Cool Infield Drill
This is the first in a series of cool drills that I find that I am going to post. The first is a good double rotation drill in the infield that keeps everyone busy. The key to a successful practice is keeping everyone busy! If kids are standing around they get bored and practice is no fun.
No matter what the drill you are doing think of a way to get the kids moving and then they are conditioning and don’t even know it. For instance, on this drill I may have the kids rotate their positions every few rotations. In other words, 3B runs home and slides, catchers run through first and stop at first, ect. Of course, I do this more in the fall and w/ the younger kids that don’t have positions yet.
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Southeast Regional Shows How New Pitching Rules Affect the Game
Citrus Park Victorious!
A team from Citrus Park Little League in Tampa, Florida just defeated a team from Mobile, Alabama to advance to the Little League World Series . The league has only five majors teams in it to pick from. What did they have that Mobile didn’t have? Pitching! Pitching! Pitching!
Mobile was averaging 1 home run every 5.5 at bats during the regionals! The total home runs tonight? -0-. Neither Little League had EVER sent a team to the World Series.
Pitching Rules Have Changed the Dynamic
I have written about this before, the new pitching rules have completely changed the dynamic of the Little League World Series. Pitch count limits and mandatory rests mean that every team will need to rely on their 4th, 5th, and 6th pitchers. Gone are the days of pitching 2 pitchers until their arms fall off. Gone are the days of 15 strike out games.
Want to get your league to the World Series? Start working pitchers now!
Weekly Practice Schedule
When should you be working pitchers? During the regular season w/ a minimum schedule of:
-Every Practice at least 3 pitchers from each team should be working
-At least once a week every team should hold special pitcher/catcher practices
-Pitchers should have individual coaches that work with them once a week as well
These are minimums! Of course, you should watch their arms as well!
When game are on you should stick to this schedule for a pitcher and work it into the schedule above:
Day 1-Game Day Pitching Ice Arm immediately
Day 2-Day off after game day
Day 3-Soft throwing next day ending w/ long toss
Day 4-Pitch again, or hard throwing if not pitching
This is a good 4 day rotation, but remember, alway adjust depending on whether you pitched a game or simply practiced.
Watch the arms!
Sore arms are normal. The key is determining whether it is just normal muscle soreness or joint/tendonitus soreness.
My Limited Knowledge
The Washington Redskins trainer used to visit us each year at my prior league. He would point out that the reason arms are sore after throwing is that tiny tendons in the muscle are being broken when you throw and that creates soreness. The best way to cure this is run after every practice. This delivers oxygen to the muscle and speeds the healing process. Also, icing immediately to stop the micro swelling is very important.
If the soreness is in the muscle meat part of the arm that is normally not an issue. It needs a little rest and it will be fine. ANY soreness in the elbow or shoulder should be IMMEDIATELY looked at. If you take the point of your finger and apply a little pressure to the joint of the elbow you should get a flinch from the player. BAD SIGN! Stop immediately and see a doctor! If you raise the arm and apply a little pressure on the shoulder or have the player resist your pressure after he makes a fist similar to boxing, and you get a flinch, BAD SIGN! Stop immediately and see a doctor!
The main thing to take away from this year’s world series is Develop Your Pitchers!
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Practice Ending Throw Around
You should always end your practice with something that encompasses
- Running
- Fun
The thing a child remembers about their practice is how they felt when it ended. Therefore, it is very important to end practice with something fun, competitive if possible, but definitely fun. Running is important also because the arms have been stressed and oxygen flow is the best form of repair for a sore arm.
Today we ran a modified run, throw-around, catch, slide, accuracy drill to end both the softball and the baseball practice.
Here is how it works:
- Set the 3B in position to field
- Set the 1B ready to field the 3B’s throw
- Set the C at home
- Set the SS strattling 2nd base
- Place the 2B backing up the SS in short outfield
- Any extra players line up at C and jump in line as the rotation continues
Once the players are in position, follow this procedure:
- Hit a grounder to 3B
- 3B throws to 1B for the out
- 1B throws home to the catcher who simulates a tag
- C throws to SS covering 2nd who simulates a tag
- SS flips back to 2B
- 2B throws home to C who simulates a tag
- C flips back to next in line
- 3B runs and slides into home plate and gets in line with catchers
- SS runs and slides into 3B then gets ready for the next play
- 2B moves up to SS position covering the bag
- 1B runs and slides into 2B then moves to 2B backup position
- C runs through first base and returns to cover 1st
- Batter/Coach hits a grounder to new 3B and the process starts all over
This whole thing should be run a the fastest speed possible to increase speed, accuracy, arm strength, base running skills, and teamwork. Both teams found it very fun and their success rate was impressive.
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