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Fundamentals

Fundamentals

Hamel baseball would like to ask coaches to use a common vernacular to describe certain aspects of fielding, batting, and throwing. We hope this will help our players as they progress through the system. The common terms that we would like used are in BOLD next to the fundamental.

Fielding Fundamentals

Talking points of a great fielder
• Quick Feet
• Strong Legs
• Quick Hands
• Soft Hands
• Glide as they move
• Thinking ahead, knowing what to do before it happens
 
Perfect Fielder Position (PFP)/ Ready Position
• Upright, knees slightly bent
• Glove face facing the sky about belt high
• Throwing hand next to glove, palm to the sky
• Rock side to side
• Eyes on the baseball
• Cover (as the ball enters glove cover it with your other hand) (ALLIGATOR CHOMP)

Advanced Perfect Fielder Position (PFP)/ Ready Position
• Stance (PFP)
• Glove foot forward
• Toe to heel (Throwing hand foot to heel of glove hand foot)
• Twice the width of shoulders
• Elbows to knees (Place elbows on knees, butt has to be down)
• Slip (Slip the elbows off knees when ball is 2 -3 feet away)
• Slide (Slide glove and throwing hand on ground in front of ball)
• Cradle (Stand up and rotate both hands up toward the chest)
• Separate (Hands separate palms facing each other, shoulder width)

Throwing Fundamentals
• Grip (ball in center of hand)
• Stance (Like riding a SKATEBOARD)
• Spread (Feet twice the width of shoulders)
• Flex (Knees and ankles)
• Hands Together, palms down (Thumbs up, 4-6 inches in front of chest, praying style)
• Show (Ball above head, throwing elbow shoulder height)

Batting Fundamentals

Talking points about hitting
• Balance
• Bat Speed
• No movement of the head
•  See the ball, hit the ball

Batter’s box checklist
• Toes (Straight ahead toward the plate) (SKATEBOARD)
• Spread (The width of shoulders) (SKATEBOARD)
• Flex (Knees and ankles) (SKATEBOARD)
• Grip (point index fingers in the same direction) (JESSE JAMES, BANG BANG)
• Bat Angle (45 degrees directly over shoulder by ear) (FLASHLIGHT)

Objective (Point of Contact) ** for the older kids but here for reference
• Front foot closed
• Back Foot Pivot (Hips rotate, back foot toes point at pitcher)
• Belly button to pitcher (Rotate hips until belly button points to pitcher)
• Hands Extended (Hands over front foot, slight bend in elbows)
• Eyes at point of contact (Head is down at home plate)

Swing Finish checklist ** for the older kids but here for reference
• Front foot closed (Front foot closed)
• Back Foot Pivot (Hips rotate, back foot toes point at pitcher)
• Shoulders full turn (Back Shoulder replaces front shoulder)
• Eyes at point of contact (Head is down at home plate)