Baseball Coaches Clinic for Reading Little League Baseball

Baseball Coaches Clinic for Reading Little League Baseball Presented by: Pete Moscariello Scott Farris Reading High School Baseball Coaches, Retired Co-Owners, Personal Best Mental Training

Thank You Dan Robinson & Reading Little League for approving-organizingrecruiting-copying -inviting us

Personal Best Co-Owners Pete Moscariello • • • Head Baseball Coach at Reading HS for 35 years 560 -208 career record; . 730 winning pct. 14 league championships; 1 state championship 8 times Middlesex League Coach of the Year 2 times Boston Globe Division II Coach of the Year Inducted Mass. Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inducted Reading Memorial High School Athletics Hall of Fame 2011 Mass. Interscholastic Athletic Association Baseball Coach of the Year 2012 Mass. Baseball Coaches Association President’s Award Scott Farris • • • Owner of 4 successful businesses Assistant Baseball Coach Reading High School 20 years 2010 National BCA District I Assistant Coach of the Year 2009 Mass. Baseball Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year 1992 Mass. HS Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year One of area’s most sought-after instructor in hitting-pitching-mental toughness

Tonight’s Objective • To help Reading Little League players learn, improve, and have a successful and enjoyable baseball experience. • We will do this by teaching coaches key baseball coaching skills & strategies that you can apply this spring and beyond.

Last Year – did Skills and Drills first. This year, reverse it. Tonight’s Agenda I. Why do you coach? II. What you need to coach effectively III. Player-Coach & Parent-Coach Relationships IV. What you do is Important and Why V. Practice Organization VI. Skills and Drills VII. Personal Best Mental Toughness Program

Reading Little League Baseball Coach I. Why do you coach? What are your goals and objectives? Let’s discuss

II. What you need to coach effectively • • • Equipment Assistant Coaches Field Space Practice Plan – will show you later Knowledge of the game Knowledge of working with kids (and most of all - the “Why do you coach” reasons)

What you Need Equipment: Load up the SUV ! baseballs, tennis balls, wiffle balls, bats, bases, Lscreen, helmets, catcher’s gear, home plates, bases, cones Personnel : Assistant Coaches ! Field Space : full diamond, outfield space, section of field; become master of using small spaces effectively!

More Needs • Knowledge of the game ü from tonight’s class ü from books, DVDS, online, own experiences • Knowledge of working with kids • trust your instincts • treat each player the way you’d want your own son/daughter treated

III. Relationships Coach – Player • Expectations for effort, behavior • Encouragement & positivity • Feedback – be clear on what they are doing correctly and on what they need to improve.

• Feedback Sandwich • Catch them doing something right • Frequent, clear, honest, positive, communication is key Players don’t care what you know until they know that you care.

III. Relationships Coach – Parent • Be honest, calm, positive in all discussions. • Pre-season meeting and/or email about your rules, policies, expectations. • Then regular communication (emails, texts to parents) throughout season can prevent issues. • “We are all interested in Billy having a positive experience; we can talk about how to work together to make that happen. ” • Bottom line – if parent wants to have input, tell him/her to grab a fungo bat and a clipboard and come to practice!

III. Relationships Coach – Coach • Constant communication! • Must be on same page regarding goals – long and short term • Clear delineation of duties and responsibilities at practices and games. • Encourage input and ideas from all coaches • Make it clear – Head Coach makes final decision in all matters • Off-field time together is important

IV. What you do is Important • Winning vs. Development • Spending Time vs. Investing in Kids • You are a model – behavior, sportsmanship, character • Mr. Messenger – Reading Youth Baseball 1965 • What kids remember • How will you be remembered? What impact do you want to have on your players? WP

IV. What you do is Important We believe that coaching baseball brings us great satisfaction knowing that we have made positive and permanent impact in our players’ lives. video

V. Practice Organization Absolutes: • • Start and End on time Set goals for each practice Have a plan – specific, timed Utilize space and coaching personnel Keep players engaged Insist on effort & energy (and model it) Less Talk, More Action (minimize down time) Communication and Feedback

