We love to see how hungry our players are to learn and grow as a team and as individual players. For those who want to do more, and earn more Cyclones points, here are a couple options.
Option 1: As part of an add-on 30 minute workout, include 10 minutes of fielding work that mirrors what practiced on January 9 or 16. For each day you do a 30 minute extra training, you earn a point, a max of 5 points per week, in the Additional Baseball Training category.
Option 1A: January 9 defensive workout – use this link from Ultimate Baseball Training’s Infield Drills You Can Do By Yourself We did all drills from the video but one of these at our January 9 practice. Keys to these drills are to get your head down and forward for good body lean, glove in front of you, and be athletic in the core and legs (don’t stand straight up). If you do the Wall Ball drill, be sure you have parental permission and a wall and ball that are okay to use that will not do damage.
Option 1B: Repeat drills we did at practice January 16. Here is the progression:
- Step 1: Start with Your Ready Stance – Check, can you crossover step either way without having to dip first? To be quick to the ball, to cover more ground on a ball to either side, our ready stance must be athletic and allow you to move quickly to get a ball. If you have to dip your hips/head, your ready stance needs to adjust.
- Step 2: Work on Your Approach to the Ball – set ball on ground several steps out in front of you. Charge the ball quickly, not straight at it, but slightly rounding so you get a good angle on the ball and towards the base you will throw to. Your last 2 steps are slowed and controlled as your head & hips drop, glove out in front of body, head down, glove open and down early. For right handed throwers, the last 2 steps are R-L before fielding the ball. Stop just before you get to the ball. Hold that position. Check – Is your glove in front of your body? Is your glove down? Is your glove wide open to the ball? Is your head down? Are you fielding the ball slightly to your glove side? Make corrections as needed as you repeat this part. Practice until you cannot get it wrong.
- Step 3: Add Fielding Ball and Transition to Throwing – Same as Step 2, but this time field the ball and then take two steps as you bring your glove and ball to your belly button. For right handed throwers step R-L and then go through the motions of making your throw, but don’t actually throw the ball. So, the complete process looks like A) Charge ball, B) Last 2 steps before fielding slowed are R-L (head & glove down in front of body), C) Field ball, D) 2 controlled steps are R-L as glove and ball brought to belly button, E) Throw to target.
- Step 4: Add Partner and Rolled Ball – Same fundamentals – now have a parent, sibling, or partner slowly roll ball to you so you can charge, and go through each part of your ground ball fielding approach described in the earlier steps. If you have space and a throwing partner or a net to throw into, make the throw.
Option 2: After you call your Week 3 assigned teammate(s), call a teammate assigned in Week 1 or 2 again and talk again this week. Add a second point to the Teammate Activity category.
Option 3: Want to earn a point in the Bonus Point Category? Here’s an idea: work on your juggling skills and ask a parent or sibling to record videos of you juggling. Share a video with a coach once you have made good progress. Why juggling? The best ball-handlers in baseball and other sports have amazing hand eye coordination. This will help yours. Plus, it’s fun to get good at something that is challenging. Try it with baseballs, but in a safe space where you won’t break something. Juggling will help your fielding, hitting, and more. You can use this Juggling Tutorial or many others found online.
Pressure Baseball 