KNIGHTS Player Development Roadmap

AGES 9/10

The primary  objective for this age group is to ensure each player develops a love and passion for practicing baseball, understands and begins to manage the emotional aspect of the game, and can begin to successfully execute the skills listed below.

• Proper running mechanics to increase on field speed
• Mastery of upper body + lower body set up, and proper loading techniques
• Sacrifice bunting and bunting for a base hit
• Introduction to Visual Game Plan
• Fundamental understanding of 5 Step Pitching mechanics
• Introducing 4 seam, 2 seam, change-up
• How to slide properly and effectively
• Ground ball fielding techniques
• Introduction to Tags and Picks
• Differing footwork techniques to field and throw quickly
• Intro to fielding slow rollers
• How to recognize, and either charge or go back on a fly ball
• Throwing and relaying the ball to the infield
• How to rundown a base runner
• Understand how to execute a double play at all infield positions

This level is both competitive and instructional, with admittedly more emphasis on the competitive aspects of the game than the younger level.  Coaches must typically field a competitive team providing them with a fun learning experience. Players must focus on refining their skill sets with a very strong emphasis on consistency.  The difference between an average player and a good player is the ability to consistently execute fundamental baseball skills.

• Improving on field speed and running mechanics
• Advanced dynamic warm up techniques
• Mastery of upper body + lower body set up, and proper loading techniques
• Mastery of 5 Step Pitching mechanics
• Understanding and managing pitching grips 4 seam, 2 seam, cutter, change-up
• Mastery of sacrifice bunting and bunting for a base hit
• Visual Game Plan and increasing level of pitch recognition
• How to execute different types of slides
• Tags and Picks
• Proper footwork techniques to field and throw quickly
• Throwing from different arm angles
• Fielding slow rollers
• How to recognize and either charge or go back on a fly ball
• Throwing and relaying the ball to the infield
• How to execute a proper rundown
• Properly execute a double play at all infield positions

The biggest and most difficult jump in baseball is the successful transition to the bigger field. It can be the difference in staying and not staying.

A baseball player’s career is on the line at age 13 & 14 years old, and we know that 75% of kids stop playing sports by age 14.  Many ball players do pretty well at age 12, but disappear from the baseball world by age 13 & 14.  Players and parents must be aware of the fun, the rewards, and the difficulties of playing baseball on the bigger diamonds after 12yrs old.

• Increasing arm strength
• Strength training to develop quicker linear speed and change of direction abilities
• Continuing to master fundamental skill sets learned at 11/12 yrs old
• Deeper understanding of aspects of strategy in the game
• Bunting consistently, leads and stealing, pick-off plays, bunt defenses
• Situational hitting
• Mental Skills

High School Coaches at respective schools must put the most competitive team on the field possible.  Poor mechanics players execute at tryouts are because of improper techniques that have gone uncorrected for years at lower levels of play.

Typically when selecting players HS Coaches look at:

Athletic ability

• running ability, agility
• 60yd dash times
• overall strength

Baseball ability

• throwing, catching, hitting
• the ability to make the routine play
• high level of baseball IQ

Coachability

• hustle, attitude, attentiveness
• listening ability and the ability to follow instructions

Throwing
Throwing is probably the number one reason players end up being cut from programs. First day of tryouts they watch warm up and immediately a red flag goes up on some players. These players stand out because of poor throwing mechanics, which generally result in poor arm strength and lack of velocity.

HS Tryouts typically consist testing of:

Outfielders - Looking for ability to judge fly balls, arm strength and accuracy
Infielders - Coaches looking for ability to field ground balls, athleticism, arm strength and accuracy.
Catchers - Glove to glove stopwatch time on throws to second base. They also judge their ability to handle a pitching staff and receive pitches
Pitchers - Looking for arm action, consistency, secondary pitches and velocity.
Hitters - Watch swing mechanics. Do their swing mechanics show that they have the ability to be a potential hitter