INTER-SQUAD SCRIMMAGE: Phase 7 of the DPB Practice System (Option #2)

INTER-SQUAD SCRIMMAGE

40-50 Minutes

There is nothing better to prepare players for competition than placing them “in the coliseum” and creating game-like settings for them in practice.  The best way to create this as a coach is to organize inter-squad scrimmages where players are challenged in game-like situations that regular batting practice just cannot provide.  Especially during the pre-season, a scrimmage is a great means to allow hitters to hit from the batter’s box and pitchers to pitch off the mound so that they can battle against each other as they will when actual games begin.  The following are guidelines to structure the most productive inter-squad scrimmages that will give players a competitive edge:

1.  Divide team into 4 groups:  Group A,  Group B,  Group C,  and  Group D

2.  Each hitting group will hit for 10-15 minutes and take as many turns at the plate as possible during that time slot.

3.  Pitchers and catchers are selected from the other three groups who are not hitting at that moment.   The selected pitcher will pitch for the allotted time rotation unless he exceeds a pitch count (if a pitch count is necessary for a particular pitcher).

4.  On the hitting group chart, have pitchers and catchers labeled so that they are aware that they will be pitching or catching at some point during the scrimmage.

5.  All other players who are not hitting, pitching, or catching will be placed in their primary or secondary defensive positions during the rotations.  A player could end up playing three different positions during the scrimmage.

6.  All hitters will start each at-bat with a 2-1 count.  If there is a strike out, the next batter is up. However if there is a walk or hit by pitch, the batter will stay in the box to hit.

7.  Any ball that is hit is played live.  If a batter gets a base hit, he will stay on the base reached and react to the ball off of the bat from the next hitter.

8.  If a player is on base when it is his turn to hit, he simply will leave the base he is on and go hit.  It is optional to create a “ghost runner” in this scenario to set up a situation for the defense to react to.  Just be sure to make the lead baserunner a “live runner.”

9.  To keep it more motivating for player, clear bases after every third out and keep track of how many runs are scored in each round.  Be sure to have a stopwatch and keep up with the time limit for each round so that they are the same.

10.  Do not tell players how much time is left in a round; just say, “Times up”,  when the round is over.  This will prevent the pitcher from “stalling” to prevent more runs from being scored against him.

11.  If a pitcher reaches a pitch count and needs to switch out with another player, stop the clock on that round and allow the new pitcher to get warmed up and then restart the stopwatch  until the time on that rotation runs out.  In this situation, be sure to have someone closely counting pitches if a certain pitch count is in effect.

12.  The round that scores the most runs will be rewarded with less conditioning in the next phase of practice.  If it is desired to reward them in some other creative way, go for it . . . have fun with it!!

Additional Thoughts:

–  Understand that scrimmages are great for the preseason in order to get pitchers on the mound and hitters in the batter’s box; but once the regular season is on its way, the On-Field Batting Practice format maybe the better option.  This will keep pitchers arms fresh for actual games.

–  Another option is to keep this same format and use a pitching machine instead of a live pitcher.  This may make for uneven groups in a round, but with a machine they should still get plenty of at-bats and pitchers will not get worn out.

Next blog:  CONDITIONING & CLOSING TEAM TALK: Phase 8 of the DPB Practice System

ON-FIELD BATTING PRACTICE: Phase 7 of the DPB Practice System (Option #1)

ON-FIELD BATTING PRACTICE

40-50 minutes

Now for what the players have been looking forward to the entire practice…HITTING ON THE FIELD!!  At this point in the DPB Practice System, there is an option between an on-field batting practice or an inter-squad scrimmage.  A good assessment of the team needs to be made to determine what they need to work on to prepare offensively for competition.  If it is early in the season before the schedule cranks up, scrimmages are a great option…they allow hitters to hit and pitchers to pitch to get more comfortable in game-like situations.  However once scheduled games begin, it is best to run on-field batting practices so that hitters can keep their timing and pitchers can save their arms for actual games.  If an on-field batting practice is the best option for a particular day, the following guidelines will give some insight on how to maximize time:

ON-FIELD BATTING PRACTICE

1.  Divided team into 3 groups:  Group A, Group B, and Group C.

2.  Group A hits and runs bases, Group B works in the infield, and Group C shags balls in the outfield.

3.  Each rotation will last 12-15 minutes.  After the first rotation, hitters go to the outfield; infielders go in to hit; and outfielders move into the infield.  This is then repeated for the last rotation. 

4.  Coaches will pitch from a shortened distance (about 40-45 ft.) behind an L-screen or use a pitching machine (also behind an L-screen).

5.  Hitters will get at least two rounds of hitting.  Here’s a sample:

– 1st round:  Two bunts, Ten swings with contact

– 2nd round:  Two bunts, Two hit and run swings, and Eight swings with contact

* If time remains in the rotation, each hitter will get another chance to hit (even if it is only one swing each).

6.  The on-deck hitter will take cuts off of a tee into a screen until his turn to hit.  The remaining hitters in the group go to a pre-determined base and take turns reading the ball off the bat from their secondary leads.  Runners will not advance all the way to the next base…just three or four strides, then return to the same base.

