BASEBALL PRACTICE PLAN FOR AGE 13-14 YEARS WEEK 1

THIS WEEK’S OBJECTIVES

Practice Objectives: 1) Establish the team/player/coach expectations for the upcoming season, practices and game days. 2) Develop a high energy team centered practice environment where maximum repetitions, in a minimal amount of time are expected. 3) Teach fundamental bunting skills for hitters and practice bunt defensive plays for the team 4) Set player expectations and responsibilities for putting in extra time in between practice sessions, practicing the skill drills introduced at practice.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE (TOTAL TIME: 120 MINUTES)

Duration	Activities	Video References
15 minutes	Pre-Practice Discussions – Team & Coaching Staff introductions. Discuss team rules with both players and parents, set expectations for the season, discuss practice and game schedules, collect all contact information from parents, explain communication protocol between parents and coaches, and discuss any rule changes for league/new division.
15 minutes	Pre-Practice Warm-Ups – It is important to start all practices with a warm-up and set routine, including stretching, jog/sprint running and throwing.	Arm Circles Lunge with a Trunk Twist Heel Scoops Ankle Mobility
15 minutes	Individual Position Work Session (4 stations) — Session Reference #503 Station 1: Outfield Work (down right field or left field line) Station 2: First Baseman Footwork and Receiving Throws in the Dirt (at 1st base) Station 3: 2nd Baseman, 3rd Baseman & Shortstop Infield Work Station 4: Catchers Receiving and Blocking Drills (at home plate)	Individual Position Work - Outfield
45 minutes	Hitting Session – Bunting –— Coaches go over Bunting techniques including body position, angles and directions Bunting/Hitting Rounds – Session Reference #509 – Divide team into hitting groups, with 2-3 rounds each group • Round 1: Sacrifice Bunting (5 bunts) and Bunt for Base Hit (5 bunts) • Round 2: Situational Hitting – move the runner over and hit & run hitting • Round 3: Free Round – contact hitting to get on base, ground balls and line drives	Feet And Shoulder Position For Bunting Bat Angle, Grip And Hand Position Legs And Eyes On Bunts Where To Bunt The Ball
30 minutes	Bunt Defensive Plays (4 Situations) –— Go over responsibility for each position and practice the following situation: Basic Bunt Defense – Runner on 1st Bunt Defense – First Baseman Early Break with Runner on 1st Bunt Defense – First Baseman Early Break Pick-Off From Catcher With Runner On 1st Bunt Defense – Second Baseman Early Break with Runner on 1st	Basic Bunt Defense - Runner on 1st Bunt Defense - First Baseman Early Break with Runner on 1st Bunt Defense - First Baseman Early Break Pick-Off from Catcher with Runner on 1st Bunt Defense - Second Baseman Early Break with Runner on 1st

PARENTS EDUCATION / PLAYER HOMEWORK

Activity	Video References
For Catchers: Review advanced receiving techniques	Catchers Plate Positioning Receiving & Framing Double Play Footwork Bring Every Pitch Back to The Middle
Additional education on bunting skills	Timing and Positioning Differences Bunting for a Base Hit Situational Bunting - Where You Should Bunt the Ball and Why
Review mental skills – pre-game toutine; Handling tough situations	Pre-Game Mental Routine The Three Ps of Success PMI Positive Mental Image The Five Rs Get Out of Slumps

