Get To It, Get Through It
Lots of good hitting instructors teach, “Short to the ball, long through it.” That is a sound theory. However, that quote needs explanation to the baseball novice. As a hitter, you want to be as quick as you can to contact, and then follow through fully to maximize power.
Baseball Practice Plans and Drills
NEW! Baseball Zone’s interactive Practice Planner makes planning a practice and running fun and effective practices easy. Start a free trial now.
Baseball Zone’s practice plans are designed for coaches who want to run effective practices using fun drills and useful game scenarios. Our practice plans teach players about game-winning situations while getting them reps in an exciting and interesting way.
Coaching a Team
Coaching baseball is as demanding as it is rewarding. Without a plan and some basic organization, coaches spend more time on running the team than coaching the team. These items will help you avoid that and have fun coaching your team.
How To Plan A Baseball Practice
Practice design is not as intimidating as one would think. However, for the novice coach, it may be a daunting task. Baseball Zone’s Practice Planner makes it quick and easy. We have a bunch of great drills and formats already in there for you to choose from. Just point, click and print.
Here is a quick template that touches on the most important aspects of a practice for the younger kids:
Baseball Lessons From the Super Bowl
Close games are nearly always won or lost on a few key plays that change the game or the momentum. Last night’s game was no exception.
Two key plays triggered the outcome. The catch by Manningham and the drop by Welker. While the catch was a great play by both quarterback and receiver, the drop by Welker allowed the Giants to get the ball back in order to make that play. It would have been a great catch as well by Welker, one he has made a thousand times, just couldn’t come up with it.
Drills, Drills and More Drills
Drills are a great way to get the player to feel what you are trying to get them to feel. If done properly, they can benefit the players immensely. If done improperly, they are reinforcing bad habits.
“Practice doesn’t make perfect, practice makes permanent.”
Occupy Baseball, 99% vs. 1%
This time of year, many travel baseball teams here in the Midwest have secured inside training facilities on a weekly basis. Travel baseball is big business now. Players pay a pretty penny for coaches, training, leagues and tournaments. Training sessions for teams inside can last anywhere from an 1-2 hours. If your team is lucky enough (or has spent enough money), you will rent a field and some cages.
Fielding Footwork
While it’s safe to assume that the vast majority of major leaguers possess great arm strength, a closer look may reveal something you might not expect. Players seldom during a game “air it out.” Not every pitch or play requires a player to use 100% of his arm speed/strength. But when they have to, how do they do it?
Hand Path
The hand path is one of the most critical parts of the baseball swing, and the hardest to perfect. Being able to get your hands “On plane” with the pitch as quickly as possible is so difficult because during the swing it’s not just the hands that play a role, it’s also dependent on body rotation.
Hitting Approach
I’m sitting here watching the Braves play the Giants in game 2 of their best of five series and something huge comes to mind... how to think as a hitter. It is the bottom of the first inning with two men on, Pat Burrell comes to bat. Braves starter Tommy Hanson has just walked Buster Posey on 4 pitches. Quick, if you are Pat Burrell, what are you thinking as you are walking to the plate?