78th Precinct Youth Council 
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The following are the notes distributed at our annual coaches’ clinic held by a former Board member, John Ottavino. It is a summary of what he instructs on a DVD we make available to all coaches and parents. We strongly recommend coaches, assistant coaches and parents to review these notes and the DVD. It is in two parts: The first is about the basics; the second is about more advanced skills, including pitching, advanced hitting, base running (and stealing strategies), and managing. Peewee & Lion Divisions The Drills Games and Skills Handouts are located on the Pee Wee or Lions' home pages. March 14, 2001 You are not coaching baseball. You are coaching a game that is like baseball and is designed to teach the fundamentals of baseball to very young players. Every player wants to do well. Most players want to please their coach, their parents and to think well of themselves. Sometimes these three parties have different ideas about what is pleasing. In order to please, they must know clearly what is expected of them and have a clear idea about how to go about giving it. They must understand what your team’s priorities are. Therefore you must know what your priorities are as a person who is coaching very young ball players. The clearer you are in your own head about what you want and how a player can give it to you, the more likely it is that your players will give it to you. Baseball is a game that is won by consistency. While the spectacular play is cheered the loudest, the most consistent ball player is the one that helps the team the most. Consistency is the product of sound fundamentals, practiced repeatedly. To get consistency you must be consistent, set goals, develop interesting ways to make those goals into habits and KISS (KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID). I believe my job is to make ballplayers , to get the most out of any player I coach & to give him or her the skills needed so that they can play for as long as they choose. Anyone can play until they reach the 90’ field. Baseball is a game of odds. I therefore coach them to take intelligent risks – that is, risks that tilt the odds of success in their favor. Finally, because mistakes are going to be made, I beg them to make the mistakes that come of doing too much rather than the mistakes that come from doing too little. Rules of the game: Read the rules. Think about the rules, know the rules - & bring them with you. No one gets cheated. If you learned the rules by watching and playing, you don’t know them. Peewee, Lion Running rule - when ball is released. Pony rule - when breaks plane of infield, Cub Stealing rule - when catcher has it. How to Teach Fielding: Step One - Tour the Field - “Run To” Drill (Warm-up) Fly balls: Catch with your chest - Tennis ball drill Run to the ball with your glove down - Get to the spot Never (almost) break in Pass patterns. It’s Up Ground balls: Catch with your belly button. Beat it with your knee - Get to the spot - then charge. Fast feet, slow hands. Fast fast fast slow. Jaws of death (alligator’s mouth) - pop & pull drill Field near your throwing foot & move throwing foot first Pick up stopped ball with two hands - no bare hand plays Line drives or thrown balls: Catch with your chest Welcome the ball - (don’t back off the ball) - Receive with two hands out front Alligator’s mouth - Not as fast as you can, but as soon as you can. Expect a bad throw. Move your feet to the ball. Make the thrower look good. Fingers up above the belly button, fingers down below the belly button - Elbows always close to the body Turn to your glove side Tagging Tag low (with back of glove and two hands) Touch and turn Throwing: What is the target? Throw to the chest. Point to the target & Horsy Horsy Throw will make the thrower stay closed to the target - elbow up? No rainbows. Two hops is faster than a lollipop Throw two bases ahead of the lead runner TEACH MOM HOW TO THROW - beanbags and rolled up socks Hitting: Bat weight - Light is good. Lighter is better - Choke up to keep barrel tracking, - How to test for weight Grip: Hold bat in fingers Hold bat loosely The hips lead the arms, the arms lead the bat - Elephant’s head - a loose relaxed effortless thing. Stance Climb on the bike - balance Hands in the box - close to the back ribs or farther back. Swing from the ear. Bat up or flat, but not around the head. WHY? Because of the leveraged weigh of bats. See the ball Which way are the red strings spinning? Chin goes from shoulder to shoulder - keep the head still and straight Marionette Rock the Pocket, Squish the bug Front knee in Step not necessary, but if there is one, keep it small. Step on ice (eggs)? Step toward second baseman (righties) - Crushing Down to keep lead shoulder in. Throw the knob of the bat at the ball Finish the swing high. Dirty uniform shoulder Strike one does not mean you stink (that’s why they give you three). Look for one you like (that’s why they give you ten). Are you a righty or a lefty or both? GET YOUR