Fun baseball defense strategy videos for little leaguers?
March 27, 2015 9:17 AM Subscribe
My eight-year-old son is in Little League baseball for the first time. A lot of the what-to-do-when scenarios are mysteries to him. So we're looking for upbeat, fun videos about all aspects of defense — including knowing where to play for the outs, base coverage, relays, rundowns, and cutoffs — that we can watch so he can see the plays in action.
A lot of what I have found is boring, poorly produced, assumes adult-level baseball knowledge, or assumes the viewer is in a locker-room scenario where the coach will add his own commentary. I am not a coach and don't know much about baseball, either.
This video and the ones in the sidebar are similar in content, but they would not engage my son or me. Is there some motherlode of good ones I'm not finding?
I did find a few on Amazon Instant Video that we will try but the trailers are not promising.
I've also looked at apps, though I think he really needs live-action video to understand. Baseball Game Plan is only on iOS (we have Android tablets and phones but Mac computers). Ned Yost's Baseball Academics looks okay to me; I will have my son try it. Kid Pro Baseball looks lame but I will play around with it.
A lot of what I have found is boring, poorly produced, assumes adult-level baseball knowledge, or assumes the viewer is in a locker-room scenario where the coach will add his own commentary. I am not a coach and don't know much about baseball, either.
This video and the ones in the sidebar are similar in content, but they would not engage my son or me. Is there some motherlode of good ones I'm not finding?
I did find a few on Amazon Instant Video that we will try but the trailers are not promising.
I've also looked at apps, though I think he really needs live-action video to understand. Baseball Game Plan is only on iOS (we have Android tablets and phones but Mac computers). Ned Yost's Baseball Academics looks okay to me; I will have my son try it. Kid Pro Baseball looks lame but I will play around with it.
The what-to-dos are a mystery to almost all 8 year old kids on a baseball field, and a surprising percentage of 14 year olds. I say this as somebody who logged about 8 seasons of coaching, starting with 6 year olds in coach pitch. They really aren't going to learn it from watching videos or reading a book. It's best learned by repetition on a baseball field, and no Little League team has enough practice time to really do it. Take him to the field and hit him ground balls, yelling out just before you hit "runner in first, 1 out, or whatever, and have him pantomime the proper throw after fielding the ball if it's just you two. He'll pick it up surprisingly quick that way.
posted by COD at 11:46 AM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by COD at 11:46 AM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You really don't need videos for this. At that age, coverage and where to play are pretty simple. Plus his coach should be telling him where to play, and work on this in practice. Here's what I work on with my players:
Where to play if he's in the outfield: take a few steps to the left if the batter is to the left of the catcher (from your son's point of view), or a few steps to the right if the batter is on the right. Big kid? Take a few steps back. Always have a direct view of the batter, so take another step or two if an infielder, runner, or umpire is on your way.
What to do if the ball is hit to you in the outfield: Run after it, pick it up, and throw it to the middle infielder (2B or SS) closest to you as soon as possible. Don't wait to see what the runner is doing - just make sure the fielder sees you before you throw.
Where to play if he's in the infield: You're always a few steps away from the nearest base, again taking a step or two to the side depending on which side of the plate the batter hits from.
What to do if the ball is hit to you in the infield: Block it, catch it, knock it down - whatever it takes so the ball doesn't get past you. If you're in any doubt, throw it to first base. Yes, it's better to get the lead runner out, but the key is still getting the out. There are dozens of rules about making outs in various ways, but if your child doesn't know the rules well, they'll get it wrong. Half the time the best play is to first base anyway, and as a coach there are many times I'll trade a runner advancing for an out. Outs end innings faster than runs do.
What to do if the ball is NOT hit to you in the infield: Run to the nearest base, put one foot on the base, and turn to see where the ball is. This is the absolute hardest thing to teach players, and if your son learns this he'll be far above average on many teams. Novice players often relax when the ball is not hit their way, and they'll just stand like a spectator watching what's going on. But then someone will drop the ball and the runners will keep going, and suddenly it's a race to the next base. Because the fielders are still moving, they'll miss the ball and we're off to the races again.
Really, it boils down to a few key points. Get the ball if it's hit to you. Cover a base if it's not hit to you. Outfielders throw the ball to infielders, infielders throw it to the base ahead of the runner. The rest is just practice drills, over and over and over again.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 12:25 PM on March 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Where to play if he's in the outfield: take a few steps to the left if the batter is to the left of the catcher (from your son's point of view), or a few steps to the right if the batter is on the right. Big kid? Take a few steps back. Always have a direct view of the batter, so take another step or two if an infielder, runner, or umpire is on your way.
What to do if the ball is hit to you in the outfield: Run after it, pick it up, and throw it to the middle infielder (2B or SS) closest to you as soon as possible. Don't wait to see what the runner is doing - just make sure the fielder sees you before you throw.
Where to play if he's in the infield: You're always a few steps away from the nearest base, again taking a step or two to the side depending on which side of the plate the batter hits from.
What to do if the ball is hit to you in the infield: Block it, catch it, knock it down - whatever it takes so the ball doesn't get past you. If you're in any doubt, throw it to first base. Yes, it's better to get the lead runner out, but the key is still getting the out. There are dozens of rules about making outs in various ways, but if your child doesn't know the rules well, they'll get it wrong. Half the time the best play is to first base anyway, and as a coach there are many times I'll trade a runner advancing for an out. Outs end innings faster than runs do.
What to do if the ball is NOT hit to you in the infield: Run to the nearest base, put one foot on the base, and turn to see where the ball is. This is the absolute hardest thing to teach players, and if your son learns this he'll be far above average on many teams. Novice players often relax when the ball is not hit their way, and they'll just stand like a spectator watching what's going on. But then someone will drop the ball and the runners will keep going, and suddenly it's a race to the next base. Because the fielders are still moving, they'll miss the ball and we're off to the races again.
Really, it boils down to a few key points. Get the ball if it's hit to you. Cover a base if it's not hit to you. Outfielders throw the ball to infielders, infielders throw it to the base ahead of the runner. The rest is just practice drills, over and over and over again.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 12:25 PM on March 27, 2015 [4 favorites]
Take in a local college game or two? They rarely fill the bleachers in our area, and the players might be charmed to see kids taking note. Bring a glove for foul balls.
posted by childofTethys at 6:25 AM on March 28, 2015
posted by childofTethys at 6:25 AM on March 28, 2015
Our kids enjoyed a few pre-season clinics that were offered as a bonus for early registration. Our area (mid-Atlantic) has Ripken Baseball partnering with a sponsor for free clinics. It was a completely different dynamic (skill-based) than team practice. Maybe there is something similar over your way.
posted by childofTethys at 6:34 AM on March 28, 2015
posted by childofTethys at 6:34 AM on March 28, 2015
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posted by GuyZero at 9:38 AM on March 27, 2015 [1 favorite]