Comprehensive Baseball Coaching Clinic with Tim Cummins
Explore the wealth of experience and insights shared by Tim Cummins, a seasoned baseball coach with over 30 years of coaching experience. From coaching philosophy to practical tips on pitching, hitting, and game day strategies, this clinic offers valuable lessons for coaches at all levels. Discover the fundamentals of coaching baseball and the importance of nurturing young players to excel in the sport while ensuring everyone has fun.
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Presentation Transcript
Coaching Baseball Sutton Youth Baseball League Coaches Clinic March 29, 2021 Tim Cummins Special Assignment Scout- San Francisco Giants
Disclaimer To share my experiences as a coach Lessons learned- what worked for me I do not claim to be an expert, there are many ways to teach/coach baseball, and I m not here to debate them I am old school in how I teach fundamentals of the game- you will be disappointed if you came to hear about launch angles and spin rates After being involved in the game for over 50 years I still learn things every year Baseball is the greatest sport, and I hope over the next 4-5 weeks you feel that the time you spent was worth it.
Creditability Over 30 years of coaching experience- coached in over 1,000 games From tee ball on up to college summer leagues Won championships at all levels (several league and district titles) The privilege of coaching several players who went on to play in college and professionally (3 in MLB) The Boys of Summer Baseball Camp 1995- 2004 2010-2019 Area Scout- Atlanta Braves 2019- present- Special Assignment Scout SF Giants
Schedule- one hour sessions Week 1- Coaching Philosophy/Practice Plan Week 2- Pitching/Catching Week 3- Defense- Infield/Outfield Play Week 4- Hitting/ Baserunning Week 5- Game Day * I will attempt to talk about drills/ focus areas for all ages/levels
Coaching Baseball My opinion baseball is the hardest amateur team sport to coach Baseball is a very fundamentally sound sport- can t specialize at amateur levels- have to hit, throw, run and field (can t hide in baseball!)- individual sport within a team concept! Challenge of coaching is you have to be able to teach all aspects of the game- (run, throw, hit, catch)-plus the individual positions- each with their own skill needs and responsibilities Important for players to learn the fundamentals at a young age, key to progressing to the next levels
Coaching Baseball Why coach? What do I want to accomplish? What type of coach do I want to be? What is my philosophy? Everyone has fun! Players improve Develop a love/passion for the game (sign up next year!) Coaching baseball is not easy!! Become a psychologist (player deals with failure)
Coaching Baseball Make up of team/skill level Above average players Average players Below average players (projects) Coaching Goal (coach all the players!) Make above average players elite Make average players above average Make below average players average Winning (can be a motivator if used in the concept of a team goal)
Coaching Baseball Be Organized: - Have a practice plan - Communicate- the plan to coaches prior to practice - Delegate to your coaches Gain Knowledge: Know your strengths/your coaches strengths - Internet- number of video s (drills, how to ) - Ask other coaches what they do/did - Go to clinics Communicate with your team (parents): - Let team know your philosophy/team-league rules - Have a practice plan for each practice - Use practices to point out areas of improvement - Have drills that are instructive but fun (competition)
Coaching Baseball What do you need: (beyond the bag of catchers equipment, helmets and practice/game balls) - clipboard/pen - stopwatch - fungo bat - batting tee - tennis racquet - tennis balls - tape measure - plastic golf balls - bases (throw down type) - first aid kit (plus plastic bag to hold inhalers/pill bottles/Epipens/allergy list) - ice packs - broom handle - RULE BOOK!
Coaching Baseball- Practice Plan Never expect a player to perform a skill during a game if he was not shown how to perform that skill in practice. Tony Lucadello (Scouting Legend) Philadelphia Phillies- Scout
Practice Plan Methodology Stress the four areas of baseball: Pitching (throwing/catching drills- younger ages) Hitting Defense (fielding/throwing/situations) Baserunning I tried every practice for the player to have 25 swings, field 25 GBs and catch 25 FBs Follow this methodology and you will win 80% of your games more important your players will get better!
Create A Practice Plan Length of practice (90 minutes)- field/parking lot? Coaches available? Weather? (remind players sweatshirt, jacket) What equipment is needed? (tee, golf balls, tennis balls, tennis racquet; broom handle, etc ) Incorporate games into drills- what do we need to work on? If possible try to keep skill levels together (safety) or separate by position, pitcher/catchers; infielders; outfielders Start off with stretching (5 minutes) Throwing (10 minutes) incorporate games/ long toss
Creating Practice Plan Defensive Stations (rotate every 12 minutes) station 1 fly balls station 2 ground balls station 3 infield situations Hitting (3 stations) tee/cage/field (30 minutes) Base-running (10 minutes) Speak with team- (positive) announcements, etc
Sample Practice Plan Stretch 5 minutes Run 1 lap after stretching Throwing 10 minutes Drill- relay game Defense 10 minutes per station Fly ball (Coach A), ground balls (Coach B), infield situation- runner on first (Coach C) Hitting 10 minutes per station Tee (Coach A)/live BP (Coach B throwing)/fielding Base running 10 minutes Running to first base thru the bag and base hit End of practice-meeting 5 minutes Next game is Thursday- be at the field at 5pm- Cy Young is pitching
Stretching Baseball is a start and stop game; body flexibility is a must Players lead Work from head/neck down to legs Arm- across chest, back of neck, light bulb Run a lap after stretching
Throwing Drills Stress four seam grip Point shoulder at target/ back foot ankle bone (catch fingers up above waist/ fingers down below waist) Throw- goal post- proper arm action- release point (start off on knee) Encourage players to move their body to the ball (game is played below the waist- what?) Catch with bare hand near glove Long toss (arm strength) Point drill Relay drill Four corners Star drill Hat drill
Defensive Situations Beginning of season ground ball and fly ball drills SITUATIONS: (may incorporate runners) Runners on base, less than two outs Runners on base, ball hit to pitcher Bunt defense Run downs Relays from outfield Infield in (the play is home!) Leg/body position dictates where ball is to be thrown (below the waist) Back up (runner on third, pass balls) Infield fly rule Pick-off plays
Hitting Hitting Stations (stance- reduce movement, focus on timing, eliminate bad strides/hitches) Groups- 2 bunts/5 swings; 5 swings situations; 5 swings (line drives)- simulate an at bat Tee work (looking for player to consistently hit the ball up the middle) Soft toss Bunt stations Broom handle Plastic golf balls
Pitching Work with a catcher (can do during defensive drills) Balance point, follow through, proper landing Repeat mechanics to throw strikes First pitch strike (Can t throw strikes. Can t pitch, can t defend a walk!) Field position (25-33% of hit balls up the middle) Pitchers throw bullpen after practice- after games during season (early in the season build up their pitch count)
Base-running Home to 1st- run through bag Touch inside of bag/proper route Team drill Read the ground ball (runner on second- belly button play) Soft-toss- live base-running Tag-up Stealing (taking a lead-1st, 2nd, 3rd- reading pick off) Picking up the third base coach
Player Advice Don t sail too high or sink too low Learn to be good at handling failure Be the first one to the ballpark Be the last one to leave Work hard, don t complain, be a great teammate! Jim Thome Baseball Hall of Fame Player
Coaching Baseball Have fun- enjoy!! Questions? Contact information: Timothy.cummins11@gmail.com If you have a future major leaguer call cell immediately- 508-612-6250
