Any Tips for Indoors??

[BufordT]

Since we've been inside all spring so far and it looks like it will be another week or so of gymtime, anyone have any ideas on how to keep things fresh? Only so much bunt coverage, throwing, running, and cage work to be done. Guys getting squirrely. Any tips?

[Lights Out 30]

If you have a left handed pitcher, simulate a pick off move to help runners read him. This will take up some time.

 

 

Also, you may want to bring in your pitchers on a saturday morning and work with their motion and work without a ball. Then once you get most of the mechanisc straightend out do some throwing. 15 fastballs, 5 curve/slider(offspead) and 5 change-ups, working the different zones of the plate.

 

 

Another good drill to work on in high school is with your catchers. Teach them how to block a ball in the dirt. Slide their feet and drop to their knees getting their chest in front of the ball tucking their chin. A good way to do this is have them gear up, and since your in the gym, put a rug/mat underneath them and use tennis balls to work on this technique.

[STRIKE3]

Review bunt coverages, assignments on balls in the gaps, down the lines and cut-man location. Discuss philosophy on pitching, approach to hitters, getting ahead in count, changing speeds.

 

Review signs and defensive calls. If you have a portal mound, allow the pitchers to throw from. Include catcher drills and baserunning, as mentioned above.

 

Numerous things to work on.

[Lights Out 30]

Agree with you Strike, so many things to work on while in the gym and a lot of reviewing can be done, to install the fundamentals to these kids, so when they get onto the field it is second nature.

[playhard]

If the gym is big enough, go over 1st and 3rd defense (runners on first and third) for your infielders. Use your outfielders as baserunners. This is key in high school and will get your infielders, pitchers, and catcher on the same page, so when you hit the field its already fresh in their minds.

[KIDS FAN]

We used to use the bleachers to help with our kids rounding the bag at second base. Running straight into the bleachers will make a young man think about running the bases and not just running the bases. Crossover step drills are always a way to mix conditioning and baserunning. It gets old but there are hundreds of drills to use. I think catchers and pitchers have more fundmental drills to use but just get creative because it's tough to keep it flowing inside. Kids get tired, coaches get aggravated and then practice becomes a burden.

[cooperstown]

Always work defensive situations. Frankly, it's better to use that time indoors so that when you get one of the few precious dry days this time of year you are ready to go.

 

But I always like to do some things to keep it fun for the boys, too.

 

1) Play a game of ground ball "knockout" for a prize. You can even mix this up by having a game of "backhand knockout", assuming you have someone who is good with a fungo.

 

2) Set up team of four boys and have a timed "four corners" drill. You set up cones in a square approximately 60 ft. apart, with one boy at each cone. On the whistle have them throw around the square in one direction for 30 seconds and how many times they get around, then stop and give them 30 seconds in the other direction. The team with most revolutions doesn't have to do pushups/sprints. Emphasizes good footwork, quick hands, using two hands, and especially good throws. They find out quick that one bad throw will destroy their time (I usually have a backup ball ready to go and immediately throw it in, but as a penalty I deduct one revolution).

 

3) Have timed foot races, emphasizely staying low on a good crossover step and running 90 ft. But set up two separate groups - a faster group and a slower group, so that the slower boys on the team can also be in a competition. Sometimes I like to do a second timing with the stipulation that any player that does not improve his time, get a slight "punishment" (pushups, up/downs, whatever).

 

4) I love this "Four Corners Bunt Drill" to finish any practice:

 

Set up 2 fielders at home, 1B, 2B, and 3B, with one person receiving the throws and the other person standing behind with a backup ball (in the event of a wild throw). Have a player start from pitcher's area and throw home. As soon as this receiver catches the ball, he rolls a bunt straight back to the pitcher (who automatically charges after the throw). The coach then yells "1-1-1" or "2-2-2" or "3-3-3". The fielder properly fields the bunt and throws to the base that has been yelled out. Upon making that throw, he again follows his throw to where he just threw it to field the next bunt (he is simulating he is again charging a bunt at home) and the coach again yells to where he wants the next throw to go. In the event he makes a wild throw, the fielder with the backup ball rolls the bunt so the drill can keep doing. I end the drill with the call "4-4-4" and the pitcher properly underhands the ball to the catcher. I usually leave each kid out there for about 30 seconds. Besides being fun, it emphasizes good bunt fielding mechanics and is great conditioning (don't be afraid to yell "2-2-2" several times in a row!!). Try it!!

