Taylor Area Baseball & Softball

Fundamental Learnings

League: T-Ball

Mechanics / Physical

Tactics / Mental

Hitting	Where to stand Address plate Basic stance	Proper grip Make contact Drop bat at plate	Batting order Always your best swing
Fielding	Learn (and stay in) the positions Catch ground ball Catch fly ball Catch thrown ball Glove up or glove down Open glove Catch in pocket Two hands Get in front of ball	Glove down on ground Hands in front of body Triangle Alligator hands Angle of glove Keep head down See ball in glove Hop and pop	Positions and placement Three outs Get an out Make the easy play Force outs Ready position in field
Throwing	Basic throwing Grip on ball	Stride Use of body	Warming up
Pitching
Baserunning	Drop bat, get out of batters box Sliding – feet first all the time		Players control this aspect of the game Always hustle – game of inches Run through first	Force play Don’t watch the ball Ready position on the bases Tagging up
Other			Respect the game Run on and off the field	No arguing with umpires, opponents, or teammates

League: Coach Pitch/ Machine pitch

All items from previous leagues plus:

Mechanics / Physical

Tactics / Mental

Hitting	Keep head still Hips rotate Timing of swing	Make contact	Think swing Know the strike zone Plate coverage Always Your Best Swing	Think swing Know the strike zone Plate coverage Nothing wrong with striking out
Fielding	Grounders Fly balls Footwork around base Infield play: Grounders Pop ups Covering bases Making tag Angle of glove Type of glove When to bare-hand a ball When to one-hand a ball	Outfield play: Fly balls Grounders Call the ball Throw to right base Block the sun Crow hop Catchers: Receive the ball Set up behind plate How far back to sit behind catcher	Must start down to come up (not start up to do down) Anticipate, don’t react Back up bases	Know where to throw the ball when it is hit to you, before it is hit to you What base should outfielders throw to? Catchers: Wear a cup Skills and attitude needed Keep eyes open
Throwing	Accuracy Infield throws	Strength Outfield throws Crow hop Hit cutoff
Pitching
Baserunning	Step on front of first base Lean forward		Assume defense will bobble or miss ball Run hard if ground ball or fly ball Straight line from point A to point B See the runners in front of you If ball is in front of you, you can make decision Ball behind you always look at coach	Always tag up on ball in air when on 3^rd base with less than 2 outs When to run on contact on ball in air Pick up coach Runner on third comes down line in foul territory First to third Second to home
Other

Leagues: Minors – Player Pitch

All items from previous leagues plus:

Mechanics / Physical

Tactics / Mental

Hitting

Stiff front leg
Follow through high
Arms extend after contact
Bunting
L-shape back leg

Bunting technique
Top hand up at contact

Count management
Use the whole field
Learn to hit first, hit for power later
Two-strike approach
Nothing wrong with bunting

Game situation
Situational hitting
Squeeze bunts
Bunt for hit
Sacrifice bunt

Fielding

Positioning of body
Running to catch ball
Coming in to catch ball
Going back to catch ball
Back hand
One hand vs. two hands
Soft hands
How to play a hop
How to get the hop you want
Circle ball to the right
How to dive; get up
Cutoffs and relays
Footwork on relay throws
Covering the base on a steal
How to make a tag
Getting into throwing position when catching a fly ball

Catchers

Soft hands
How to block ball in dirt
How to give signs
Throwing mechanics
Footwork necessary to throw
Communication
1^st & 3^rd situations
How to handle rundown
Blocking the plate
Wild pitch play at plate
Pop-up positioning
Throws back to pitcher

Outfielders

Positioning: shallow vs. deep
Route to ball
How to field ground ball with nobody on base
How to field grounder with runners on base
How to come in on ball
How to go back on ball
How to pick up ball at wall
Hit the cutoff
Footwork on throws
Pop-up priorities
Communication
What base to throw to

Preparation before the pitch
Where to throw the ball
Bunt defenses
Pitchers covering first base
Pop-up priorities
Positioning
How to handle a rundown

Leagues: A-AA

(Continued)

All items from previous leagues plus:

Mechanics / Physical

Tactics / Mental

Throwing	Long toss Front arm (glove hand) Hips	Head position Follow through Good feet…good throw Release point	When to throw overhand	When to throw underhand
Pitching	Warm up routine How to stand on rubber How to start delivery Avoid wasted movement Importance of balance Getting into throwing position when catching a fly ball	How to build arm strength Step and throw Follow through Fielding position	Controlling emotions Use of fastball Use of changeup Location of pitches See the target Throw to the smallest point possible Pitch selection	Pitch counts Fielding responsibilities Work quickly Back up bases
Baserunning	Angle to first base to make a turn Stay in lane when running to 1^st base Make a hard turn every time	Step on inside corner of base Either foot is OK Turns around 2^nd and 3^rd	Look to right for overthrow Don’t turn back on ball when returning to base How to tag up on fair ball How to tag up on foul ball 2 strikes and 2 outs Ball in the dirt Break up a double play Secondary lead When to take a chance on the bases and when not to take a chance	Think double out of box When to advance to third on ground ball with less than 2 out Stealing a base Situational base running How to handle being in a rundown Anticipate vs. react Throw back to pitcher
Other	Physical conditioning		Mental conditioning

League: Majors

All items from previous leagues plus:

Mechanics / Physical

Tactics / Mental

Hitting	Hips lead the hands Kinetic links	Start from the feet up	Zoning	Hitting according to the count
Fielding			When to one-hand catch	When not to hit the cutoff man
Throwing
Pitching	Upper body rotates over front leg Arm angle…arm slot Fastball vs. curve vs. slider vs. change up Recoil problems	Use of bottom half in delivery When to break hands in delivery Grip on curve ball Grip on slider
Baserunning			Know the outfielders’ arms
Other

League: Juniors

All items from previous leagues plus:

Mechanics / Physical

Tactics / Mental

Hitting
Fielding
Throwing
Pitching
Baserunning
Other

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Taylor Area Baseball & Softball

Fundamental Learnings

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