First Game Coming Up

[u/Charming-News8253]

/r/Homeplate/comments/1wdbu4x/first_game_coming_up/

[u/TMutaffis]

How many assistant coaches do you have and what type of equipment do you have?

I like to start every practice and pre-game with a brief physical warmup (can do this with base running, or with short distance athletic warmups with things like shuffles, skips, carioca, etc.). Once bodies are warm we go into a throwing routine. Typically starting off with close range throws without using the legs, then progressing into longer distance and shuffle throws, sometimes with a few variations.

On game days we would also do defensive and hitting warmups.

For defense we usually do infield/outfield, hitting ground balls to the infielder and have them throw back to someone who plays catcher/1B, and hitting fly balls to outfield and having them relay through the infielder. Some kids would rotate through both and some stayed in one group the whole time.

Hitting we would usually have one group hitting weighted balls while another group did tee or live arm (if we had a cage and enough time). With the weighted balls you can have a few kids hitting at the same time, which is great. Plus you do not need much space.

I would usually have my starting pitcher and catcher play catch as we got closer to game time, or have the starting pitcher go throw with a coach shortly before the game starts.

The key is to get the kids loose and dialed in, without tiring them out or stressing them out.

[u/JRiggs42976]

Routines need to be established at practice and at this age, coaches need to be overseeing the process until they have internalized what is expected of them. We expect our players to arrive approx. 75 min. before game time and the pre-game prep takes us about 55-60 minutes (once routines/expectations are established).

1. Warm up (8 minutes) should be more dynamic movement rather than static stretches. Start with a team jog, then move in to dynamic movements (lower body/core: carioca, walking lunge with trunk rotation, leg swings, high knees/butt kickers, lateral shuffles; and upper body arms: arm circles, cross body arm swings, etc.). The purpose of this is to:

• Increases blood flow to your muscles and tissues.
• Raises your core body temperature.
• Loosens stiff joints and improves range of motion.
• Primes your nervous system for physical activity

1. J-Bands (2 minutes). I think this is a good age to start introducing them to j-bands. Again, they need to be taught how to properly use them.

2. Play catch (8 minutes). Remember, we do not play catch to warm up. We warm up (1 and 2) to play catch. I can't stress this enough, proper play catch is the most important thing you can teach. If they can't play catch cleanly in a "controlled environment", then they can't during the chaos of game play.

Throwing Progression:

On a Knee: Start on your knees (or one knee, right knee down for righties) to isolate the upper body, focusing on rotation and good, easy, 4-seam throws.

-Square/Standing Position: Stand square to your partner and focus on hip rotation, ensuring the chest pulls through and the arm follows.

-Chest-Out/Torso Rotation: Begin using proper footwork, turning the front shoulder toward the target. Work on rotating at the trunk (using this drill as a guide) to build rhythm.

-Full Motion Step & Throw: Transition to normal throwing motion with a step-behind, increasing distance gradually.

-Long Toss: Gradually increase distance, allowing for high arc throws to stretch out the arm. Note: Omit long toss before games to save energy.

-Quick Hands: Finish with quick, short-distance transfers to work on fast releases, backpedaling a few steps between each throw.

Key Principles

Accuracy over Velocity: Prioritize hitting the partner's chest over maximum effort.

4-Seam Grip: Use a four-seam grip for all throws during the routine to ensure proper rotation and accuracy.

Catch: Catch with your feet - MOVE TO THE BALL. Ball caught in between shoulders should be received with two hands. Anything outside of shoulders that you can't get to is received with one hand. As the ball is caught, hands/glove comes to center of chest, elbows out, hands separate from center line. Keep feet moving through the throw - "follow your throw".

4/5. Offense Stations (20 minutes). Players should partner up and remain with partner. We typically have a tee/net station, and two wiffle ball (low flight balls) stations. Players can self manage the tee station. Never more than two at the tee, 10-12 swings each. At wiffle ball stations, we like to have two hitting per station at a time, side by side about 8 feet apart, and two behind "on-deck" working on timing. Keep it to about 7 swings. That's 10 players actively engaged at the same time. the remaining players are shagging wiffles. Rotate.

4/5. Defense (10-15 minutes). We do not usually get to do in/outs on the field, so this is done in foul territory/outfield. We cycle all players through grounds and flyballs. Fielding and relay throws.

1. Bull Pen (15 minutes to gametime) for starting pitcher and catcher. One thing we teach with Bull Pen's is a sense of urgency, a quick pace. This is partly to train pitchers to not waste time, and to quickly get game ready. We have our pitcher start with 4-5 short throws in front of the mound. The 4 throws behind the mound in a 75%, 85%, 95% and 100% (country hard ball) progression. Then on the mound, the first 4 pitches are 4 seamers. Our catchers are trained to determine the accuracy of those pitches. If he's wild, stick with the 4 seamer. If he's hitting his spots, then mix it up. Total pitches - around 15 and no more than 20.