Maximizing preparation through time

management and organization for a quality

practiceJosh Matheny

Martinsburg High School Head Baseball Coach

Today’s Challenges

• Camps/Private Lessons/Travel Teams• A lot to cloud a young players mind

• Parents

• The age we live in• Players feel a sense of entitlement

• Other sports/other interests

Practice What You Believe

• Who are you?• Can’t be someone else

• What do you want your players and team to look like?• Toughness?• Hustle?• Accountability?• No excuses

• What do you want to define your team?

Practice What You Believe

What are you going to do today to make your team better?

• Fundamentals • Set Goals

• Daily attainable goals• Coaching people not machines

• Develop mechanics of the sport• Assist in developing their character

Practice Atmosphere

• Businesslike• Relaxed

• Not fearful

• Loose• Be consistent with practice demeanor

• Stay off the roller coaster

• Do not ignore unacceptable behavior• Common language

Martinsburg Baseball Player Evaluation

Name:________________________________________________ Grade: ______________

Hitting: ___________________________________________________________________

o Strong o Potential o Needs Work o Weak

Arm Strength: _______________________________________________________________

o Strong o Above Average o Average o Weak

Throwing Accuracy: __________________________________________________________

o Very Accurate o Accurate o Needs Work o No Accuracy

Baseball Knowledge/Understanding: _____________________________________________

o Very Knowledgeable o Knowledgeable o Average Baseball Knowledge o Weak Baseball Knowledge

Other:_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________

Teaching Priorities Ready to Learn Priority RatingSkills Identified Must Should Could Yes No A B C

Offensive Technical Skillspreparing to hit M S C Yes No A B Cswing and follow through M S C Yes No A B Cbunting basics M S C Yes No A B Csacrifice bunting M S C Yes No A B Cbunt for hit M S C Yes No A B Crunning basics M S C Yes No A B Crunning to first base M S C Yes No A B Crounding the bases M S C Yes No A B Csteealing second base M S C Yes No A B Cstealing third base M S C Yes No A B Cbent leg slide M S C Yes No A B Chead first slide M S C Yes No A B CDefensive Technical Skillsthrowing basics M S C Yes No A B Ccatching a throw M S C Yes No A B Ccatcher basics M S C Yes No A B Ccatcher throwing M S C Yes No A B Ccatcher blocking M S C Yes No A B Creading as a catcher M S C Yes No A B Cpitcher basics M S C Yes No A B Cpitcher stretch mechanics M S C Yes No A B Cthrowing a fastball M S C Yes No A B Cthrowing a curveball M S C Yes No A B Cthrowing a change up M S C Yes No A B Coutfield basics M S C Yes No A B Cchallenging outfield plays M S C Yes No A B Cinfield basics M S C Yes No A B Cfielding groud balls M S C Yes No A B Cdouble plays M S C Yes No A B Cfielding pop ups in the infield M S C Yes No A B COffensive Tactical Skillsaggressive baserunning M S C Yes No A B Cbaserunning from second M S C Yes No A B Cscoring from third M S C Yes No A B Cfirst and third play using the bunt M S C Yes No A B Cknowing when to steal second M S C Yes No A B Cknowing when to steal third M S C Yes No A B Chit and run M S C Yes No A B Csituational hitting M S C Yes No A B Cgetting out of a rundown M S C Yes No A B CDefensive Tactical Skillsdefensive positioning M S C Yes No A B Cdefending the first and third double steal M S C Yes No A B Cdefending bunt situaions M S C Yes No A B Cpitcher pickoffs M S C Yes No A B Ccatcher pickoffs M S C Yes No A B Cdouble play defenses M S C Yes No A B Cdetermining the best pitching options M S C Yes No A B Crundowns M S C Yes No A B Cwild pitches M S C Yes No A B CPhysical Trianing Skillsstrength M S C Yes No A B Cspeed M S C Yes No A B Cpower M S C Yes No A B Cendurance M S C Yes No A B Cflexibility M S C Yes No A B Cquickness M S C Yes No A B Cblance M S C Yes No A B Caility M S C Yes No A B C

Focus on the NOW

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The Past The Future

N

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W

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THE NOW

P F

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Practice Plan Date: Location: Time: Activity: Details: Time: Activity: Details: Time: Activity: Details: Time: Activity: Details: Time: Activity: Details: Time: Activity: Details: Notes/Wrap Up:

Training Outline

250-300 Warm up for Training using dynamic, and static stretching

dynamic- high knees, butt kicks, carioca, straight leg kick, quad walk, lunge walk, low lunge walk, over the fence

static- traditional type stretches but only after body is warm from dynamic stretching

300-310 Throwing Training

Throw with a purpose (purpose will be posted with practice plan)

No Talking: Game like atmosphere

Coaches Coaching!

Start on a knee->Bleacher to bleacher

Chest Throws: No balls hit the floor

Always moving your feet: Make every throw perfect (half->full court)

310-325 Skills Drills

Groups: Infield Outfield Catchers

325-400 Defensive Training #1/Controlled Scrimmage

400-420 Defensive Training #2/Controlled Scrimmage

420-525 Hit Training

Helmets on all the time

Game approach

Game Swings

525-535 Clean up Training Facility/Team discussion in Team room

Game Like Training

• Have confidence in your plan• Make a strong effort to stay within your plan• Give the players an outline of your plan• Keep on time• Make your plan ahead of time• Coach as hard as you expect the players to

train• Train at a high level• High Expectations

Playing Catch at a High Level

• Coach must be present and supervise• If you want production you have to police it• No talking- “concentration time”• Exchange places on a “non-catch”• Throw for a purpose

• Have a purpose for each position» Pitcher: pick offs, mechanics, hit spots, work change up» Infield: quick feet, quick hands, relays» Outfield: long back side, hit cut off, crow hop, long toss,

sunball» Catcher: quick feet, quick hands, get to throwing position,

exchange, long toss

Playing Catch at a High Level

• Quick Catch• Hands close to body• Arm Swing is never below glove• 2 Hands- Catch with the palm• Right foot should hit before the ball hits glove, or at

the latest, the same time• Play without moving feet at 30 feet• Play with moving feet at 45 feet• Compete! Play in a box at 60 feet- first team to go

around the box 5 times wins.

Defensive Skills Drills (every day)– Infield

• Pick drills– On knees– Standing up

• Box drills– Flips right– Flips left– Throws right– Throws left

• Move around the ball• Ground Balls

– Pitchers• Mechanic drills• Band work• Towel drill

– Outfield• Turns

– Straight Back– Glove side– Throwing side– Do or die and crow

hop• Star drill/Priority

– Catchers• Footwork drills• Receiving balls with and

without glove• Block balls with and

without glove• Bunt drill/Drop 3rd strike• Pop up drill

Game Like Training

It’s What You Do To Be Complete

Martinsburg Baseball

Good Reads• The Baseball Coaching Bible

– by Jerry Kindall and John Winkin

• Heads-Up Baseball– by Ken Ravizza and Tom Hanson

• Think Better Baseball – by Bob Cluck

• The Mental Game of Baseball– by H.A. Dorfman and Karl Kuehl

Contact me at:coachmatheny46@gmail.comCell 540-931-1721www.dogsbaseball.com

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love.-Bryant Gumbel