Title Details

Tom Alston is a successful high school varsity and JV coach with extensive youth league experience as a coach and as clinic director for Babe Ruth, Pony, Little League, and Bambino. He is the author of Winning Pitch, a regular column in Collegiate Baseball, and his articles have appeared in various publications.

About This Resource VII

Section 1 Getting Started 1

Setting Goals 1

Establishing Standards 3

Maintaining Positive Relationships 5

Communications 7

First Steps for a New Coach 12

A Note to Walk-On Coaches 13

Evaluating Your Performance 15

Fund Raising 17

How to Do It 18

Other Ways to Raise Money 18

Other Considerations in Fund Raising 22

Section 2 Recruiting and Tryouts 25

Announcing the Tryouts 25

Developing as Many Athletes as Possible 29

The Plan for Tryouts 29

Keeping Large Rosters 30

Player Development 31

The Coaching Staff 32

Avoiding Legal Problems 32

Section 3 Game Control from Start to Finish 35

Winning 35

Controlling the Situation 35

Practice 37

Individual Practice Goals 37

Schedules and Goals 37

Game Day 39

Scouting 44

The Game 44

Offensive Signals 49

Sample Signal System 49

Getting the Players Involved in Offense 52

When to Work on Signs 53

Game Notes 53

Charting the Pitcher's Progress and Performance 58

Defensive Signals 82

Calling the Pitches from the Dugout 82

Defensive Alignment 83

Postgame 84

Section 4 Pitching 85

Overview of the Five Most Important Pitching Skills 85

Downhill Plane--The Goal in Mechanics 87

The Pitching Sequence 87

The Pitch 92

Right Hander's Stretch Move 94

Left Hander's Stretch Move 97

Control 97

Section 5 The Pitches 99

Fastball 99

Movement and Velocity 100

Change-Up 101

Curve Ball 103

Other Breaking Pitches 106

The Pitching Plan 108

Identifying Hitters and Attacking Their Weaknesses 111

Warming Up 115

Fielding Techniques for the Pitcher 122

Controlling a Known Fielding Situation 126

Holding Runners on Base and Identifying Running Situations 126

Basic Holding Situations 127

Left-Handed Pitchers Holding Runners on First 130

Arm Soreness 133

Post-Pitching Arm Exercises 135

Section 6 Catching 143

Signal Stance 143

Giving Signals 144

Going from Signal to Receiving Stance 145

Receiving Stance 146

Receiving Techniques 151

Remedies for Dropping Pitches 157

Throwing 158

Step-Catch-Throw Technique 160

Throwing Runners Out at Second 162

Throwing Runners Out at Third 164

Situational Throwing 165

Catcher's Picks 167

Blocking Balls in the Dirt 168

Tag Plays at Home Plate 169

Catching Extras--Receiving Throws 172

Catching Extras--Hit Balls 174

Catcher's Game Performance 175

Section 7 General Infield Play 179

Positioning 179

Fielding the Hit 183

Thinking in the Field 185

Drills to Develop Ground Ball Skills 186

The Little Things in Infield Play 189

Defending the Hit and Run 190

Some Thoughts for the Third Baseman 192

Some Thoughts for the First Baseman 192

The Double Play 194

Drills for Double Play Techniques 198

Section 8 Outfield Play 199

Thinking Before the Pitch 199

Reacting to the Ball 201

Communication 203

Playing the Hit 204

Throwing Fundamentals 205

Additional Tips 208

Throwing Drills 208

Section 9 Defensive Strategy and Positioning 213

Positioning 213

Defensive Focus 214

Defensive Positioning 215

Making Adjustments 217

Individual Skills 218

Other Factors 218

Section 10 Team Defense 219

Cutoffs and Relays 219

Outfielder's Role 236

Short Man 238

Bunt Defense 242

First and Third Defense 254

Pop-Up Priority 262

Section 11 Hitting 267

The Stance 267

Positioning in the Batter's Box 269

The Eyes 270

Hitter Momentum 271

Stride 271

The Swing 273

The Hitting Game Plan 276

Two-Strike Hitting 277

Situation Hitting 278

Five Hitting Zones for the Advanced Hitter 278

Taking Pitches 279

Batting Practice 280

Hitting Drills 281

Hitting Drills with the Aid of Equipment 286

Live Batting Practice 288

Section 12 The Short Came 291

Sacrifice Bunt 291

Base Hit Bunt 295

Base Hit Bunt to Third Base 296

Base Hit Bunt to Second Base 298

Base Hit Bunt to First Base 299

Base Hit Bunt to Shortstop 300

Fake Bunt, Fake Hit and Bunt 300

Section 13 Base Running 301

Pregame and During-Game Homework 302

Batter/Runner Technique 303

Leads at First Base 305

Returning to First Base 307

Using the Stopwatch 308

Secondary Leads 309

Fake Break 310

Stealing Second Base 310

Stealing Against a Right-Handed Pitcher 311

Primary Leads vs. Left-Handed Pitchers 312

Stealing Against Left-Handed Pitchers 313

Delay Steal 316

The Shade--An Aid to Stealing Second 316

Extra Innings at First Base 316

Leads at Second Base 317

Three Methods of Stealing Third Base 319

Leads at Third Base 321

Stealing Home 321

Forcing a Balk 322

Ball in the Dirt at Third 322

Sliding 323

Other Tips for Base Running 323

Section 14 Offensive Strategy and Techniques 325

Plan for Today's Game 325

The Hitter's Plan 327

Big Inning Offense 327

Batting Order 330

Controlling the Tempo 331

Offensive Techniques 332

Hit and Run 332

First and Third Short Game Techniques 335

Stealing a Run--First and Third Offense 338

Section 15 Scholarships and professional baseball 343

Approaching a Career in Baseball 343

Evaluating a Pathway 345

Getting Help with the Decision 347

Appendices

Appendix A Baseball Terms 349

Appendix B Score Card (sample: front and back) 350