2019-04-05

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• Academic All-Canadian with Douglas College Royals

(NWAACC) and the UBC Thunderbirds (NAIA).

• Alberta & BC Provincial Camps

• Canada Cup (Team Alberta 17U)

• Alberta Prospects Series

• Played in Japan and Australia

• Coached in Venezuela & Dominican Republic

• Level 3 baseball coach with the NCCP

Miki Kawahara

2019-04-05

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• Coaching for 25 years a many different

levels

• Started in Bowridge Little League

• Joined Babe Ruth in 2010

• Current role is Technical Director for 13 &

14 year old league

• Key role in mentoring young coaches as

they start their coaching careers

Troy Lamb

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Coaching Philosophy

Your son/daughter

Use their name

Ask them questions

Individualize for today’s players

Splitting groups – challenge the top end…skills and leadership

Develop skills with parents

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Coaching Philosophy

Educate…always have an answer to

the question “WHY?”

Engage…players need to be active in

the learning process

Encourage…players need to be able

to make mistakes

The Killer L’s

Lines

– Use stations, break players into small groups

Lectures

– Have players feel their way through it

– Stop when needed

Laps

– There are better ways to warm up

– Running shouldn’t be punishment

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Practice Planning

1. Short Dynamic (5 minutes)

2. “Handle the Ball” (3+ stations x 2-3 mins)– Baserunning

– 2 stations for Rookie ball players

3. Upper Body Dynamic (5-8 minutes)

4. Throwing Progression (15 minutes)

5. Station Work – defence & offence

6. Team Systems – bunt defence, cuts & relays

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2. “Handle the Ball” / Baserunning

3. Upper Body Dynamic

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Practice Planning

1. Short Dynamic (5 minutes)

2. “Handle the Ball” (3+ stations x 2-3 mins)

3. Upper Body Dynamic (5-8 minutes)

4. Throwing Progression (15 minutes)

5. Station Work – defence & offence

6. Team Systems

– bunt defence, cuts & relays

Rookie Ball Recommendations

Go to a tee after 7 pitches during games

Start with bases loaded

On deck hitting drills

Have a drill in the OF

Label the helmet rack with players last name

– When hitting, glove is in rack

– When fielding, helmet is in rack

Start players on one side of the field and switch OF to INF after half the team hits

– Next inning, players start on the other side of the field

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Alternative Practice Planning

Engaging warm up

– Dynamic on cones

– Ladder / hoops

– Zig-zag cones

Game play – 4 vs 4 or 5 vs 5

– Count outs, not runs, to put an emphasis on defence

– Focus is hustle and playing solid defence

Competitive snippets

– Ways to give players a look at a small portion of the game

INF vs Runner Example

Remember to Include…

Diamond orientation

– Follow this up with a game

“over the line”

“round-trip relay”

Time to develop pitching

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Survival Kit

1. CONES

2. HOOPS

3. TENNIS BALLS & RAQUET BALL RAQUET

4. LOTS OF WIFFLES

5. HITTING MAT

6. POSITIONAL DOTS

Defensive Development

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Fielding Ground Balls

1. Ready position

2. Foot position vs footwork

3. Hand position & glove work

– “Glove eye”

4. Body position as they field

– “See it in…chin-to-chin”

5. Throwing footwork

– “Toe-to-heel”

Ready Position

Before the ball is hit

Athletic position

Palms open

Glove down

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Foot Position vs Footwork

Foot Position vs Footwork

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Glove Work

The “glove eye”

Working out through fielding position

Keep hands relaxed

Forehand

– “Circle”

Backhand

– “Scrape”

Body Position as they Field

Hands out front

“See it in…chin-to-chin”

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Toe to Heel

Toes on a straight line to the target

Transition from fielding to throwing

“Toe-to-Heel”

–More for the advanced player

Fielding Fly Balls

1. Ready position

2. Foot position

3. 2 Hands

Tennis Balls

Lower Fly Balls to Start

CPPP

PP

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Throwing &

Receiving

Throwing & Receiving Practice Progression

Throw to hoops High 5 – Low 5

Call out colors

Play catch, ultimate baseball

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Throwing Mechanics

1. “Thumb to Thigh”

2. “Ball to Sky”

3. “Let it Fly”

Or…

1. “Toes”

2. “Nose”

3. “Throws”

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Coaches Checklist

1. Feet in line

2. Where the hands start

3. How the ball comes out of the glove

4. Back of arm circle

5. Height at release

6. Glove side

7. Smooth & quick

For the Low Arm Action…

More advanced players may find that a slightly

lower arm slot

Fingers still behind the ball

When learning – emphasize high release

– Touch the wall

– Take ball out of coaches hand

– Kneeling throws

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Receiving the Baseball

START WITH COMFORT!

Glove position

– Fingers Up

– Fingers Down

Out in front

Two hands in the box

One hand outside the box

Receiving the Baseball

DRILLS

High 5 / Low 5

Side-to-side

Fanning the glove

(lt shld & rt shld)

Return Ball

Receive from parent/coach

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The Youth Swing

Develop the swing

1. Solid base

2. Consistent start position

3. Path to the baseball

Refine the swing

1. Stride

2. Weight transfer

3. Hands through contact

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Develop the Swing

1. Solid base

Develop the Swing

2. Consistent start position

“UP” (hands up)

“AT” (hands at ball)

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Develop the Swing

3. Path to the baseball

The Youth Swing

Refine the swing

1. Stride

2. Weight transfer

3. Hands through

contact

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Working Backwards

Some of the most common errors

– Casting

– Squishing the Bug

– Arm Bar

– Barrel Drag

– Rolling Over

– Elbow up?

Hitting Drills

Regularly check the grip

Proper use of the tee

Hitting in circles

Frisbee toss

Progressing Batting Practice

– Front toss

– Front toss with decisions (taking pitches)

– Front toss with situations (hit & run, hitting behind runners)

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Turbo Pepper

F

F

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miki@diamondawgs.com