Flower Mound Warriors Baseball Club

To develop good, aggressive hitters, we want them to get as many quality swings in a session as possible. The use of stations allows us to accomplish quite a lot in the time we have. Everyone is occupied with learning and the coaches can isolate the players' faults and support their efforts. Use a progression of hitting stations. This way the coaches can groove the players' swings with the tee and advance them onto the field with live hitting. We progress from using the tee to side flips (or some days short toss) to the field where they go through the opposite field drill. Then they bunt and hit either live pitching or off a pitching machine. Here it is station-by station.

1. Tee - the coach can isolate faults and work with each individual hitter. The hitters can get the feel of a good swing path and where to hit the ball in relation to the plate.
2. Side flips - also called soft toss. The hitters now hit a moving baseball. The coach kneels to the side of the player and tosses a ball into his hitting zone.
3. Short toss - the coach sits behind a screen and tosses the ball over the plate. The distance is about 15 feet and reaction time is less to simulate actual pitching.
4. Opposite field drill - Performed on the field. This is a difficult drill but one that will reward the players by producing better hitters. The coach sets up behind a screen about 10 feet in front of the hitter at the plate. He underhand tosses balls just off the outer edge of the plate. The hitter waits until the ball travels back and hits the inside of the ball, driving it to Right field (RH hitter).
5. Bunting - 4 or 5 bunts on the field before actual hitting. This gets the hitter used to seeing the ball and gauging the velocity. Early in the season teach a lot of bunting.
6. Live hitting - the hitter then hits live off a pitcher or a machine. Try to get in as many quality swings as possible in the allotted time.

1. Nobody ever became a ballplayer by walking after a ball.
2. You will never become a .300 hitter unless you take the bat off your shoulder.
3. An outfielder who throws in back of a runner is locking the barn after the horse is stolen.
4. Keep your head up and you may not have to keep it down.
5. When you start to slide, slide. He who changes his mind may have to change a good leg for a bad one.
6. Do not alibi on bad hops. Anybody can field the good ones.
7. Always run them out. You never can tell.
8. Do not quit.
9. Do not fight too much with the umpires. You cannot expect them to be as perfect as you are.
10. A pitcher who hasn't control hasn't anything.

Simply put, if you get behind in the count your batting average drops dramatically. When the batter has the advantage with a 3-1, 2-1, 1-0 count, his batting average is .340. Why? Mainly because he can begin to predict the pitch. He knows the pitcher needs to throw a strike and will throw his "best pitch." The pitcher's best and most consistent pitch is his fastball. If you know it's coming, you can expect it, you can hit it. Conversely, if he is behind in the count at 0-2, 0-1, or 1-2, his batting average drops 122 points to .217 and for all of the opposite reasons, plus the pitcher has a pitch or two to waste. He may throw anything.

We want to have the attitude that our pitchers will not become agitated when a runner reaches first base. This after all, is a common occurrence in baseball games. Too many times we see pitchers panic and maybe throw over and throw the ball away or fail to throw a quality pitch. It is important that coaches of pitchers just up from LL talk about what they expect in these situations. Concentration should be on the batter and not the runner. It is the batter who will beat you. The pitcher has to make a quality pitch in these situations so he must concentrate on the catcher. He shouldn't forget the runner is there but he cannot let him occupy too much of his attention. He must concentrate on hitting the glove. The pitcher must also maintain a demeanor of being in control. READ MORE

There is an axiom in youth baseball that every team seems to experience one bad inning on defense in most games. It is an inning where the defense seems to fall apart, the pitcher can't seem to get the ball over the plate, or he gets hit very hard. Things seem to deteriorate. You went into this "bad" inning with a lead and you come out way behind with a demoralized bunch of kids. READ MORE

Outfield play is extremely important when playing against good teams. Here are the details an outfielder should keep in mind when he throws the baseball back to the infield.

        

• Needs the ability to get rid of the ball as soon as possible. Don't hold the ball for any reason.
  
• Should throw the ball overhand. Slinging the ball causes accuracy problems. No side arming.
  
• Hold the ball across the seams when throwing, fingers spread slightly apart and thumb underneath. This provides increased accuracy and carry. 4-seam grip.
  
• When throwing to a base or home, the backspin created by the overhand grip will put good "skip" on the ball when it hits the ground.
  
• Keep the throws down. All throws should be chest or head high.
  
• Hit the cut-off man. (Throw "through" the cut-off man, chest-high.)
  
• Develop arm strength by throwing long in practice.
  
• Practice good arm care.
  
• Rule #1 - HIT THE CUTOFF MAN. Rule #2 - SEE RULE #1

Visit Baseball Excellence for additional skills and drills to make you a better coach.

A team that can execute sound, intelligent situational hitting will be a successful team. They move runners into scoring position and drive them in. To be a good situational hitting team the coach has to develop the proper mindset with his players. There is little room for "me, me" selfish players. Hitters must often give themselves up for the chance to score a run. Read more to find out how to be a Situational Hitter.