Drills and Skills Parents,

Week 3 of Drills and Skills Saturday...same time (12:30PM)...same location (Field D)...different stations (Hitting, Kickball, Catching). As always, parent help is encouraged...just jump in and help with setup and stations. Lots of opportunity to help at the catching station (see below for details on the drills and key coaching points).

And...
Don't forget the most important station...playing catch with your player at home. See below for "knock-it-down" drill (better and more fun than "basket-catching" for beginning players).

One more thing...
Sunday June 12 is HFLMYB Red Wings Day at Frontier Field. Tickets can be purchased through our league...I will have some with me Saturday.

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Week 3 - Drills and Skills
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Prep (before session begins):
* 5 Tees, 5 bats, 10 Helmets, 20 baseballs to area behind Field D backstop…align in a row (like golf driving range)…15 feet apart
* Bag of soft baseballs to right field line (behind first base)
* Kickball to home plate of Field D
* Box of animal crackers from chow-hut

Welcome & Warm-up (11AM)
* Location: Field D infield
* Equipment: None
* Drills: Arm circles, jumping jacks, pogo jumps, neck rolls, torso twists, etc.

Station 1 - Hitting (12 minutes)
* Location: Open area behind Field D backstop
* Equipment: 5 tees, 4 soft baseballs per tee, 5 bats, 10 helmets (all kids wear helmets)
* Drills: Hit balls off batting tee. Tees in a row…"firing squad" style
* Coaching Tips for Parents helpers: 1) Safety...only kids at tees can swing bats, all hitters wear helmets 2) Watch the ball, athletic position/knees slightly bent, bat off shoulder, swing hard (swinging hard encourages correct balance) 3) Don't have batters chase balls (safety)...older siblings or parents should retrieve baseballs.

Station 2 - Kickball (12 minutes)
* Location: Field D infield
* Equipment: Kickball
* Drills: Play kickball.
* Coaching Tips: Emphasize baserunning and "go get ball" on defense. Some kids will get it and others not so much...try not to slow game down too much with explanations...keep it moving and fun.

Station 3 - Ball Handling & Catching (12 minutes)
* Location: Field D Right Field Line
* Equipment: Bag of soft baseballs or tennis balls (one ball per player)
* Drills: 1) Ball handling drills (no glove...like basketball drills)...toss to self...two hands, one hand, alternate hand, catch after one bounce on ground, catch after bounce off knee, etc. Kids copy coach. 2) "Knock-it-down"...Toss soft baseball or tennis ball to player who then knocks ball down with back of glove. This teaches fingers-up and active catching, and gives kids confidence since it is easier than catching and they learn how to protect themselves with their glove. 3) 1-on-1 or small group catch with parent helpers. Players wear baseball gloves. Parents toss to kids, kids throw back.
* Coaching Tips: Catch with two hands, fingers out, soft hands, watch ball all the way into hands. Can start with at-the-waist "basket catch" (thumbs out), but try to progress quickly to above-the-waist catch (thumb-to-thumb).

Close (3 minutes)
* Location: Field D backstop
* Equipment: Box of Animal Crackers from Chow Hut

-Justin
justinnaa@gmail.com
585-472-1715