Learn to Bunt!

 Watching the pros lately, you'd think bunting was a lost art.  In these days of players wanting to justify their big contracts (and egos), a sacrifice bunt is rarely used - at least in the American League.  Worse, when they do attempt to bunt, poor technique leads to an ineffective result.

  Coach, the art of bunting can help win games.  It's been said that the long ball puts bums in the seats, but a well executed sacrifice bunt or a bunt for a base hit can really help your team be successful. Most often the bunted ball is fielded by the pitcher or catcher, so controlled bunting is key. Not only can it get your offence going, it puts pressure on the defence to field well and make accurate throws.

  Bunting is a skill that should be worked on at EVERY BATTING PRACTICE. Normally 3 to 5 bunts before the player 'swings away' and they should be laid down to the left, right and straight ahead or 'push' or 'drag'.

  The basic stance is achieved by pivoting on the back foot, while bringing the bat down and in front of the player. The bat should be held in a looser grip i.e. don't choke the bat; but a firmer grip leads to a harder hit. Remember the old adage about an 'any action will result in an equal and opposite reaction'. The result?  A fast ball will come off the bat harder than a change-up.

When in the bunting stance, the bat should be held at an angle of about 45 degrees. Ensure the top hand does NOT wrap around the barrel.  Instead turn the hand over such that the bat rests on top of the fist, supported by the thumb. This way a miss hit will not break fingers.

 The elbows should be bent, to act as a shock absorber. The knees should also remain bent.  If the pitch is low, keep the bat in position and bend the knees to get lower. NEVER STAB AT A BALL OR LOWER THE BAT HEAD TO MAKE CONTACT.

  Many players hold their bat in a horizontal position. It is simply less effective because pop-ups and foul tips are more likely to occur.

  As with anything else, there are exceptions.  Should a coach request a bunt to move a runner, the player may have no option but to drop the bat head to make contact with a low and away pitch, but the practice should be avoided at all cost. 

Bunting Drills

   Although Bunting Drills should be performed as part of Batting Practice, some time should be put aside for Bunting specifically. It could be the difference between a base hit or an out for a weaker hitter - remember your batting order.

  1) Drop in the bucket.  Draw 3, 3 ft. circles in the dirt approx. 10 ft. from the batter. These should be located along ( or the equivalent to) the baseline and one directly in front.  If possible, place a bucket in the middle of each ring.
  Start with soft toss and progress to normal pitching.
  Often during batting practice, 3 hoops can be placed as targets, 5 bunts before 'swing away'.

 2) Drag / Push Bunt.  This is used to bunt for a base hit, when the 1st baseman is playing back.  Soft toss from 30 ft. away then pitch from 60 ft. In this case the batter wants to run with contact, such that the ball follows the player along the 1st baseline.  The reverse would occur if the 3rd baseman is back. Both should be practiced. This is incredibly effective when properly executed and nothing lifts a team like a well executed 'Suicide Squeeze'. (N.B. This occurs when, with a runner on 3rd, the batter bunts toward 3rd base such that the base runner sprints home before the ball is fielded and thrown home to tag the runner out.  If this play is best executed with runners on 2nd & 3rd with less than 2 out.)

  Be creative. Use coloured hoops. Have a coach call out the colour. ( Hang the hoops in the batting cage to work on directional hitting too.) 

Next:  Defensive Plays and Drills

Game Day

   Ok Coach, it's game day.
 
   By now you have a pretty good idea of your teams strengths and the areas that need extra work. You will have reviewed the progress charts and are ready to go. 

  Check your bag, make sure your equipment is in good repair and that you have a first aid kit.  Cuts and scrapes are part of playing the game. As the players get older I strongly recommend ice be available as well as water.  Younger players in particular need to be reminded to stay hydrated on a warm summer evening. In many cases parents take turns bringing water or fruit to games.

   Try to have the players at the ball park as far before the game as is reasonably possible.

 Make sure you and your associate coaches are there first. This is very important because to get dedication, you must demonstrate dedication. It is vital to impress on the players (and parents) the importance of being timely to the team's long term success. Same thing applies to practices.

