Monthly Archives: November 2011

Outfield Work

23 Wednesday Nov 2011

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Waking up early this AM to beat the weather so we can get a lesson in. The kid today is a travel ball player and right now he is primarily a pitcher. He looks like he can hit a little bit but they haven’t used him much in the field. It looks like he can jockey for time in the OF.

Today before hitting we’ll get our drills in. I like to start with routes to get the legs loose and warm up our body, then we will progress to footwork – reads, coming through the ball and always trying to get into a balanced position for the transfer. Quick accurate release is essential for any good player.

Balance will be the key phrase today!

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Learning and the Brain

20 Sunday Nov 2011

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Here I am in Boston, Mass at a conference about learning and the brain. I haven’t had the time yet to fully debrief and think about what I’ve been experiencing however it is clear from these Harvard PHD profs that our educational structure (infrastructure) is incredibly outdated and must catch up with the time. As a few noted, we have an industrial system still running to serve 21st century minds. This is obviously highly problematic.

Everyone is looking for answers, sometimes myself included, but what I’m realizing is it’s time to use our devices, our technologies as tools to support learning, not as the only tool. Our minds have changed, our needs have changed, our relevancy is different – this must be reflected in our/with our teaching.

I’m thinking in terms of school and coaching, connecting with my players/students will be essential to forming a cohesive environment where all people thrive. I guess thriving can be relative but my hope is that through differentiated instruction folks walk away more prepared than they started.

All of this comes down to change. We must accept that the way we learned isn’t the way the new youth will or should learn…I mean why should the learn the same? It isn’t the same world they are preparing for…

Think about it…#lb30

Fall Ball – The End

10 Thursday Nov 2011

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Yesterday was the last day of the Berkeley Fall Ball clinics. While it’s going to be nice to have some time off – working with them 3 times a week was pretty fun. There’s a couple of players out there…we will see if they put in the necessary work to make something out of their talents…(we have all seen players year after year with talent – but it takes much more).

We decided that we would run our last day as a scout/mock try out day. We kept their times, and discussed with them the mindset of scouts or anyone else assessing you, and what we as players need to be ready for.

After they stretched out – we split them into 3 teams: 1 team ran the 60 yard dash, the second team ran home to first (both times we recorded and they had about 5 minutes to run it as many times as they could/wanted) and our last group soft tossed. Each group had 5-10 minutes and then they rotated so that all players had equal time at each station.

After that round we put them all together and had them do a long infield/outfield where they threw to every base a couple of times. This is always a time that’s rather boring but if in a game you don’t get a ball your way – it’s the only time a coach/scout/whoever can see your arm (let it all go!).

After infield/outfield we put them back in the 3 teams and had them scrimmage for about 40 minutes. Each batter started with a 1-1 count and each team got 4 outs.

As practice was going on each coach took the time to let them know how their mental approach should be at each station. When a group came from soft toss – they needed to take every opportunity to get loose.  Some camps won’t look out for the player’s health and they must learn early to get yourself ready to give %100.  No excuses – control what you can.  Same goes for players who ran to first then had to run a 60.  Good thing is that they’re loose but they may be fatigued — how quickly can you bring your heart rate down…

Our hopes were by getting a glimpse of what it’s like, come spring/late winter, they will be ready for try outs (they’ll know what to expect!).

Berkeley Fall Ball

03 Thursday Nov 2011

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Second baseman position on a baseball diamond

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I co-run baseball fall ball clinics for local high schools.  It lasts for about a 12 wks and the purpose is to receive baseball instruction and repitition during the off-season.  The players have games on the weekends and spend 3 days during the week working with us.

Yesterday the agenda was at 6-7pm (optional defensive work) and at 7-8pm (optional hitting)…Tuesdays and Thursdays are the preferred days that all players come.  Getting to my story – yesterday for optional fielding only one students showed up.  I was fairly surprised – these kids need work!  I was happy that the one player was actually a first baseman – freshman, large frame but very “raw.”  Who knows where he’ll end up in 4 years but as of now, he’s truly a freshman (a big freshman).

Yesterday we worked on footwork while turning two – playing behind the runner.  Many young players make all infield play two fold – first they field the ball flat footed then make a jump turn to exchange and throw.  At this point there has to be a transition where they are making this play in one motion…speeding up their side of it giving the middle infielder a chance to make a play.  The key for young first baseman is the round the ball and plant your left foot slightly in from of the right as you are fielding so that your body is in position to make that turn and throw (with momentum towards your target)…His ability to mimick increased – I think it says something about his ethic that he put in the work.  I asked him about his classes and grades…he has a 4.0 and is taking Algebra Trig already — I think he’s got the right mind frame.  Whether or not that transitions to success in baseball, his work ethic is off to a good start.

Oh Yeah….at 7pm — 11 players showed up to hit.  If you can’t play in the field – you won’t be hitting.  High school DH’s don’t last long.