[YankeeFan22]

Well all I know is I dislike it very much. We have had like 18 practices and only 2 outside. Gym gets very boring, can't take much more of it.

[BufordT]

Tincup, I feel your pain. We are in the same situation and with snow coming it doesn't look any better for next week. Cooperstown, thanks that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for; unique drills. Hopefully we all know most of the basics to cover but doing it over and over and over and over INSIDE is driving me and the boys crazy. WE need something fun and out of our norm. Anyone else have any "fun" but unusual ideas. We have played wiffle ball twice just to "scrimmage." Thanks again to all that have helped so far.

[cooperstown]

Tincup, I feel your pain. We are in the same situation and with snow coming it doesn't look any better for next week. Cooperstown, thanks that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for; unique drills. Hopefully we all know most of the basics to cover but doing it over and over and over and over INSIDE is driving me and the boys crazy. WE need something fun and out of our norm. Anyone else have any "fun" but unusual ideas. We have played wiffle ball twice just to "scrimmage." Thanks again to all that have helped so far.

 

Glad to help. One or two more off the top of my head are below. BTW, as you can see, I like to do anything that builds in some element of competition. It keeps the boys interested and the intensity up, which is critical as you start to hit indoor burnout.

 

1) Work on rundowns between all bases, but especially 1B-2B and 3B-H. Break the boys up into a couple different groups, with each group getting a chance to be both fielders and runners. The running group who is safe the most times doesn't have to run.

 

2) Have them wear sweat pants and long shirts, such as their hoodies, tucked into their pants (want to avoid floor burns!) and work on taking their leads off first and diving back into the base.

 

3) This works good if you have a cage or if you don't and are in a gym, you may have to use Easton Incrediballs (they are softer than regular balls - cost about $6 a piece). Break boys up into teams and toss bp, with a coach scoring each hit (1, 2, or 3 points). Each boy, and each team, gets so many swings. Top scoring team gets prize or no punishment.

 

I try not to make the prize "no punishment" every time and usually give out candy bars, seeds, Gatorade, whatever. Don't know why 16 year old boys seem to get so enthused about that, but they just do.

 

Good luck. The weather should break here in a couple months. :irked:

[saint4]

I hate indoor practice. We are having it in the school gym with rubbery balls, very soft. The Batting cage is set up on a landing and we can use hard balls there. We were hoping to get outside Monday, but does not look like it is going to happen.

[STRIKE3]

A lot of great ideas and for those who don't like the gym work, what you accomplish via fundamentals, is often critical to success in the season.

 

Like others mention, Baserunning, Pickoff moves, Reading Pitchers, Catchers Pop Throws, Pick-ups, Box Runs, Bunting, 4-Corners, Towel Drills, PFP's, Catcher Drills, etc....so much do cover and not often enough time.

 

Some programs, have purchased portable indoor mounds, to throw in the gym.

[cooperstown]

Some programs, have purchased portable indoor mounds, to throw in the gym.

 

If you don't have the money, you can build one - a pretty darn nice one - yourself for around $100-120. I think I still have my printouts off the website I used to build one that might have the website address listed, if anyone would be interested.

[BigBlueBash]

There is a blizzard outside... go further indoors. In fact, head for the congressional bunkers under the hills of West (by god) Virginia!!!

 

But to be serious, the problem is not the weather or what drills to do, the problem is keeping the kids interested (as you already know). Make it fun... don't make it a "drill" or an "exercise". There were some good posts on how to keep it fun, yet fundamental (pun intended). Good luck to all the coaches during this period... that's why you make the big bucks. JK, LOL

[YankeeFan22]

Yeah if the weather putting us in the gyms wasn't bad enough now its got to get worse so we can't even make it out the gyms safely. I'm so tired of this weather.