  Giving the team an opportunity to 'circle up' while they warm up contributes to team building.  Establish how long it should take for the players to warm and stretch - as a team. Have one or 2 of the more outspoken players lead from inside the ring.

 If the league allows, give yourself time to warm up both the infield and outfield on the diamond. Pre-game batting practice is also a huge advantage.

Warming up the infield.

  Have the players take their positions.  Have a coach or a non starting player hit balls to the out field from the outfield sideline. These should be caught or fielded then thrown back to the coach. As always, encourage proper technique.

  With the catcher beside you, hit 2 ground balls to 3d, short, 2nd and first.  Each of these will be taken as 'live' and returned to the catcher. Next repeat with the throws going to 1st. Drop a couple of bunts for the catcher to throw to 1st.  Repeat by ' turning 2' or making the throws first to 2nd then to 1st.  Remember short stop covers 2nd on a ball hit to right field while the 2nd baseman covers on a hit to left. End the drill with a pop-up for the catcher.
With experience this drill should move as quickly as possible. It prepares the player for the game plus boosts their confidence as they succeed in fielding and throwing in front of parents or peers. 

 At this point, if time allows, take a position behind the pitchers mound ( infield still in place).  Hit 2 ground balls to left field and have the fielder return the ball to 2nd base. Repeat with centre and right fields. Finish with throws from the outfield to home. With many players this isn't possible so use the opportunity to practice getting the ball to the nearest infielder and having them throw home.

  When you figure out how long it takes to achieve the above, based on how many activities you can run at the same time, that's how far before the game you need the team together.

  Gather the other coaches together and put together your batting order.
Consider the most important aspects:
 
1) Lead-off - ability to make frequent contact, excellent foot speed, good baseball knowledge.

2) Batting second - good foot speed, ability to bunt, good baseball knowledge.
Ideally can hit to right field, often left handed.

3) Batting third - average foot speed, ability to make frequent contact, some power. Usually the best hitter.

4) Clean-up - better than average foot speed, hits hard, has the ability to 'clear the bases'. Usually the most power.

5)  Batting fifth - average foot speed, good bat control, some power.

6) Batting sixth - Similar to lead-off.

7)  Batting seventh - Typically a hitter that is similar to #2 but does not hit as well.

8) Batting eighth - Has some power but does not hit well.

9) Batting ninth - Generally the pitcher or your worst hitter. However this batting position can be used to 'set up' the top of the order. i.e. Similar to Lead-off.

Tips:

Be careful not to clog the bases by having a very slow runner ahead of a faster one, unless you expect the slower player to 'clear the bases'. Ultimately, take your best players and insert them in the line up then fill in the rest. In spite of the above, some coaches like to 'hide' the player mid line-up. This way you can anticipate where your 'outs' are most likely to occur. On the other hand, nothing breaks momentum like an untimely out.

Try to alternate left and right handed batters.

Hand in your line-up card.  Good luck coach!

The Mental Appoach to Hitting

  I should point out that my approach to coaching baseball varies little by age. I feel that beginners should learn the proper way from the start so whether the player can accomplish the skill or not only shows what needs to be worked on.

  Hall of Famer, Ted Williams once said, “I think without question the hardest single thing to do in sport is to hit a baseball”. He was the last Major Leaguer to hit over .400.   The task is so difficult that most players will fail in their attempt nearly 80% of the time. Right? 

Well, not necessarily.

   While hitting a baseball is difficult to accomplish batting average isn't the whole story.  Remember, a well struck ball, caught by a diving outfielder doesn't show up in the stats. When you consider instead that baseball players make contact about 78% of the time then  the player goes to bat considering the high likelihood of contact, he will be in a more positive frame of mind.

  Mostly, you hear players talk about the need to be confident at the plate; but how to achieve that confidence is the issue.  The simple answer is preparation. Being physically prepared requires the muscle memory that comes from repetition. The more swings (properly) taken, the better.


  So, how to prepare the player for an at-bat.  Have the players observe the opposing pitcher during warm-up. He will likely show all of his pitches at that time. Take note of his accuracy on the edges of the plate and his ability to hit the catchers mitt. Which pitches can he throw for strikes etc.

