This document outlines proposals for the 2015 MHS Cougar Baseball practices with the objective of having the best 2.5 hour practices in the state. It proposes shortening and intensifying practices with more individualized work in shorter segments to maintain high energy. Sample practice plans are provided that include dynamic warmups, skills work, team defense segments, groups work and weight room sessions. The rationale emphasizes getting more reps in less time, preventing injuries, and focusing on areas most needed for improvement. The goal is to maximize each player's potential through challenging, efficient practices.

1. MHS COUGAR BASEBALL
2015 Proposals
Tuesday, October 27, 15

2. Objective
Mere suggestions
Leave a legacy
Previous classes “just graduated”
Maximize our potential
Inspiration behind this: “Toughness is doing the right thing
when it’s really, really hard to do the right thing.”
Tuesday, October 27, 15

3. Contents
Objective
Practice Overview
Practice Plan Proposals
In-Depth/Rationales
Summary
Tuesday, October 27, 15

4. Practice Overview
Shorten practice
Goal: to have the best 2.5 hours in the state.
Princeton + Stanford + UCLA
Milich + Grundy
More Individualized yet TEAM oriented
Intensity
Tuesday, October 27, 15

5. Sample Practices(Inside)
Preseason Practice & Midseason Practice (Inside)
Ideal for varsity only (15-20 players) but modify to accommodate
more
Preseason Midseason
2:45 - 3:00: Prepare Gyms +
Motivation
3:00 - 3:05: Team jog
3:05 - 3:20: Dynamics +Yoga
3:20 - 3:35: Bands + Hofstra
throwing (abbreviated)
3:35 - 4:05: Team defense segment
+ Base-running (1 or 2 things hone
in on)
4:10 - 4:30: Groups (Infielder +
catcher work) (have pitchers hitting
fungos!) (Outfielders Hit)
Highlights
-Nothing done for longer than 30
minutes (keeps energy high)
-LOTS of game-like reps
-B/c preseason, lots of team
oriented work
4:35 - 4:55: Groups II (Infielder +
catcher hit) (Outfielders footwork,
etc. Pitchers = PFPs)
4:55 - 5:05: Cleanup stations
5:10 - 5:30: Back to team for
either more defense + base-running
or something specific to implement
2:45 - 3:00: Prepare Gyms +
Motivation
3:00 - 3:05: Team jog
3:05 - 3:20: Dynamics +Yoga
3:20 - 3:35: Bands + Hofstra
throwing (abbreviated)
3:35 - 3:55: Work on whatever we
did not do well or what we need to
prepare for next opponent (ex. bunt
D/rundowns)
4:00 - 4:25: Groups (Infielder +
catcher work) (have pitchers hitting
fungos!) (Outfielders Hit)
4:30 - 4:55: Groups II (Infielders +
Catchers hit) (Outfielders
footwork, etc.)
4:55 - 5:05: Cleanup
5:10 - 5:30: Weight room (body
weight toning/condition. Keep
muscles up while preventing injury)
Highlights
-Nothing done for longer than 25
minutes (keeps energy very high)
-Team work only on what is
NEEDED
-Weight room
Tuesday, October 27, 15

6. Sample Practices (Outside)
Preseason Practice & Midseason Practice (Outside)
Ideal for varsity only (15-20 players) but modify to accommodate more if w/JV
Preseason Midseason
2:45 - 3:00: Prepare Field +
Motivation (includes music during
positional work)
3:00 - 3:05: Team jog
3:05 - 3:20: Dynamics +Yoga
3:20 - 3:35: Bands + Hofstra
throwing (abbreviated)
3:35 - 4:05: Team defense segment
(1st & 3rds + relays + rundowns)
4:10 - 4:30: Infielders to cages for
hitting/bunting on field
4:10 - 4:30: Outfielders to do
outfield work
4:10 - 4:30: Pitchers to do PFPs/
bullpen
2:45 - 3:00: Prepare Field +
Motivation (includes music during
positional work)
3:00 - 3:05: Team jog
3:05 - 3:20: Dynamics +Yoga
3:20 - 3:35: Bands + Hofstra
throwing (abbreviated)
3:35 - 4:05: Team defense segment
(1st & 3rds + situations or whatever
is NEEDED)
4:10 - 4:35: Pitchers to do tires,
sprints, flexibility
4:10 - 4:35: Infielders to do
positional work on field (5 minutes
“everydays”, 5 drill, 15 fungos
4:10 - 4:35: Outfielders to hit
with Coach Doug in both cages
(tees/LOTS of front toss)
4:40 - 5:15: Pitchers to shag, have
fun, and run in outfield tracking
balls; some outfielders can do
“Hayward read jumps”
4:40 - 5:00: Outfielders on field
hitting (front toss - 2 pitchers) 20
minutes TONS OF SWINGS to right
and center ONLY
4:40 - 4:55: Infielders to do hitting
circuit in cages
5:00 - 5:15: infielders on field hit.
2 front tosses on field.Outfielders =
reads)
5:20-5:30: Cleanup all hands on
deck
4:35 - 4:55: Infielders do infield
work on field (everydays, drill,
fungos w/pitchers)
4:35-4:55: Outfielders to cages for
front toss
5:00 - 5:20: Team defense/bunting/
whatever is NEEDED
5:20 - 5:30: Cleanup all hands on
deck
Highlights
-Nothing done for longer than 30
minutes (keeps energy high)
-Cages almost ALWAYS being used
-50 minutes of team work
Tuesday, October 27, 15

