Before the start of the Spring baseball season MYB holds training courses, for those individuals who have been selected to Manage and Coach a team. Each individual league (T-Ball – Babe Ruth) has its own training, geared for that level of play. We would like for each Manager and Coach to understand the Basic Philosophy of baseball, at these levels, as well as have an understanding on how to run a practice, run the drills and play the game.

Please use this and the provided "Coaching cards" distributed at the 2010 Draft. We also recommend attending the Cal Ripken Coaches Course as they will help you run a practice and manage your team.

General Fielding and Positions

Players do not know the field…
For very young players, run them around the bases, in a relay fashion, having half the team on second and the other half at home plate. Using a baseball, as the baton, have the players run the bases back to their starting point. The first team to complete the relay race wins. Switch the players every time.

Alligator catching...
Have the players put their glove down close to the ground for grounders. Also, have them position the other hand on the heel of the glove. Otherwise, the ball may pop up and hit the player in the face.

Teach players to run through first base...
Position a coach five to ten feet behind first base, and just outside the base line, to give each player a high five as they run through.

Call the ball (I got it!!)...
Teach players to call the ball while catching grounders; calling grounders makes it easier to teach them to call fly balls later in the season.

Improving glove hand coordination...
Cut off the bottom of a plastic gallon milk container (each parent can supply one from home). Turn the jug so the handle of the jug is held by the glove hand of your player. Toss soft baseballs (provided by MYB) or tennis balls (supplied by others) to the player and have them catch the balls in the jug. Whether the motion is scooping, slapping or stationary you are teaching position of the glove for catching the ball.

Teaching players to watch the ball...
Using a tee, draw a large black dot on the ball. Have the batter concentrate on hitting the dot and watching the dot until after their swing is complete. Using the tee helps to keep their swing level. They will get it - repetition is the key.

Improving throwing and catching...
Put the gloves down and use a tennis or rubber ball. Roll grounders to them and instruct the players to use both hands. Get the players used to using both hands, and then graduate to gloves. This drill may also be used to improve catching line drives or pop-ups.

Throwing
Have the player(s) make an “L” shape with their throwing arm (placing the glove hand under the elbow of the throwing arm), and have the Player concentrate on hitting the glove they’re throwing to. Having a focal point helps players understand the ball will go where they aim. Have them down on one knee with their throwing arm’s elbow on the raised knee to do this. Increase the distance between the players and run an “egg toss” scenario.

Controlling swarming...
As a pre-drill, draw large circles in the infield dirt, and ask one player to stand in each of the circles and "guard their circle." The player to whom the ball comes closest to, or the player in the circle the ball comes closest to, fields the ball. In the event the ball travels between two circles, or right down the middle, the player who jumps first fields the ball and the other player backs up the play.