developing infielders. areas of development physical aspects leadership aspects mental aspects
TRANSCRIPT
Developing Infielders
Areas of Development
• Physical Aspects• Leadership Aspects• Mental Aspects
Baseball is …
A Game Failure …
Coached by Negative People …
Played in a Hostile Environment.
Played in a Hostile Environment.
Mental Skills
• Ability to perform a skill correctly under intense pressure (“Mental Toughness”)
• “Bear down!”--“Concentrate!”--“Get it done!”• Instead, give them something to go to!– Heads Up Baseball by Ken Ravizza– The Mental Game of Baseball by H.A. Dorfman
Distractions
• Previous error• Struck out last AB• Hitting/Fielding slump• Umpire• Newspaper/TV• Opponent dugout• Noisy crowd• Idiot fan
• Coach is on me• Will I start• Field conditions• Dad• Fielding streak• Bad exam• Girlfriend• Inconsistent pitcher
Turn Off the Noise
Live BR vs. Live Defense Drill
• Two teams• Coach at home plate with a fungo• Pitchers rotate quickly to mound from sideline• Begin with runner on 1B, no outs• Extra runners form line at home – wait 1 count• Play 9 innings before switching• Players communicate out and inning• Coach controls pressure with score/fungo
Dumb It Down “See Ball, Hit Ball.”
Dumb It Down
Dumb It Down
H.A. Dorfman’s Mental Approach to Fielding
• Anticipation and Attentiveness• Goals – Process-oriented/action/short-term• Expectations – yours, not those of others• Dedication – focused on the goals you set• Responsibility – no bad hops, no excuses• Attitude – is fielding important? (Manny vs. Ozzie)• Confidence – state of mind formed by achievement
of daily goals• Preparation – practice the way you want to play
Defensive Goals
Result Goals• Fielding % = .985• Defensive MVP of League• Set a record for
assists/putouts• Start every game at 3B
Process/Action Goals• Arrive for early work at
least four times this week• Get infielders together to
work on rundowns today• Start 20 DPs to my
backhand side• Be aware of my thought
before each pitch in scrimmage
Visualization
Routine
Take Ownership of the Field
Development Stages• Unconscious Incompetence – Player can't catch a cold and doesn't
have a clue why. (Is there sufficient talent? Is the player “teachable”?)
• Conscious Incompetence – Player still can't catch a cold, but now knows what he is doing wrong. (You're teaching and he is learning.)
• Conscious Competence - Goes out to the infield telling himself what he has to do to succeed and then executes the plan. (Teaching and discipline lead to success.)
• Unconscious Competence – Player expects every pitch will be hit to him. See the ball; catch the ball. (If you're at this level and start thinking about how to do it, you're taking a step backward. If you're at this level coming out of high school, you might skip college and go to Class A.)
Leadership
Player Makeup
Player 1 Player 2 Player 30
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Tools (Hardware)Intangibles (Software)
The Game Speeds Up
RHH Running to 1B LHH Running to 1B
Above Average 4.2 Sec 4.1 Sec.
Average 4.3 4.2
Below Average 4.4 4.3
Well Below Average 4.5 4.4
ML FB Velocity
Well Above Average 94+
Above Average 92-93
Average 89-91
Below Average 87-88
Well Below Average 86 and below
Infield Objectives• Prepare mentally• Play high level game of catch• Consistently utilize efficient movement of
upper and lower body
Pre-Contact
• Know the hitter• Know the pitch• Read location• Read the swing
Ready Position
Triangle
Triangle
Bad Triangles
Bad Triangle
Narrow Base Deep Hands
Use of the Glove
Hinge and Fold
4 Ways to Avoid a Car Accident
• Turn Right• Turn Left• Slow Down• Speed Up
Gas and Brake Pedal
4 Places to Field a Ground Ball
1
2
34
The Difference Maker
Abandon the Triangle
Abandon the Triangle
Forehand
Backhand
Ground Ball Drills
• Shorthops with partner– At him– Forehand– Backhand
• Pick-a-hop• One-hand fungo• Rounding
Grip
Hand Separation
Direction
• Throwing leg under• Headlights• Elbows up and on line• Eyes level• Stay in the legs
Direction
Posture and Arm Path
Release Angle
Extension
One-Knee Correct
One-Knee Incorrect
Shoulder Turn
Heel Over
DP Pivot Throwing
DP Pivot Throwing
DP Feeds
DP Feeds
DP Feeds
DP Feeds
Tag Plays
Relays
Other Drills
• Four Corner Catch• Z Catch• Man In the Middle• 21
Rundowns
Final Thoughts
• Fielding Percentage– Jimmy Rollins 2008 (.985)– Cal Ripken 1990 (.996)
• Creating pressure in practice is key – work the mental game
• Frequency of training • Infielders must be defensive leaders• Fungos are “side toss” … make it live
