Coaching Tips & Drills
It’s great if you can get more practice in at home, so here’s a few things that hopefully are helpful!
For mini Rams who are keen for extra things to do at home or the local park, like most skills we only improve and gain proper form with loads of repetitive practice. Every age, every week and every season we strive to get better. Go Rams.
Here’s a couple things we all would like to focus on, these are simple but very relevant ones for our rapidly developing juniors, which will pay off the quickest. There are lots of websites and YouTube channels for those more confident.
COACHING VIDEOS
There are many great channels for pitching and coaching on mechanics and much more on YouTube and online. Here is a sections of channels with plenty to get you going, rain hail or shine.
ARM Pitching Development – Youth Baseball Pitching Drills for 9-12 Years Old
IMPORTANT
Rest and session management are key to both building strength and skill but also avoiding injury. Throwing sessions should be limited to age appropriate effort, about combined total of max effort pitches & hard throws between 25-50. All ages should have three days rest minimum before the next session.
For pitching the age grouping of 8-18+yo for MLB Smartpitch guidelines can be found here
DISTANCES and SPECS
To ensure you get the most out of your practice, mark-up with chalk or tape the key targets and marking for your “home diamond” and practice areas.
Hitting
If hitting with family is not possible, a tee is the next best thing. Use a whiffle ball if small backyard/garage. Setup for various heights and focus on good form with feet and swing balanced, watching the bat strike the ball fit consistently clean contact. More advanced drills can be to hit at targets. You can generally hit for a long time until fatigued and gloves will help avoid blisters.
IMPORTANT
So you don’t get in trouble breaking things, make sure you have
a clear area to swing your bat
if you don’t have a strong back net to catch the ball, use a tennis ball or lightweight ball like a whiffle ball!
Fielding
Fielding the ball cleanly and throwing with family is a great repetitious exercise. Even with a partner you can use props to do the targets an mark distances. Throwing on the full at a chest high target/
Practice at close (2nd to 1st), medium (Shortstop to 1st) then long (3rd to 1st), here we are looking to automate the “on the full” range. Make it a game of say 5-10 bullseyes or whatever before they move to longer range.
IMPORTANT
• Only work on velocity once the accuracy is there at all distances.
• Note this will assist BUT is not the same as pitching practice (see below)
Pitching
Measured as precisely as you can, from pitching plate to home plate mark for U12 is 46ft. If no parent able to catch, hang a decent strike zone target on a fence.
Start with just making the distance consistently. When ready a pitcher is looking to be hitting the strike zone a minimum of 7/10 pitches or better.
IMPORTANT
• Only work on velocity once the accuracy is there.
• Fastballs and changeups only! (watch videos to see grips for these.)