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These web links are provided as possible
resources for information to coaches, volunteers, parents and players to help
them better understand the rules, coaching techniques, skills and training for
the various sports Wheatland Athletic Association provides. WAA doesn't
endorse any of these sites, but only provides them as a service.
Soccer
Soccer
Drills Page - Individual drills and games for all age players
(New)
Illinois Youth Soccer -
http://www.iysa.org/
Fifa (World Federation of Soccer)-
http://www.fifa.com/en/index.html
US Youth Soccer - http://usyouthsoccer.org/
Success in Soccer Magazine -
http://www.successinsoccer.com/start/start.php
Soccer Help Website -
http://www.soccerhelp.com/index.shtml
Basketball
Knowledge Hound Basketball Tips -
http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/basketba.htm
Power Basketball -
http://www.powerbasketball.com/
Coaching Youth Basketball -
http://www.powerbasketball.com/shurtleff.html
Nitty-Gritty Basketball Tips -
http://www.mrbasketball.net/instuff/30tips/e0tipsartlist.html
Baseball
How to buy a baseball bat -
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/info/index.jsp?categoryId=222833&infoPath=222974
Jack Perconte Sports Academy -
http://www.percontesports.com/pages/1/index.htm
Quality Coaching Baseball -
http://www.qcbaseball.com
Eteamz.com Baseball Tips:
Base running Drill
To be a good base runner you don't have to be the fastest player on your team.
But you do have to be aware of the play around you--thinking always two bases
ahead and how am I going to accomplish it.
The key is hard work (practice), desire and hustle. A coach once told me, "A
good base runner must maximize his speed with minimal strides." These tips I
hope will help you with your base-running.
Stomping the bag
When running to first base have the player hit the top of the bag with their
right foot-thereby "stomping the bag." Have a coach stand about four paces
behind the bag up the baseline. The players should break down the line with
chopping steps; getting their butts low to the ground and coming to a stop
before reaching the coach. This way they are in an aggressive position ready to
take advantage of an overthrow or be prepared to return back to first base if
they are ruled safe.
Rounding the bases
When rounding a base coaches should remember the focus is on maximizing speed
with minimum steps. Players should leak " ) "out of the base path when running
and squaring up their shoulders to the corner of the base. Don't run the "?"
path because this takes momentum away from the base runner. Don't worry about
which foot you hit the corner of the base with just don't stutter step to the
corner because this will diminish your speed.
Determining proper bat weight
By Mark Roberts
Director of Bux-Mont Baseball Instruction
www.buxmontbaseballinstruction.com
For Active.com
February 10, 2006
One of the most common errors a parent can make for their son or daughter is
buying them a baseball or softball bat that is too heavy -- thinking that
they'll grow into the bat later on.
Some of the most important aspects of hitting include control, balance and bat
speed. If a bat is too heavy the player can't develop in these areas of hitting
and subsequently loses confidence struggling with their development of a smooth
swing.
When buying a bat, parents and players should always err on the lighter side
rather than the heavier side. But how does a player determine what is the
proper weight for a bat?
Testing the weight
Here is one way we teach players at our camps: The player should hold the bat as
they would normally, then remove your top hand from the bat and place it around
your lower hand's wrist. Now swing the bat. Does the bat feel comfortable and
does the player have control?
Determining control
So how do you go about defining control of the bat? Look to see that during the
swing the bat head isn't dropping and/or dragging. Another consideration is
whether the player can finish the swing high with speed and control. Always
keep in mind your goal as a parent or coach is to develop the bat speed and
control of your players.
Catching drill: Around the bucket
By Matt Mueller, Assistant Coach
Santa Clara University
http://www.santaclarabroncos.com
For Active.com
January 11, 2006
To keep runners from advancing bases and create less
runs for the opposing team,
it's extremely important that your catcher keeps the
baseball in front of him.
We do this drill quite often at Santa Clara University
to help create proper
technique on balls in the dirt that are to the catcher's
left and right.
The drill
Have a bucket of baseballs on home plate. The catcher
starts from the outermost
edge of the grass and dirt circle around home plate. The
coach will toss
baseballs at the catcher that simulate a ball in dirt to
be blocked by the
catcher.
Practice this drill in a circle around the home-plate
area. Start the catcher
moving in a clockwise direction and continue the drill
until the catcher blocks
as many balls as possible and he returns to where he
started.
Next, the catcher should perform the same drill in a
counterclockwise direction.
The goal for the catcher is to keep every blocked
baseball within the circle.
This drill is designed to be done rapidly, and will give
the catcher instant
feedback on whether or not he's getting around the
baseball and keeping it in
front of him.
For more baseball news, tips and tools, visit
eteamz.com, your online team
sports community.
Catching: The most important position
By Chip Baker
Florida State University
For Active.com
November 30, 2005
The catcher has to be, day in and day out, the most stable position on the
field. He's involved in every aspect of the game. He must be a "great
communicator" with the umpire, pitcher, teammates, as well as the coach.
This must be done with a level of consistency from the first pitch. Catchers
need to establish this method of communication and build on it during the game.
Catcher's pre-game routine
These series of quick, pre-game drills can be done before or after infield.
Total time of all these drills should be five minutes or less. Make sure you
teach the drills in practice before you throw it on the catcher before the
game.
1. Spots: From a short distance, throw to the catcher in all locations. Corners,
low pitches, inside and outside pitches. Get him to concentrate on receiving
the ball and keeping the mitt in the strike zone. (Eight to 10 throws; use two
baseballs to speed this up)
2. Sways: Get the catcher's legs loose by throwing pitches outside of the strike
zone. Work on the swaying technique (opposite knee to the ground). This
improves receiving range. (Two or three throws each way)
3. Dead ball block: Put a ball on the ground where a ball would if he was
blocking a ball. Work on technique. Check body position for "holes": Glove,
elbows, shoulders. Move the ball around, work on going to his left and right.
(Three to five blocks)
4. Block: Throw balls in dirt or grass. Tell the catcher what pitch is coming
and have him work on the actual technique of blocking the ball. Again, this is
an area of teaching and 'building confidence' in the catcher's blocking
ability. (Four to six balls)
5. Live block and attack: Throw live fastballs and breaking. Have the catcher
make the decision on "catch or block". This gets him to focus on watching the
ball. After blocking, have the catcher attack the ball as if a runner is on
first or second. (Four to six balls) Note: don't beat him up before a game.
6. Hard crosses: This is the pitch that's near the outside edge of the batter's
box. The catcher throws his opposite leg or "crosses" his leg over to get the
mitt to the spot to knock down the ball. This is an extreme block -- just get a
piece of the ball to keep a run from scoring. (Two each side)
7. Quarter eagles: This is foot work in throwing. Quarter turn of the body with
ball loaded in mitt ... quarter eagle. Work on pitches all over the strike
zone. Mix in a pitch-out on both sides of the plate. Catcher can throw to
additional player. This drill will allow catcher to work on proper foot work on
all pitches. Work on the jab-step and no-step techniques. (Four to six balls;
if no infield, throw more)
8. Plays at the plate: Throw 70'-90' throws to catcher ... Two or three bounces
to simulate a play at the plate. Have the catcher to turn to his left or right
to simulate throws from left field, center field and right field. Extra catcher
can put "pressure" on catcher. End with a good throw to "nail the runner" at
the plate.
9. Remind catcher to "have fun!"
Tip was provided by Chip Baker of Florida State University. Visit the Web site
at www.seminoles.com.
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