Throwing & Catching
Pulaski Baseball Concentrated Throwing & Catching
*75% of errors in baseball are throwing errors-perfect practice makes perfect!
- Wrist Flips-Glove under elbow
- 1-Knee (8-10 yards apart--upper body focus extend & reach)
- Stand 2 Feet Square (12 yards apart) Upper Body Rotate & Throw
- Rock forward & back & throw Lower Body Focus
- Movement to Throws: Right/Left Throw & Follow (Body follows 2-3 steps)
- Movement to Throws: Right/Left Shuffle & Follow (Body follows 2-3 steps)
- Ball in Glove Fielding Position: Right/Left & Throw & Follow
- Ball in Glove Fielding Position: Right/Left Shuffle, Throw & Follow
- Rapid Catch/Rapid Fire (10-15 Seconds Only) - Watch Video
- Forward & Backward Throwing Off Wrong Foot
- Crow Hop Long Toss
*30 Seconds Each or 5-6 Throws & Move On--Snap & Hustle to Each New One.
*All catching is done with both hands: receive the ball in the middle of the body.
Add challenges, you can make it a competition. Example: No balls hit the ground, 20 throws timed, 1st group to 20 throws, etc. We want them to be focused & create urgency & pressure. Pressure throws in the game will become second nature--create an atmosphere that this is throwing & catching practice--not just warming up.
Can Add:
- Moving to a Forehand & Backhand Ground Ball to Throw
- Dive (Both Ways) to Pop-up to Throw
- Football Throwing (Smaller-Youth Balls)
- 1 Knee
- Square Shoulders
- Wrong Shoulder
- Forward & Backward
- 3 Step Drop (Can add patterns for fun & athleticism
Basic Mechanics (Emphasize these things as you do “Concentrated Throwing”
- Grip: Every kid should know how to find 4 seams (fingers across the horseshoe)
- Fingers on Top of the Ball
- Separation to Power L: Smooth & Rhythmical (Small circle, thumb down & finger up)
- Power L: Show ball to shortstop, never to 2nd base (stresses shoulder & elbow)
- Elbow shoulder height
- Opposite elbow slots into side with glove hand up. Extend arm & reach toward target
- Drive off back leg, rotate, & follow through to target bringing back leg through.