Daily Barks

Baseball Throwing Drills

Ready-Break-Throw

• Players start in a throwing position with their lead shoulder, hip and foot pointed toward the target.
• On coach’s command, players break their hands (separate them) and hold for one or two seconds for self-evaluation, ensuring they’re in the proper throwing position.
• On coach’s command, players throw to a specific point on the target, making sure to fully finish their throw.
• On the return throw, players step with their glove-side foot to meet the ball, jumping into the “ready” position.

Alternative: Have a teammate hold his/her glove in different locations to concentrate on accuracy. Changing the location is a good way to stay sharp.

Ready-Throw

• Same as ” Ready-Break-Throw,” except there is no pause.
• Players must still emphasize meeting the ball and getting into a proper throwing position.
• In a further stage, position players can simulate different aspects of their positions during the return throw; for example, middle infielders can work on their double play pivot, and corner infielders can work on their relay throw.

Quick Release

• This is the next step in the progression. It is great for improving a fielder’s footwork and hands as well as accuracy.
• Players make the transfer and return throw as quickly as possible while hitting the target.
• Make this a competition between different sets of throwing teammates.

Stretch it Out

This allows players to stretch out their arms while improving their arm strength.

• Players start at a normal throwing distance with a teammate.
• After every five throws, players back up a set distance, still keeping their throws on a line.

Repeat the Sequence

Once the players long toss, repeat the progression in reverse order, finishing with “Ready-Break-Throw.”

Sample Baseball Throwing Program for Practice

• Ready-Break-Throw – 10 throws at 30 feet
• Ready-Throw – 10 throws at 60 feet
• Quick Release – 10 throws at 90 feet
• Stretch it Out – 10-15 throws at 100 feet to max distance
• Quick Release – 5 throws at 90 feet
• Ready-Throw – 5 throws at 60 feet
• Ready-Break-Throw – 5 throws at 30 feet

A routine ground ball is hit right at you, your first move is to…

1. …see what kind of ball is it. Is it a chopper, a ground hugger, or in between?
2. …how hard is it coming?

The purpose of all this is to compute in your head how you are going to get the ball: Are you going to charge or stay back?

1. Set A Goal
2.Tell The World
3.Walk Your Talk

S- Specific
M- Measurable
A- Attainable
R- Relevant
T- Time-Bound

Don’t just meet your goals DESTROY them!!!

If your not fielding the ball your covering a base, If your not cover a base, you are backing someone up, if your not backing someone up, you are on the bench cheering for team.

Some of the time, the most important thing is to tell your kids exactly what they need to hear, because otherwise they’ll never face their problems head on. The rest of the time, the most important thing is to not tell your kids exactly what they need to hear, because you’ll rob them of the chance to figure out their problems for themselves, which is another way of facing them head on.

Competitors… Discipline when used correctly is a form of love….Nothing is more harmful to the team than the neglect of discipline. Discipline is more important than athleticism. When two teams near the same level of talent are competing, the advantage always goes to the most disciplined.

10 Positive Disciplines that great competitors learn and apply from athletics…
The discipline of:
1) Arriving early and energized – Sincere enthusiasm
2) Focused attention and effort for the entire training session
3) Respecting authority and opponents…
4) Personal responsibility and accountability
5) Listening with positive intent to learn
6) Controlling emotions and reactions even when others don’t
7) Strong, confident body language
8) Doing the details well
9) Earning your successes instead of looking for favors or shortcuts
10) Finishing what you start and finishing strong
These disciplines will lead to success in every part of your life. Real life! Compete! Start now!

Athletes…If you are trying to improve, the most important time to listen is right after a mistake.
Competitors train themselves to embrace correction

Don’t let little disputes become bigger than they are and injure a great relationship or team cultures – be bigger than that!!!!!

Once the ball is released (very important) take your right foot to the ball if you are left handed or left foot to the ball if you are right handed. (Note: Do not do this too early. Committing too early makes it difficult to adjust if the throw is less than perfect.) Done correctly, taking your foot to the ball gives you the maximum amount of range while keeping your other foot on the bag.