Build On This Fall Ball Season For Success Next Spring!
  Coach John Peter

A player competes with teammates for playing time and opportunities before he gets to compete against other teams. The one time of the year that a player can really learn in a battle-tested environment is in the Fall Ball season.

The pressures to win in the Spring and the short amount of pre-season practice time can limit the coaching to improving & perfecting existing skills with players who only see time at their most familiar positions.

Whether this is exactly true or not on your Spring league team.let's just agree that Fall Ball is an ideal time to make yourself a better player or coach by experimenting, tinkering and allowing the time to learn new positions with less focus on the wins.

Here are some suggestions for you:
Note that each position is divided into 2 categories covering the player with more experience in an individual position ("V" for veterans) and those who are new to a particular position ("R" for rookies)

Pitchers:
V - They say that pitchers are built in the off-season. So let's develop confidence in that new pitch you wanted to throw - but didn't - last spring!

R - Let's develop a smooth, easy delivery focusing on locating the fastball. If time permits, let's also develop the change-up for a 2nd pitch (not a breaking ball!)
Here's a great video/DVD on the subject:
Pitch Right

Catchers:
V - Work on blocking pitches in all directions before or after practices. Catchers always seem to get short-changed during practice.

R - Ask a veteran catcher or a coach to work with you on learning a comfortable stance, both with runners on base and the bases-empty.
Here's a great video/DVD:
Catching's Big 5 Skills

Infielders:
V - Make this the time you become as comfortable with your backhand as your forehand.

R - Practice taking tons of ground balls, focusing on staying on the balls of your feet and coming forward (which cuts down time and distance between you and the base you're throwing to) AND STAYING OFF YOUR HEELS OR GIVING GROUND!
Here's a great video:
Infield Play by Cal State Fullerton's George Horton

Outfielders:
V - Work on increasing your range by getting better jumps when the ball comes off the bat .especially on balls hit to the fence AND to the foul lines (remember, balls tail toward the foul lines)!

R - Train yourself by running hard to the ball and not drifting to it. This will allow you to have your body in the correct position to catch and quickly throw to the correct base.
Check out Outfield Fundamentals and Techniques

Hitters:
V - Everyone has weak points. You know yours. Now's the time to spend the time! Refuse to spend most of your hitting practice doing what you are best at!

Here's a great and inexpensive DVD series for ALL hitters:
Hitting for Excellence

R - You are no different than veteran hitters. You may just have more weak points to work on!

For Coaches
V - Get knowledge on aspects of the game that you are less sure of!
We have over 140 books and videos.some are extremely specific. The titles generally will determine your best choices. Start a library that you can use over and over!
Check out all of our videos, books and DVDs

For teaching hitters of all ages, check out the Hitting DVD Series from Oakland A's hitting coach Dave Hudgens.

And for teaching the entire game to all ages, get the Skills & Drills Complete Coaching Series

R - Use the all-encompassing Skills & Drills series of videos by Bragg Stockton. This will be the easiest way to help you learn the style of some of baseball's finest coaches.

For teaching younger hitters:
Hitting Skills & Drills for the Young Player

For teaching the entire game to younger players:
Youth Coaching Strategies, Drills, & Practice Series

If you have any questions, give us a call at 1-800-487-7432.