Poughkeepsie Babe Ruth-Cal Ripken
Rookie Division (7-8) Skills
Throwing harder.
Catching thrown balls.
Fielding at each position.
Better understanding of baserunning.
Hitting live pitching off a player, not a coach.
Understanding where the play is on defense.
Fielding pop flys.
Learning to pitch.
Learning to catch.
Goal
The goal in this division is to teach the fundamentals of baseball and instill a love of the game. To do this managers need to create a fun, safe and educational environment for all players.
Safety
If a bat is in their hand, a helmet is on their head.
Don’t throw the ball to a teammate that’s not ready.
Skill Progressions
Hitting
1. Hitting off tee into field with wiffle or tennis ball.
2. Hitting soft toss from the side.
3. Hitting balls pitched.
Base running
1. Sprint through 1st base.
2. Round first, make the turn, “go for 2” or “hold.”
3. Second to home.
4. Home runs.
Fielding Grounders
1. Bucket drill w/velcro hands or catcher’s glove.
2. No bucket, but keep hands the same. Straight on, then left to right.
3. Glove on. Slow to fast. Left and right.
Fielding Fly Balls
1. Nose under the ball as teammate or parent holds over head.
2. Tennis balls with two hand catch.
3. Tennis balls with glove.
Pitcher
1. Repeating the pitching motion on flat ground.
2. Repeating motion on mound.
3. Pitching for distance.
4. Pitching for accuracy.
5. Pitching for speed.
Catcher
1. Crouch position. Protect the throwing hand.
2. Catching with bare hands using tennis balls.
3. Blocking with chest.
4. Lateral movement.
5. Catching live balls.
Practice Tips
Begin practice with a timed event. Could be as complex as an obstacle course that incorporates fielding, throwing, running or a simple race around the bases.
Purpose: encourages competition and camaraderie. A variety of skills in a short period of time. Following instructions. Attention to detail. FUN!
Encourage positivity by having the kids clap it up for each other on a regular basis and using positive words. Give them phrases to repeat.
Follow timed event with skill drills. Particularly those that need improvement.
Divide kids into groups based on how many helpers you have. If you have 3 helpers, give each kid a 1, 2 or 3, then say “All my number ones go to Jimmy’s mom, all my number twos go to Joey’s dad and all number threes go to Billy’s dad.” As manager you would go to the station you are strongest at teaching or want to see with your own eyes.
To constantly challenge kids, say: “First one to…” Kids love to be first so it motivates them to hustle.
For pitching, set up games where kids have to knock down targets. From far and near, big and small.
Focus on stations for hitting practice. Groups of no more than 3 usually work well. Try to alternate between stations that allow the kids to see the ball, hit the ball, and follow-through. Any combination of stationary, moving or live pitching is recommended. For our batting practice we focus on repeating a phrase so when we are up to bat we can do what we’ve been repeating:
Station 1: “See the ball”- soft toss with wiffle balls or pitched balls with a color dot.
Station 2: “Hit the ball”- pitch with wiffle balls.
Station 3: “Hard”- tee using wiffle balls or tennis balls on grass or hard ball on field.
Allow 10 to 15 minutes of practice on each of the four skills.
-Base running- progressions from singles to home runs.
-Pitching – target throws for accuracy.
-Infield/Outfield – mix it up with throws to different bases, grounders and flies.
-Hitting – stationary and moving.
Put all four together at end with a game. Try to vary the games by focusing on particular positions or game situations.
Fielding Drills
1. Grenade
Skill: Learning to throw to all bases from all distances.
Equipment: 10 balls, 1st, 2nd and 3rd basemen
Time: 5 to 15 min. Age: 6+
-Place 10 balls randomly on the infield.
-When coach says “go”, Each ball is scooped up with hand and glove and thrown to a designated base that coach calls out..
-Progression:
-Throws to one base.
-Throws to any of two bases.
-Throws to any of three bases.
2. Range game
Goal: Develop a first baseman.
Equipment 4 players, 3 tennis balls
Time: 6 balls per first baseman Age: Must be able to catch
1 kid plays first base with three kids about 8 feet out in front of him. One is near right field, one on the second base line, one near the pitcher. Each player throws to first basemen and he throws back. Focus on first baseman moving glove and front foot toward ball. Use tennis balls.
3. Throw it Home
Skill: Catcher learns to field balls at home.
Equipment: all infield positions except pitcher, bucket of balls, 2 catchers in full gear
Time: 2 balls per fielder, 8 total per turn Age: 7+
With catcher in gear standing just in front of home plate, begin with a throw from first base to home, second to home, third to home then reverse it; third, second and first to home. Catcher has to turn their chest to each fielder to receive the ball. Have two catchers in full gear so when one is done, the other can go right away.
*Pair this drill up with grenade to work the whole team at once.
4. Ring of Fire
Skill: Learn the scoop toss used by shortstop and second baseman.
Equipment: 1 empty bucket, 8 flat cones, 1 ball per cone, timer
Time: 1 minute/player Age: 6+
Ring of Fire cont.