Practice Plan should include: • • • Warm-up Throwing Individual defensive skill work: P, C, INF, OF Team Defense Hitting & Bunting Baserunning Team Offense Competition & Fun Conditioning Mental Training

Sample Practice Plan Link Handout after page 17

VI. Skills and Drills • • • Dynamic Warm-Up Throwing Catching the thrown ball Fielding Ground Balls Fielding Fly Balls Hitting Bunting Baserunning Pitching & Catching– will not discuss tonight, but handouts pages 2 -10

Warm-Up • • Dynamic Warm-Up Why dynamic and not static? When, how, what to do Exercises • • • Throwing Warm body first 30 feet – 60 feet – 90 feet Proper grip and mechanics each throw Move to catch ball – 2 hands Handout page 1

Throwing Mechanics • Most important defensive skill! • All players must be strong throwers • Mechanics • Drills (see next page) • Throw every day

Throwing Drills • 1 knee • 2 knees • Cocking position • 10 toes • Walking Figure 8 • Follow Through • Hop, Throw • Goal Post • Long Toss Positional Throwing • INF: backhand, forehand, slow rollers, DP feeds • OF: self-toss, ground balls, gap • C: throws to bases, bunts, BID and recover • P: bunts, change up, hit the hat

Catching the Thrown Ball • Mechanics • Drills Ø Coach toss – high, low, FH, BH Ø Wall catch Ø Partner catch

Fielding Ground Balls Infielders Types of Ground Balls: • Straight on • Glove Side • V-Cut • Backhand • Slow Rollers Infielder Mechanics

Ground Balls Drills 1. Start in fielding position – Straight – Dry 2. Start in fielding position - Straight – Roll Ball – no glove, with glove 3. Start ready position– Straight – Roll Ball – no glove, with glove ØRepeat 1, 2, 3 – Start in forehand, backhand position ØCoach/partner throw GB – S, L, R - no throws / with throws ØLittle Gloves ØCones – for angle and for V-cut ØShort Hop Drill ØDive Drill – from knees ØFungo – S, L, R - no throws / with throws ØSlow Rollers – no throws / with throws ØIn position (SS, 3 B, etc. ): roll or fungo GB, throw to 1, 2, 3, 4 Ø 4 Corner GB Drill ØSituational ground balls – runners on 1, 2, 3, 1&2, loaded, etc. ØVideo Oregon State

Fielding Ground Balls Outfielders • Outfielder Mechanics • Drills Ø do all INF drills – train Outfielders like Infielders Then: Ø Roll GB to OF: nobody on base, runner on 1 st, runner 2 nd Ø Fungo GB – one hop throws Ø OF in position – situational GB with throws , no runners Ø OF in position – situational GB with throws , with live runners ØBalls in the gap ØBalls near the fence

Double Plays - feeds & pivots 3 rd baseman feeds shortstop feeds 2 nd baseman feeds 1 st baseman feeds pitcher feeds pivots : SS, 2 nd baseman

Double Play Drills • Coach roll ground balls – work on feeds only • Coach feed – work on pivots and throws • Coach roll ground balls – work on feeds, pivots, throws • Coach fungo – with full infield

“Okay, three more. Just like I’ve done a million times. ” Our obligation as coaches is to prepare our players for what will occur in baseball games. We do this by teaching skills and strategies and having them do them many, many times. That way, they will play with confidence, knowing they have performed the skill in practice “a million times”.

Infield Positioning • Back (regular) • In • Half-Way • 2 up the middle • Strategies

Tag Plays • Positioning • Footwork • Glovework • Drills

Fielding Fly Balls Types of Fly Balls • At outfielder • Glove side • Throwing hand side • Back • In Outfielder Mechanics

Fielding Fly Balls - Drills • • • Self-toss Partner (coach) toss OF Drill series Frisbee In position – coach toss / FB priority Fungo – no throws / with throws Fungo – at, left, right, in, back 2 -line communication Fence drill