  Generally, younger players will learn to throw fastballs (2 and 4 seam) and change-ups first, with a variety of breaking balls later. ( Curves, Sliders Cut pitches etc.) As a result, you can expect to see the pitchers best pitch first.  If you have determined that to be a fastball, you should expect it. It is vital to focus on this pitch only, early in the at bat.

 The only decision you have time to make is NOT TO SWING.  Hitters only have 125 milliseconds to gauge the average Major League fastball – less than the blink of an eye. Which begs the question: how is it humanly possible?

         Preparation + Knowledge = Confidence + Execution 

Next: The game begins.

Hitting drills

There are 5 basic hitting drills. No exercise is too young or too juvenile. Major league hitters continue to improve their swing well into their careers using batting tees, soft toss and others. Repetition is key. I can't emphasise this enough.  Now, let’s focus on the elements of the swing.

First, begin with no bat or ball.   Show the players the proper stance and have them practice the swing ensuring proper technique.
Next, take a bat, broom stick (cut in half if necessary).  Have the player place the bat across his lower back such that the bat is held in place by the crook of the elbow. This will mimic the rotation of the torso during the swing. 

If possible, get a practice ‘Tee’. This is a stand to support the ball to keep it still and at a height appropriate to the player. Locate the ‘Tee’ for the player so that it is located inside the front knee.  This is the best contact point.  Before placing the 'T', have the player swing a few times at a phantom ball and correct as necessary. Be sure to correct one thing at a time and carry on regardless of success at this time.            

Remember, you need to keep practice moving. Spend about 10 min/player. Everybody won't get time each practice but split the team and do it every practice.
 Put a ball on the 'T' and continue.

   Note that in the picture the player is showing proper batting technique, including locked front leg and back foot rollover. For more advanced players the T may be located on the inside or outside edges of the home plate to simulate the inside pitch or pitches away.

  Next, 'Soft Toss'.  For this drill the coach stands directly opposite the player approx. 2m back. Underhand toss the ball to, and just ahead of  the player and allow him to hit. (Preferably into a net or screen). The same drill can be performed from in front of the player but of course, a protective screen will be necessary. For each toss, establish a consistent delivery; show the ball and begin the toss. This will aid in establishing a rhythm or trigger. It will also improve eye / hand co-ordination.

'Live' Soft Toss. This is quite simply underhand throws from about 10m away.

Finally 'Live' batting practice. This of course could take place on the diamond or batting cage.

The most important thing here is making sure the swing is correct. Practicing an improper swing is going to make improvement unlikely.

Next: A Mental Approach to Hitting.

The Art of Hitting

 
  This is a skill that requires its own post. Books and books have been written about the art of hitting a baseball. Just as many books have been written about the art of pitching a baseball - or the art of making a player NOT hit a baseball! (more on that later)

  Hitting a baseball (round object) with a bat (also a round object) is one of the hardest athletic skills to perfect. When executed properly, the contact point is about the size of a dime.   The best way to achieve this aim is simply through practice and repetition. This repetition has come to be known as creating 'muscle memory' whereby an action becomes so ingrained that you no longer have to think to achieve a given result.

  If you have difficulty determining from which side to swing the bat, ask the child to try to hop on one foot. This random request results in an immediate preference for the 'dominant side'.  In other words, if the child hops right foot first, then that is generally right hand dominant. As a result, the right leg would provide the initial power during the swing and should therefore be the back foot, swinging the bat from right to left.

 As the athlete becomes more advanced, one suggested way to avoid injury is to take batting practice from the opposite side.  Jose Bautista suggests that swinging from the opposite side keeps his body in balance by working his body equally, stretching, weight training, swinging a bat, even throwing from time to time.

Ok.  Let's break it down.

  The leading hand should be at the bottom of the handle of the bat, the other hand gripping above. Ideally the hands should be rotated until the knuckles of the 2nd joint are as in line as possible.  This alignment of the knuckles results in the hands rolling over on the follow through, which in turn puts ‘back spin’ on the ball, causing it to travel further. Later we will discuss how batters learn to 'hit down on a ball' to enhance this effect.