DRILL REFERENCES

Drill	Name	Description
501	Infield/Outfield Session	1. Coaches will place players (except pitchers) in their primary game infield/outfield positions. The coach will then hit ground balls/fly balls to the outfielders, starting at LF. The outfielders will then make throws to 2^nd base.After all of the outfielders have made the plays and throws to 2^nd base, then repeat this process until the outfielders have made throws to 3^rd base and Home Plate. Once all of the plays and throws have been completed, the outfielders will then run to the dugout.2. Once the outfield session is completed, the catcher will then begin the “Around the Horn” throws (home to 3^rd, 3^rd to 2^nd, 2^nd to SS, SS to 1^st, and 1^st to home, repeat 2-3 times.3. The coach will then begin hitting ground balls to the infielders, starting at 3^rd base. The players will make throws first to home, then to 1^st and then to 2^nd for double plays (Turning 2). Repeat this for every infield position. 2-3 rounds.4. The final round of infield starts with the coach hitting one ball to the infielders, in a deep position at back of infield making a long throw to 1st base, then drops a slow roller where the infielder charges and makes play to 1st base. The 1st baseman will make his throws to the catcher at home plate. After each round the coach should roll a ball in front of home plate and the catcher should make throws to 1^st base. If not a pre-game I/O session, repeat this session with the players in their secondary positions.
503	Individual Position Work (4 stations)	Station 1: Outfield Work (down right field or left field line) 1. With a bucket of balls, outfielders will line up on the foul line in their ready positions each receiving shallow pop flys thrown by the coach to their glove side, throwing side and balls hit directly behind them. This drill is to be worked in a rapid rotation, with each player receiving 10-15 balls in each of the 3 angles. 2. The second part of the outfield position work has the coach standing on right/left field foul line with outfielders standing approximately 50’ away. Coach will then roll or hit fungo ground balls with the outfielders charging hard to catch and set up in a crow-hop throwing position, then returning to the end of the line. This drill is to be done in a rapid rotation. During this time, each player should receive approximately 25-50 repetitions. Station 2: First Baseman Footwork and Receiving Throws in the Dirt (at 1st base) With a bucket of balls and coach standing approximately 25’ away from the bag, from the 2nd base, 3rd base and shortstop angles. The first baseman will start in the ready position approximately 8-10’ from the bag. On the coach’s command, the first baseman will break towards the bag, the coach will throw balls simulating receiving good throws as well as bad throws and throws in the dirt from the 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman and shortstop. First baseman should focus on proper footwork setup and receiving the ball with the proper foot (non-glove side foot) on the bag. This drill should be worked in a rapid rotation with each player receiving 10-15 balls from each of the 3 routine infield angles. During this time, each player should receive 50-70 throws. Station 3: 2nd Baseman, 3rd Baseman & Shortstop Infield Work 1. Players will pair up with one another about 10’-15’ apart in a stationary athletic position, and roll balls back and forth to their partner, simulating receiving routine ground balls, back-hand ground balls, and glove side ground balls focusing on proper glove hand and throwing hand placement. 2. Players will repeat drills similarly to first drill set, but will now add proper footwork into different ground ball fielding position. During this time, each player should receive approximately 50-75 fielding repetitions. Station 4: Catchers Receiving and Blocking Drills (at home plate) 1. With a bucket of balls and a coach standing approximately 15’-20’ away, between the pitching mound and home plate, each catcher will set-up in a proper receiving position. Coach will then throw 10-15 balls to each catcher. 2. In this round, the catcher will practice receiving and framing balls thrown to the inside and outside corners, down the middle, and balls thrown below the knee. 3. The third round will have the catcher incorporate blocking balls in the dirt to each of the positions listed in round 2. These drills should be done in a rapid rotation. During this time, each player should receive approximately 75 fielding repetitions.
509	Bunting/Hitting 4 Rounds	Divide team into hitting groups. Each group has 4 rounds each. • Round 1: Sacrifice Bunts (5 Bunts each) • Round 2: Bunt for Base Hit (5 Bunts each) • Round 3: Situational Hitting- hitting behind runner & hit and run (7 swings each) • Round 4: Free Round- contact hitting to get on base, emphasize hitting the ball on the ground or line drives.