EYES CHECKED No one bats a thousand - hey, its eight against one. A game of statistics, (consistency). There is no such thing as extra effort when batting. There are only sound fundamentals. Don’t over manage tight situations. Only coach the fundamentals. Base Running Run on the bink First and home are different than second and third Slide but only safely - never head first. Hands up, feet like the number 4. Move the base, avoid the knee and the spine, face away from the throw Watch the cleats on the grass - do you need cleats? Fungo ball Managing Players I) Envision Utopia - the create it II) The offensive line-up a) Who’s up first b) The mercy rule - using your outs wisely III) The defensive line-up Infield and Outfield - everyone everywhere - Positioning your players IV) Know what you are going to do at practice- Kiss principle Teach your players the priorities- Stop the bleeding Fantasy day Managing Parents Put 'em to work. Encourage them - force them - to play with their children during the week Encourage them to make friends, play nice, leave their children alone, and keep their mouths closed Root for both teams - celebrate excellence, effort or just plain luck Give the rules to your parents Running a practice: Warm up - leave the day behind - but kids are flexible so don’t over do this part. Many hands make light work. - multiple stations - change often Managing a team is creating and managing your resources. Bibliography: A Parents Guide to Coaching Baseball - by John McCarthy Jr. 1989 Betterway Publications, Whitehall, VA. You Can Teach Hitting - by Dusty Baker et. al, 1993 Bittinger Books, Carmel, IN The Louisville Slugger Ultimate Book of Hitting - by John Monteleone & Mark Gola. 1997 Henry Holt & Co., New York, NY. The Rules of Baseball: An Anecdotal Look at the Rules of Baseball and How They Came To Be - by David Nemec. 1994 Lyons & Burford, NYC, NY. Make The Right Call - a publication of Major League Baseball 1996?? Little League Confidential - Bob Geist Anything by R.Delmonico Life Lessons from Little League - Vincent Fortanasce, M.D., Image Books, Doubleday (1995) The Baseball World Video Tape Series - Coach Tom Emanski On the web: Eteamz Instructional Drills & Information * * * Pony Major’s (8 yr olds) & Cubs (9-10 yr olds) Advanced Hitting, Pitching, Base Running & Managing a Game Advanced Hitting - Practice, practice, practice I There are three components to hitting: 1) The mechanics 2) See the ball - hit the ball How many fingers?
3) Work the count. Using your head to maximize a) Look in the window...protect the plate. A strike is what the umpire says it is. b) a walk is never as good as a hit except when that is all the pitcher gives you. If he doesn’t give you the bricks, you can’t build the house. II) Hitting situations a) the lead off man - to get on - Can get to 2nd by himself. b) man on 2nd and/or third - on the ground to the right side c) down & hard is better than up and hard d) hard, solid contact is the goal III) Bunting a) Square b) bat level at top of strike zone c) Be pre-angled to avoid death valley d) Not every bunt is a squeeze so pick a pitch - know the two strike rule Pitchers Throw with authority - 50% strikes. 2 of the first three pitches should be strikes 4 seam grip one two three four - two & four most important. Release Point wind-up or stretch the downward plane vs. the swish balance drill, clean break of the hands, elbow up, finish completely point, slide into the glove, scratch through the catcher’s eyes, high pitches, low pitches = wrong stride length/ slide down the slide (Nike symbol) relax, relax , relax and grow confident - don’t over manage your staff in tight situations (fear and what to say when you go to the mound) Beautiful day/ Don’t work so hard/ Give me all you got - then done. a strike is what the umpire says it is - the pitcher must adapt, the ump wont The two most important pitches in baseball - strike one & the change (palm ball, circle change, bunny ears) be sure your team is set before you pitch When to pull a pitcher - save a strike machine if you have one - (fast to faster or fast to lefty junk) The rules let you return a pitcher to the mound - know the work rules. Sliding: There is never a reason to stop at second without sliding. Dirty Uniform drill. Stand up drill. Stealing: Don’t use the words “no” & “go.” Stealing 2nd easier than third, but a mistake at third helps you more. The book on baseball: See Tim McCarver “How Baseball Works” Never steal if: 1st or 3rd out at 3rd or 2nd out at 2nd What is scoring position? How many points do I get for getting to third? You need four signs. Steal, fake steal, bunt, take.
Your batting order is designed to: get as many runs per inning as possible; Read Dusty Baker’s analysis. Then add the blood clot factor. Speed kills. Finally: Know that coaching matters, but that any player at any time can make a miracle. Know that the baseball gods have a hideous sense of humor. The more you think about this before you get there, the greater the chances you will have of getting what you want. {78youthsports.org} |
