a baseball at a variety of angles to the player. Throw balls in front of the player, increase the length the ball bounces in front of him to about 5 feet. Vary the arc and speed at which you throw the ball to help the player work on different types of hops. Balls can be thrown slightly to the left or right as progression is made. Vary the types of surfaces as well. Sometimes throw in grass and other times through in hard or soft baseball dirt. The focus is on mechanics. Head and butt should be down, while the glove starts on the ground. Chest should be forward with the legs spread just like they are fielding a ground ball. Once caught the player needs to bring the ball and glove to his stomach and into throwing position. Sometimes the ball may bounce and hit off of their chest or body. As long as the player’s learns to keep the ball in front of him then the drill is effective. Players need to work this drill in the correct manner so they get accustomed to doing this in games.
Short Stop & Second Base:
Flipping ball to another player (Double Plays)-After fielding the ball it should never comes above the waist, player should remain low almost in the fielding position, once the flip is made the player should follow their flip by taking two steps toward their target when possible. This will help with the accuracy of the flip. Place a group of players at short and another group at second. Hit balls to shortstop and have them flip to the player covering second. Once they flip they should be following their flip toward the bag. After the shortstop flips to second he/she rotates to second base line and second baseman will rotate to shortstop line. Do this from both sides of the bag.
More on Double Plays- When the ball is hit too deep for a flip work proper mechanics to "turn two". From short stop use the "knee in" to throw the ball to second base. Shortstop should properly field the ball on the triangle. The ball is brought to the stomach, right knee turns in the ball ball is quickly released on the throw to second baseman. At no time does the shortstop need to step or stand up right to throw the ball. From second base there are two approaches to use. The first will also be the "knee in" approach. This will be the same variation from the shortstop side except the left or glove knee will turn in toward second base. The ball should be brought back slightly and thrown to the shortstop covering the bag. The other way is the "jump turn". Once the second baseman fields the ball the ball is brought up and the player jumps standing up toward his glove side having his chest face toward second base. The ball is quickly released to the shortstop covering the bag.
Receiving the ball for Double Play- When either the short stop or second baseman are covering the bag both hands should be up around his/her chest in a thumb to thumb position. Once receiving the ball the throwing hand will be ready to take the ball from the glove and turn a quick and successful play.
First Base:
Receiving the ball- The first baseman should stradle the bag with both feet toward the corners while waiting for a throw from a position player. Upon the throw being made the first baseman must move his/her feet to accept the throw. The feet should go in the direction the ball is being received from (IE: third base-front of bag toward home, second base- back of the bag toward outfield). The first baseman should only stretch to get the ball if necessary and toward the direction of the throw. Once the ball is caught, get off of the bag so the ump knows you have it. If there is a bad throw the first baseman should allow him/her time to adjust his/her feet to make a catch or tag the runner. NEVER EXPECT A GOOD THROW, ALWAYS LOOK FOR A BAD THROW.Scoops- The coach should stand approximately 20 feet from the first baseman and throw balls in the dirt at various bounces to allow the first baseman to work on scooping the ball. This can be done from various angle as well (shortstop, second base, home).
Third Base:
Slow Rollers-Sometimes on bunts or weak hits up the base line at third the third baseman must aggressively charge the ball and make the throw to first on-the-run. As demonstrated the player must get to the ball quickly, take the ball by pushing the ball into the ground securing the proper grip on the ball. By not trying to scoop the ball up the player assures the ball will not roll up the wrist or a loose grip will occur. Once the ball is secured the player must take only one step and throw to first on the run.
Fly-Balls:
Catching a fly ball-Again keep it simple, hands out in front, use both hands when possible, thumb to thumb, cover the ball once in the glove. Balls above waist fingers pointed up, balls below waist fingers pointed down in Pinky to Pinky position. Don’t be afraid to start teaching kids how to catch a fly ball one handed away from their body, eventually they will have to do this. Work with fielders to "step to the ball" when catching a fly ball. This will assist the player with proper balance and allow the player to get into throwing position.
Quarterback drill- A player will stand facing the coach who will hold a ball ready to throw out a flyball. The coach will indicate left or right with the proper hand. The player will start running on an angle in that direction. The coach will then indicate the opposite direction after about 10 feet and the player will change direction never turning his back to the coach. The coach may then indicate again for the player to turn in the opposite direction as well. The coach will then throw a fly-ball in the direction the player is running. The fly-ball can go deeper than the player or shorter than the angle of the player running. Continued use will help players with tracking fly-balls.
Outfield:
Focused Outfield-Place defenders at each position on the field. Throw or hit balls into gaps and other areas of the outfield, allow the ball to stop rolling. Players will not react to go get the ball until the coach either blows a whistle or yells “GO”. Upon instructed the outfielder will go to the ball, the infielders will go to their respective areas of play (cut-off, back up, base). Once lined up and in proper position the coach will instruct outfield to thrown the ball into the desired cut-off or base. This will slow things down and allow players to learn where they need to be. This is a perfect time to work with pitchers on backing up bases and corner outfielders backing up throws.
Speed Pick-ups- The outfielder will take his/her place in the outfield position while a coach will hit a ground ball into the outfield. The player will charge the ball with his/her glove down and using only the glove he/she will field the ball off of the outside of the glove foot. The fielder will then transfer the ball to the throwing hand and take a "crow hop" and throw the ball into the infield at the desired base or cut-off. The outfield will need to round the ball so he/she can get into proper position to throw the ball.
(VIDEO COMING SOON)
