TEAM DEFENSE
15-25 Minutes
Once FUNDAMENTAL SKILL ROTATION work is complete, the next segment of practice is TEAM DEFENSE. This is where all the individual defensive work comes together. Consistently remind players of the line, “Defense wins championships.” More often than not, pitching and solid defense will beat good hitting. Depending on the level of play, players need to know that if they do not execute well defensively, it will “cut into” their batting practice time (tell more advanced players, “If we don’t get around to hitting today, we don’t get around to hitting.”)
Three possible ways to cover team defense during this part of practice are as follows:
1. Instruction
If the TEAM DEFENSE phase is used to instruct, players need to be taught how to perform all specialty defenses as rundowns, bunt defenses, 1st & 3rd defenses, and pick-off plays. This is especially important during a team’s pre-season practices.
Also, this is the time to teach all cut-off and relay situations so players know what to do with the ball on anything hit to the outfield with runners on (this should also include double relays). During the teaching of how you want each defense implemented and how each fits into your signal system, remember that mistakes are going to happen at the beginning. Only after players have become familiar with the different specialty defenses should you begin to demand perfection. If it’s not done right, DO IT AGAIN…until it’s mastered (especially in the higher levels of the game).
2. Team Drills
Once players demonstrate that they know the team defensive concepts, it is time to drill them. Specialty defenses such as rundowns, bunt defenses, and 1st & 3rd defenses can be drilled by placing defenders in infield positions and having outfielders put on helmets and run the bases in game-like situations.
Cut-offs, relays, and tags will involve players at each position on the field. Different situations can be created as a coach hits fungo to one of the outfielders who fields the ball and hits the relay man who then throws it to a base or plate where a tag is simulated.
In drilling both specialty defenses and cut-offs & relays, have players perform a certain number of “perfect plays” before moving on the BP / SCRIMMAGE phase of practice. An example of this is for the group to perform 10 perfect cut-offs and relays or 7 perfect bunt defenses in a row. If the designated number is not reached, it starts over and defenders try again until the goal is reached. Once again, the idea that “Defense wins championships” cannot be overemphasized.
3. Competitions
When defensive concepts have been taught properly and drilled to perfection, competitions can be used during this time segment to put players “in the coliseum” (or game-like situations). Competitions make players concentrate more and gain more from the activity.
A simple competition for infielders that is very effective is “T-Drill.” Place infielders at each infield spot, including pitcher and catcher. All other players put on helmets and get their bats. A hitting tee is placed on home plate, and hitters take turns at the plate. The pitcher will simulate a pitch to the catcher so that fielders can time prep steps, and the hitter will hit a hard groundball or linedrive to any spot on the infield (anything hit to the outfield does not count). If the infielders make an out, they get a point. But if the hitter makes if safely to first base, they get a point. First team to seven wins! Play best of 3, 5, or even 7 (World Series style) depending on time.
Another competition that is very useful is “21.” Place a defender at each defensive position, except pitcher. Everyone else is a hitter taking turns at the plate. The ball is pitched by a coach, machine, or even short flips behind a screen. It is the job of the defense to handle the ball off the bat to get outs. There are no strikeouts, walks, bunting, or stealing. If the offense scores a run involving an error (an un-earned run), the entire current defense will drop gloves and run a 12 second sprint – outfielders to home plate and back to glove, infielders to the outfield fence and back to glove, and catchers to second base and back to glove. The object is to record 21 outs (a 7-inning game) as quickly as possible. After every third out, all players will sprint to the dugout to find new position and hustle back out on defense or get ready to hit.
Once again the saying goes, “If we don’t get to hitting today, we don’t get to hitting.” Therefore, players are racing against the clock in order to keep the ON-FIELD BP / SCRIMMAGE time segment in place.
Next blog: ON-FIELD BP / SCRIMMAGE: Phase 7 of the DPB Practice System