7. In-Depth (Rationale)
Motivation to start each day
University of Pennsylvania baseball begins every practice with a
light, brief, team jog (loosen up + build chemistry)
Top NCAA teams do yoga every single day (remarkably relaxing,
stretches out muscles and prevents injuries)
Tuesday, October 27, 15

8. Dynamics
10 minutes
Similar to last year
Different:
After we jog
4 15-yard Sprints to build explosiveness
Tuesday, October 27, 15

9. Bands/Hofstra
Limit to 15 minutes total
Important to do band work & warmup arms, but should not
take more than 15 minutes
5 minutes bands, 5 minutes Hofstra, 5 minute loosen arm
Tuesday, October 27, 15

10. Team Segment
Very similar to how we do it in the past
Keep to within 30 minutes
Keeps energy up
Focus stays high
Brains will act as sponges
Preseason = implementation (twice - begin & end practice)
Midseason = work on whatever is NEEDED most. Not
everything
Tuesday, October 27, 15

11. Skill Work
Focus: To get more reps (than years past) in less time
Infielders
-5 Minutes of everydays
-5 minutes of a NEW drill (what is
NEEDED)
-15 minutes fungos (have pitchers hit
the fungos...so Coach Huelbig can
talk to fielders about technique,
approach, etc.)
Outfielders
-Reads only...first steps
-Footwork/communication
Catchers
-TONS of blocking!!!
-Ball to ear
-TALK.
-Accuracy means more than velocity
and pop times
Hitting
-Front toss to “live” 80/20 (front toss very prevalent) (includes angled front toss - Chris Davis drill)
-No machine
-Oppo/Center/Oppo. NO pulling
-2 strikes + big zone practice
-In cages: set up 2-5 front tosses of 2 or 3 players
-No yellow balls - takes too long to pickup & nobody has any intensity with that drill
*There should be no home runs in BP. Not the MLB. HS baseball. Need to get better*
Tuesday, October 27, 15

12. Training
High intensity, short lasting workouts
Outside - for pitchers
Inside practices - whole team in weight room to conclude some
practices
Push ups, tuck jumps, build explosive power, core work
Light weights to prevent injury & tone muscles
Tuesday, October 27, 15

13. Miscellaneous
Cut play...catcher give a look to 3rd
Intentional walk pickoff play
Leads not in crouch...fall half team doesn’t take a decent lead
A good test...print it, sign it, return it. How hard can that be?
Second and third, runner on 2B leaves. Catcher must control situation! Tell 1B to get to home, and run at him!!
John Jay reads
Runner on 1st, slow grounder to 2B, when runner should stop vs go back find the median
Run down stay in it so next guy can advance
Catcher interference...continue play
Tuesday, October 27, 15

14. Miscellaneous (cont.)
I LOVE THIS: DBRs. Have everybody get gear on, block and then throw somebody out. Point is to show players how hard it is for catcher to advance on a dirt ball.
1B should not be playing behind if we are not throwing through
3B coach left and right hand with two runners on & when to look at him when going to 3B
Defense vs squeeze...pitcher throw high
Decker in corner on tag up...let it go. less than 2 outs, runner on 3rd, long foul ball fly ball, do not catch it.
No fences field, outfielder let it go and become a ground rule double NOT a triple
No cursing/throwing things EVER
Tuesday, October 27, 15

15. Administrative Work
Every week or two, meet with team during an indoor practice.
Just brief - show a video, ex. Ray Lewis. Just a discussion
Clint Hurdle: 3 ups, 3 downs w/printed report card
Naval Academy environment
Tuesday, October 27, 15

16. Summary
Best 2.5 hours in the state
Lots of repetitions
Get each player to want to be there 100% of the time. In their
heart.
Show this at pre-tryout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Tuesday, October 27, 15

17. Tuesday, October 27, 15