Angry birds

Although I am not too much into the Angry Birds craze, it did inspire new training drills.

When we watch a professional 3B throwing the runner out at 1B (e.g. this clip), we will note that the ball traveled a bit like the Angry Bird going for the pigs.  For SS or 2B to 1B, the ball travels on a much straighter trajectory.

Although the latter is the goal in throwing, the former is found to be better for teaching kids to catch the ball because they see it all the way.  Today, we got that effect and immediately saw better catching.

The Angry Bird trajectory also helps their throwing too.  Throwing is quite like the slingshot, starting slow and then accelerate towards the target.  This slow-fast sequence is the key to almost every aspect of baseball : throwing, batting and running for a defensive catch.

We also depict the throwing and batting attitude to be "get angry".  This also works well with the kids' thinking.

TGV may already got a nickname - Angry Birds !

20110828 training - angry birds

This Sunday, we started the catch ground ball  > moving sideways towards 1B > throw.

The actual whole movement, if studied, has many parts.  It is not easy to do every part right in one smooth action flow.  Hence, we gave the children one simple instruction : be angry.  This kept them focus and trust their body to do the right thing.

We also re-introduced the running around bases within a set time.  To provide more fun, we gave points.

We will be introducing more and more proper baseball drills while not forgetting to make it fun.

20110807 training - thinking about cover

Baseball is at the same time an individual's game and a team game.  After playing many games, I still have a feeling that I play alone.  I bat alone.  I catch a fly ball alone.

But then, when I think more about it, I play like a team player when I do not get the ball.  I covered bases while my teammate went for the hit ground ball.  I stole base when my teammate was at bat.

On this training day, I taught the kids how to cover 2nd base and 3rd base.  The three responsible positions are 2B, SS and 3B.

When I dropped a ball near 3rd base, 3B ran for the ball.  SS covered 3B.  When I dropped a ball near 2nd base, 2B ran for it.  SS covered 2B.  When I placed the ball near pitcher's mound, SS ran for it.  2B covered 2nd and 3B covered 3rd.  We then gave some points as rewards.  The kids did very well.

Lewis and I were quite pleased with the results, knowing the kids began to understand the team concept which is so lacking in many organizations these days.  Real team work is thinking for oneself and others at the same time, not just being a clog in a machine.

We would expand to 1B later.  When it later includes also the pitcher and catcher, things will become more complicated.