Team Defense Drills • • • • Bunt Defense 1 st & 3 rd defense Steal Defense Cutoffs and Relays: no runners and live runners Purdue Hustle Drill Rundowns 2 b/SS – double plays, 1 b/3 b/C – bunts UMaine team defense drill 21 outs 1 -2 -3 -4 Fly Ball / Pop Up communication drill 3 groups: P-C-1 b, P-SS-2 b, P-3 b-C Fungo Scrimmage; Overhand Toss Scrimmage Rotation Game Fun Competitions

Hitting Mechanics Drills Ø Dry Ø Soft toss Ø Overhand Toss Ø Machine Ø Live BP – coach pitch Coaching hitters /// Using Video Handout page 11 -14

Hitting Drills Feet wide Step drill Head down Split grip One-handed Reverse angle Opposite field High ball Low ball Miss, hit Warm up, hit Pull drill LF, RF Stride board Offset I, II 1 -2 -3 -4 tuck load back leg V follow through skip a rock 2 tees close front eye velocity toss bounce drill on back toe drop drill bat parallel tap drill Handout page 15 -17

Team Hitting Drills • • • Runner on 3 b, 1 out Runner on 2 b, 2 outs 2 -inning scrimmage Score a run, stay up R on 1; bunt him up, move him over, get him in • Overhand toss scrimmage: fly ball = 3 outs

Examples of Effectived BP (Overhand Toss) 1) 4 wide, 4 opposite 2) 1 -hoppers through infield (6) 2) 3 Bunts, 3 Bombs Or 1) Miss, hit (6) 2) LF, RF (6) 3) Game Winners (3)

Bunting “I could go down to the bowling alley and find ten guys who can bunt. ” – John Doherty Mechanics Drills • One line bunters – coach toss • 4 bases – for location • Cones and targets • Include bunting in every BP round Strategy

Baserunning • Home to 1 st • Home to 2 nd • 1 to 3 , 2 to 4 • Aggressive baserunning • Sliding – bent leg, hook, head first ?

Baserunning • “starting position, when to “lead” • Stealing Situations to teach R on 1, R on 2, R on 3, R 1&2, R 1&3, R 2&3, BL Teach situation separately Drills: React, Fungo Scrimmage, OT Scrimmage, Stealing, Reading BID

Competitive Drills & Team Building Hitting Games Football Pass Box Tag Rock, paper, scissors Bunting Competition Head and Shoulders Throwing Long Toss – Hit the Hat Snickers Play of the Day Team Pushups Throwing relay races Cone Ball Baseball Obstacle Course

Thank you We wish you great success If we can help in any way, please give us a call

Has presented over 200 workshops and sessions on Mental Toughness and Peak Performance to: College & HS Teams: baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, wrestling, hockey Parents-Coaches-Professionals-Students: workshops and courses on mental toughness, leadership, coaching MIAA – Gillette Stadium BCA Convention - Raleigh, NC Baseball Bash Convention – Richmond, VA Dave Gallagher Baseball - Trenton, NJ

“Personal Best had a profound impact on my sales career at EMC. The messaging and techniques that Personal Best teaches are exactly what I needed to better my performance as an EMC Sales Rep. In my opinion, the entire EMC community would benefit from the strategies that Personal Best promotes. ” -- Jim Murphy, Director of Sales Strategy, Data Protection & Availability Division, EMC Corp; Reading HS and Northeastern University Hall of Famer. Former professional football player “Coach Farris and Coach Moscariello have greatly influenced my attitude, mental toughness, and ultimately my success as a high school, college, and professional baseball player. I would highly recommend Personal Best to athletes at any level. ” --Steve Langone, Head Major League Scout, Boston Red Sox; Reading HS and Boston College Hall of Famer. Former professional baseball player.

We will teach you Mental Toughness Skills: • • • Present Moment Focus Positive Mindset Positive Self-Talk Confidence Focus on the Process, not the Outcome Visualization Performance Routines Goal-Setting Leadership & Team Building Response to Adversity

That will enable you to be more: • • Confident Focused and Present Positive Relaxed Intense Competitive Able to Respond to Adversity Productive. . . In school, at work, in performance, at home

Personal Best Handouts In packet pages 18 -24