Drill

Name

Description

501

Infield/Outfield Session

1. Coaches will place players (except pitchers) in their primary game infield/outfield positions. The coach will then hit ground balls/fly balls to the outfielders, starting at LF. The outfielders will then make throws to 2^nd base.After all of the outfielders have made the plays and throws to 2^nd base, then repeat this process until the outfielders have made throws to 3^rd base and Home Plate. Once all of the plays and throws have been completed, the outfielders will then run to the dugout.2. Once the outfield session is completed, the catcher will then begin the “Around the Horn” throws (home to 3^rd, 3^rd to 2^nd, 2^nd to SS, SS to 1^st, and 1^st to home, repeat 2-3 times.3. The coach will then begin hitting ground balls to the infielders, starting at 3^rd base. The players will make throws first to home, then to 1^st and then to 2^nd for double plays (Turning 2). Repeat this for every infield position. 2-3 rounds.4. The final round of infield starts with the coach hitting one ball to the infielders, in a deep position at back of infield making a long throw to 1st base, then drops a slow roller where the infielder charges and makes play to 1st base. The 1st baseman will make his throws to the catcher at home plate.

After each round the coach should roll a ball in front of home plate and the catcher should make throws to 1^st base.

If not a pre-game I/O session, repeat this session with the players in their secondary positions.

503

Individual Position Work (4 stations)

Station 1: Outfield Work (down right field or left field line)

1. With a bucket of balls, outfielders will line up on the foul line in their ready positions each receiving shallow pop flys thrown by the coach to their glove side, throwing side and balls hit directly behind them. This drill is to be worked in a rapid rotation, with each player receiving 10-15 balls in each of the 3 angles.
2. The second part of the outfield position work has the coach standing on right/left field foul line with outfielders standing approximately 50’ away. Coach will then roll or hit fungo ground balls with the outfielders charging hard to catch and set up in a crow-hop throwing position, then returning to the end of the line. This drill is to be done in a rapid rotation. During this time, each player should receive approximately 25-50 repetitions.

Station 2: First Baseman Footwork and Receiving Throws in the Dirt (at 1st base)

With a bucket of balls and coach standing approximately 25’ away from the bag, from the 2nd base, 3rd base and shortstop angles. The first baseman will start in the ready position approximately 8-10’ from the bag. On the coach’s command, the first baseman will break towards the bag, the coach will throw balls simulating receiving good throws as well as bad throws and throws in the dirt from the 2nd baseman, 3rd baseman and shortstop. First baseman should focus on proper footwork setup and receiving the ball with the proper foot (non-glove side foot) on the bag. This drill should be worked in a rapid rotation with each player receiving 10-15 balls from each of the 3 routine infield angles. During this time, each player should receive 50-70 throws.

Station 3: 2nd Baseman, 3rd Baseman & Shortstop Infield Work

1. Players will pair up with one another about 10’-15’ apart in a stationary athletic position, and roll balls back and forth to their partner, simulating receiving routine ground balls, back-hand ground balls, and glove side ground balls focusing on proper glove hand and throwing hand placement.
2. Players will repeat drills similarly to first drill set, but will now add proper footwork into different ground ball fielding position. During this time, each player should receive approximately 50-75 fielding repetitions.

Station 4: Catchers Receiving and Blocking Drills (at home plate)

1. With a bucket of balls and a coach standing approximately 15’-20’ away, between the pitching mound and home plate, each catcher will set-up in a proper receiving position. Coach will then throw 10-15 balls to each catcher.
2. In this round, the catcher will practice receiving and framing balls thrown to the inside and outside corners, down the middle, and balls thrown below the knee.
3. The third round will have the catcher incorporate blocking balls in the dirt to each of the positions listed in round 2.
These drills should be done in a rapid rotation. During this time, each player should receive approximately 75 fielding repetitions.

509

Bunting/Hitting 4 Rounds

Divide team into hitting groups. Each group has 4 rounds each.

• Round 1: Sacrifice Bunts (5 Bunts each)

• Round 2: Bunt for Base Hit (5 Bunts each)

• Round 3: Situational Hitting- hitting behind runner & hit and run (7 swings each)

• Round 4: Free Round- contact hitting to get on base, emphasize hitting the ball on the ground or line drives.

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BASEBALL PRACTICE PLAN FOR AGE 13-14 YEARS WEEK 1

THIS WEEK’S OBJECTIVES

PRACTICE SCHEDULE (TOTAL TIME: 120 MINUTES)

PARENTS EDUCATION / PLAYER HOMEWORK

DRILL REFERENCES