7.  If using a portable backstop for home plate area, coaches can hit fungo to infielders from either side of the cage.  First base side will hit to 2B and 3B, and third base side will hit to SS and 1B.  If no protective screening is available, infielders can field baseballs that come for the hitter at home plate.

–  Fungo hitters need to wait until the ball is hit by batter at the plate and then hit to their    designated  infielders.

–  Fungo hitters also need to be aware of baserunners running between bases.

8.  Outfielders need to take a particular field (right, center, or left) and shag anything that comes to the outfield.  One of the players in the rotation needs to serve as the “bucket man”.  The bucket man stands in the grass just behind second base with a bucket (preferably behind a screen) and receives baseballs from the outfielders.  He then places the balls in the bucket so that when the BP pitcher runs out, they can swap out buckets.

Additional Thoughts:

–  Make sure that defensive players in the infield and outfield are making plays when the ball is hit to them from the hitter in the batter’s box.  This can be great chance to time prep steps and read live balls off the bat.  No errors!!

–  Use a catcher behind the plate during BP.  This can be a good opportunity to get extra work on framing / blocking.  It also gives the BP pitcher a target to throw to.

 

Next blog:  INTER-SQUAD SCRIMMAGE: Phase 7 of the DPB Practice System (Option #2)

TEAM DEFENSE: Phase 6 of the DPB Practice System

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, 1^st & 3^rd 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 1^st & 3^rd 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

FUNDAMENTAL SKILL ROTATIONS: Phase 5 of the DPB Practice System

FUNDAMENTAL SKILL ROTATIONS

30-40 Minutes

The first 4 phases of practice – TEAM TALK, WARM-UP, BASERUNNING, and THROWING –  should take no more than 30 minutes to complete.  The next 30-40 minutes should be devoted to FUNDAMENTAL SKILL ROTATIONS.

Photo from Microsoft Clipart

First of all, divide the team into groups according to defensive position, namely Catchers, Infielders, and Outfielders.  Keep in mind that the groups do not need to be completely equal in number (but do have at least 2 catchers in the group of catchers).  Each group will then rotate through 3 stations:

1.  Pitching Station

2.  Hitting Station

3.  Defense Station

Infielders go to the Hitting rotation first, then to the Pitching rotation, and finish at the Defense rotation where they will work on drills for infielders (groundballs, double plays, bunt coverage, etc.).  When Catchers arrive at their Defense station, they will have drill work designed for catchers (blocking, receiving, throws to bases, etc.); and of course, Outfielders will have drills intended for playing the outfield (fly ball communication, cut-offs and relays, etc.).  In a 40 minute session, each rotation will last approximately 12 minutes with a little time in between to rotate to each station.

Pitching Station

At the Pitching station, the entire focus is on pitching.  The goal is to develop as many pitchers as possible.  In the youth levels (recreation, select, and travel) through high school (and even college level), even players who are usually position player are called on to pitch from time to time.  So although the players are grouped in rotations according to defensive position (catchers, infielders, and outfielders), the Pitching station allows for pitcher development for every player on the team instead of just the few more experienced pitchers.

The focus of the Pitching station will change from practice to practice.  During the pre-season, this station will focus on bullpens, pick-off moves and plays, pitching fielding practice (PFP), etc.  Once the season starts, the concentration will change to game prep work and conditioning (depending on workloads during games).

Hitting Station

Work performed at the Hitting station will have a high focus on hitting mechanics.  This is the time in practice to perfect each player’s swing.  Make sure that coaches running this station can breakdown swing mechanics and provide quality feedback to each player.  All drills should be done in a cage and with hitting screens.  This station should consist of a variety of drills which will allow for a high number of repetitions.  Quality and quantity of swings should be emphasized together.

This rotation should include 3 or 4 stations which will keep each player working with no “down time” allowed.  Players will circuit through the series of drills as follows in these 12 minute examples:

     3 Stations / 4 Minutes each

1.  Tee work in screen

2.  Side toss in screen

3.  Short toss (“flips”) in cage

     4 Stations / 3 Minutes each

1.  Whiffle golf ball machine

2.  Lids (“Towny Townsend Hitting Discs”)

3.  Curveball machine in cage

4.  Tee work in screen

Defense Station

As previously stated, each rotation which comes to the Defense station will be grouped according to position: catchers, infielders, and outfielders.  When each group arrives at the station, the focus will change in line with appropriate drill work for each position.  Therefore, it is imperative to have coaches working at this station who are knowledgeable in a number of defensive areas.  Also keep in mind that some players may play a number of positions so their defensive grouping can change from practice to practice; they may work with catchers one day and then outfielders the next day (this is especially important in the lower youth levels so that players get exposure to different positions).

It is most beneficial to have a drill series customized for each position.  Once players are familiar with the names of different drills in a series, they will waste little time going from one drill to the next. Thus, maximizing defensive drill time!

Next blog:  TEAM DEFENSE: Phase 6 of the DPB Practice System