  The hitter should take an athletic stance, knees inside the feet, with the back foot towards the rear of the batter’s box, perpendicular (or 90 degrees) to the pitcher’s mound and the weight back (about 60%). The feet should be such that the forward foot is slightly further away from the plate, such that the arc of the swing is roughly back stop to the opposite baseline and the contact point toward the front knee. Feet should be parallel and perpendicular to the pitcher’s mound.  The hands should be together and rise to approximately shoulder level.  Some like to keep the rear elbow held high to help ensure a level swing, some keep it low to avoid muscle tension in the forearm that can lead to a slightly slower bat speed. Have the player try both ways to find their comfort zone.

  Generally, the bat should be held in a somewhat loose grip, again to reduce muscle tension in the forearm and bicep.

  The bottom hand essentially 'steers' the bat, while the upper hand provides the upper body power. Pull the lower hand toward the ball, and then push through with the other.

  The swing begins with a distinct backward shift in weight. This may or may not involve lifting the leading foot from the ground, but should be such that only the ball of the foot touching.

Note:  The player’s knees must remain between his feet, especially on the backswing. Don’t let the rear leg buckle.
 

  As the ball leaves the pitchers hand, the hands rise slightly in anticipation of the swing. This is known as ‘loading up’ or triggering. As the weight begins to move toward the baseball, the hips turn with the torso, shoulders and arms to follow. Often the player will learn to use this forward foot lift to help with timing. The more aggressive a batter is, the more likely they are to swing early, so a higher lift will slow them down, with the advantage of a greater weight shift and more power. Don't over-emphasize power though at this time; rather work towards increased bat speed. You'll find that power increases with bat speed anyway.

As the hips turn, the follow through should result in the back leg rotating so the shoe laces wind up pointing to the pitcher’s mound while the front leg ‘locked’ to keep the weight back and stop the forward momentum .

Allow the player to follow through naturally on the swing, the hands finishing at about ear height, the shoulders square to the mound and the weight on the back foot. There are batters who have had success as ‘front foot hitters’. This is a skill that we’ll discuss later for advanced hitters. I don’t recommend teaching this style of batting as it requires a great deal more upper body strength and can be learned easily later.

   The batters eyes should never leave the baseball from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand until it hits his bat, the ground or the catcher’s glove. An easy exercise is to have the player take a stance at the plate and just watch pitches go by. The batter should keep his body as still and relaxed as possible to aid in following the ball.

  As an aid, if you have a batter who seems to continually swing at high pitches, have them keep their chin down such that when they swing the chin touches first one shoulder, then the other.  A good drill is to have the player swing while holding a handkerchief under their chin.  This also aids in creating a nice level swing.

Finally, bat selection.  The player should be able to hold the bat with the top hand only, at full arm extension. Out front, or to the side - doesn't matter, the player should hold the bat approx. 3 sec at minimum. If the player, no matter how big they are, cannot hold the bat for at least 3 seconds - get a lighter bat!

Next week Hitting Drills.

The Basics

Let's take some time now to review the basics.

  Here I have broken down 3 of the basic skill sets needed, i.e. throwing, catching and hitting (three of the 5 tools) . When teaching, consider each aspect of the skill so you can demonstrate it properly to the players. Even if the player is young, it’s good to teach proper mechanics.

THROWING

  Begin with what is called an athletic position i.e. feet slightly more than shoulder width apart; the foot opposite the throwing hand slightly forward. The hands should be together at chest level. As the player commences the throw, the hands drop down as the weight shifts slightly back and begins forward again as the arm begins to circle up to the point where the elbow is parallel to the ground. A short step is followed immediately by the arm coming forward and through into full arm extension.

  The ball should be held so that the index, middle and ring fingers are on top of the ball, gripping the seam with the finger tips. Hold the ball up and look at he seems.  Notice the pattern. As the ball is rotated on a horizontal axis, how many lines of stitches roll by? 2 seams or 4? Ideally, the ball should be gripped along 4 seams to aid in accuracy.

  The ball is normally released just above the top of the head, although more advanced players by may throw 'over the top' for distance or from a 'side arm' position for speed. All should be practiced. Outfielders throw for distance, infielders throw for speed.
  In each case, ensure the arm doesn't stop short, but extends naturally, following through on the throw. Players who don't 'follow through' with their throws generally lose accuracy (short arming the ball) as well as cause unnecessary shoulder strain.