*If multiple buckets are available, set up more.
-Surround bucket with cones, 3-5 feet out from bucket.
-Drop balls between each cone.
-On coaches command, player shuffles around bucket, picking up each ball, then scoop-tossing it into bucket. Make sure player uses underhand scoop that would be used between shortstop and second baseman. Do for time.
5. Connected
Skill: Shortstop and second baseman learn to cover second base for each other.
Equipment: bucket of balls, players with gloves, coach with bat
Time: 3 balls each player Age: 6+
Shortstop and second baseman stand on either side of the bag in their fielding position. When ball is hit to one of them, the other covers the bag and the ball gets tossed to them.
Coach alternates hitting the ball between the two the first time through the line and changes the pattern next time through until it becomes habit.
6. Knockout
Skill: Fielding in a game situation.
Equipment: bucket of balls, bat for coach
Time: 5 minutes Age: 7+
Divide the team into two groups. One group will be at SS and the other at first base. Be sure to pick first basemen who can catch. Coach will hit the ball to SS who will throw to first. SS goes to back of line but first baseman stays until each SS has thrown to him. Then they go to back of their line. Everyone goes through the first time, but if a ball is dropped or mis-thrown the second time through, the player that made the error is “knocked out”. Players that can catch but were eliminated at the SS position can move to first. Same with eliminated first basemen. Play continues until there is one remaining first baseman and one SS. *Can also use to evaluate players at any position.
7. Goalie Drill
Skill: Learning to block the ball.
Equipment: 2 cones, 10 tennis balls
Time: 10 balls per player Age: 6+
Place the two cones about 6 feet apart. Player crouches down between the cones about one foot in front. Coach or another player stands about ten feet in front of the player and tosses tennis balls at them. Player has to keep balls out of “goal” any way they can using their whole body to block. Use to evaluate potential catchers.
Baserunning Drills
1. First Base Coach Progression
Equipment: 3-4 flat cones, base Time: 10 mins. Age: 6+
Set the cones up outside the foul line to create a “banana” shape for making the turn towards second base. Players line up on fence near home plate. One at a time, when coach says go, player will sprint towards first base. Halfway there, coach will shout one of three commands:
“Go through”- they run through the base and turn into foul territory.
“Make the turn”- they run outside the cones and turn at first, then listen for coach to say…
-“Hold”- they make the turn, stay low then return to first. –or-
-“Go for 2”- they make the turn and go to second.
Coach should have each player go through each command one at a time, but at the end, mix it up so they have to listen to coach. At the end, keep players on base so they learn to run with someone in front of them and/or behind them.
2. Ball Relay
Equipment: 1 baseball, all bases, timer Time: 10 minutes Age: 6+
-Divide players into two equal teams. Flip a coin to see who wants to go first. Coach uses a stopwatch to keep track of time per team.
-Starting at home plate with a ball in one hand, player one sprints around the bases. When he touches home, he hands off—relays—the ball to a waiting teammate. This continues until all players have gone around.
-Best time between two teams wins.
Goal: Emphasizes hard baserunning around all bases and teamwork. *Since teams are now divided, can be used for games.
Basic Throwing and Catching
Throwing Progression
-Players throw to each other from seated, cross leg position. About 8 feet apart.
-Players throw from both knees. About 10 feet apart.
-Players throw with glove knee up, throwing knee down. Place a cap next to front foot on the outside. When throw is complete, chest should be touching front knee and hand should be touching top of cap. About 15 feet apart.
-Target practice. As players play catch, they move the glove to four different positions: just under the chin, just above the belt, to the left of the body, to the right of the body. 20-30 feet apart.
*Target practice can be used once they are good at catching and throwing and can be done for points to add excitement to a game of catch.
Catching Progression
-Players toss around a large ball such as a kick ball. Catch and squeeze with two hands.
-Players catch a tennis ball with two hands.
-Using glove, players trap ball with throwing hand. Tennis ball. 10 feet apart.
-Glove catches 10+ feet apart using tennis balls.
*Tennis balls are slippery and harder to catch so try to use them when teaching how to catch.
1. Baseball-Football
Equipment: plenty of cones, baseball gloves, tennis ball
Time: 2 5-minute halves Age: 6+
-Divide team into two teams. Have a parent be a coach for each team; someone good at football rules would help. Coach will man the clock and act as referee for downs.
-Set cones up to create a “football field” with goals clearly identified.
-Players should keep their gloves in one location on either sideline.
-One tennis ball is the “football”. The offensive team uses their glove to catch any balls tossed or thrown at them. Once caught they run until they are touched with two hands.
-The defense has no gloves but can intercept the ball and run it back.
-Play begins with the ball thrown downfield as in a kickoff.
-Players take turn at quarterback and throw the ball or handoff to a teammate. QB’s are not allowed to run.
-All rules of football apply here.
*To make the game harder, use no gloves.
Goal: Learning to throw and catch at a variety of distances in a game situation.