Catching and Fielding

The difference between catching and fielding is very little really and should always be attempted with two hands.  A ball received at chest level or above is a catch and should be performed with thumbs together. In fact, a 'fly' ball or 'pop-up', should be attempted above the head.  Use underhand, high toss as an extension of warm up to practice this skill.
  A ball caught from the waist  to ground level should also be made with two hands, this time baby fingers together. Watch the ball all the way into the glove. Once received, the ball should be rotated within the glove to get ready for the ensuing throw.
 
Sample Drill

  Have several balls available.  Since at this level you will want to train all players equally, get a helper to be at home plate. Deliver the ball along the ground to each player in turn either by rolling, throwing or batting - depending on the skill level.  The ball should be fielded properly, the player come quickly to the athletic position and the ball thrown properly to the helper at home plate. This helper will ultimately be your catcher(s). They will field bunts with a throw to first following.

  Once the players have each had several repetitions, move the team to the outfield, where they will repeat the drill on the grass and make return throws to second base where the ball will be delivered from.  Later we will put a player in place to follow the throw to second with a throw to first base.

  Repeat this outfield portion with 'fly balls' i.e. toss or hit balls into the air then have the player throw the ball to second base.  Once the catcher is chosen the player should use a catcher’s glove only when taking fielding practice.

 It cant be over emphasized that repetition is key to success in baseball.  Every play, the player sharpens his or her instincts until every movement is automatic. 

Next week...Hitting.

The De-brief

So, how did practice go?
Now that practice is over time to take a few minutes (hopefully with our new assistant(s)) and take note of strengths and weaknesses of the practice and the players. Hopefully you’ve filled out your 5 Tools Chart.(See previous post). If not, do it now.  Again, this chart will help you plan the next practice based on skill development. Did the players respond well to you?  Did they keep active?  Did you lose attention? Did you finish on time?

As to the players, consider their foot speed (note during the 'live portion of batting practice); Arm strength (note during throwing drills and fielding practice); Fielding ability; Ability to hit consistently during BP; Enthusiasm. These will be used as the basis to build on “the 5 tools" of Baseball.

By using the 5 tools scale, instruction can be made more effective by looking at these scores more closely.  Take the scores and average by individual skill scores; then average by skill.

Note the skills that need most work and the players that can help and demonstrate those skills.

In other words, if the team average is low in a skill, more team practice is required on that skill. If the team average is being brought down by an individual, share that weakness with the athlete as something to work on privately. This will become more important as teams become more advanced and competitive.

As the season progresses, you will use the above chart to follow the progress of the team and the players.  It's also a good measurement of your coaching too- the overall average (covered by the XXXX).  The more the team improves, the higher your score.

A couple of things to remember

One key is to save your coaching for practices.  During the game, encourage and congratulate small achievements.  Competitiveness is innate in early years and should be supported.  Shy kids need lots of encouragement.  Have fun and make sure the players do too. Never scold or embarrass a player during the game or practice.  Take notes for private discussion later or for practice. Parents also like to help at home. Gently offer small suggestions in specific areas that require work.

Throwing and fielding well, rely heavily on repetition.  Do as many reps as possible, as often as possible.  Ultimately your pre-game routine will include mini versions of some of your drills.

Teach and show respect for Umpires and other players.  They are learning the game too.  Leagues are finding it increasingly difficult to hire and retain officials due to the abuse they suffer at the hands of players, coaches and fans (parents) every year. Make sure parents understand and ask for their support in policing this ongoing problem.

Top 10 signs of a great teammate*

10)  Accepts any role that will help the team.
 9)  Would rather score less and win than score more and lose.
 8)  When the team scores, congratulates teammates.
 7)  Has as much fun working hard in practice as during the game.
 6)  Has respect for opponents, but doesn't fear them.
 5)  You listen while others are speaking, are coachable and show respect for      coaches, officials and other players.
 4)  You are quick to pick up a teammate.
 3)  You are willing to help younger or less experienced players.
 2)  You learn and grow from your mistakes.
 1)  Show confidence - not arrogance.

Next week - Basic skills.

*Proactive Coaching.info