Plate Stance & Vision Activity Stations
NCOA Baseball 2015 L5.1 Classroom - Plate “Vision” Activities_011315
Video Activities: Have students video all activities for later review ...
Brief Outline ...
(2 stalls)
Station #1a - “Cable Ball” Drill:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “pitch tracking” skills ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... Stretch out cable ... Video exercises for review …
Procedure: Use “on the rubber”, “set” … Count to 3 & release the ball on a pulley …
Station #1b - “Numbered Ball” Drills:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “timing” by requiring & establishing longer read periods ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... Use numbered ball ... Video exercises for review …
Procedure: Use “on the rubber”, “set” … Count to 3 & soft toss ball to F2 … Have F2 flip the ball so it is visible … Have PU say the number & then call the pitch … Repeat process ...
Station #1c - “Blindfold” Drills:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “timing” by requiring & establishing longer read periods ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F2 & PU ... Install blindfold ... Video exercises for review …
Procedure: Use “on the rubber”, “set” … Count to 3 & soft toss ball to F2 … Have F2 fhit the mitt to simulate ball hitting glove … Then have PU call the pitch … Repeat process ...
(2 stalls)
Station #2 - “One-Eye” Drill:
Learning Objective: Show how covering or closing one eye can can reveal what visual field can be seen with two eyes ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Have PU assume H/T/H/T stance …
Procedure:
Observation #1: Have PU assume RH hitter stance … Square head to F1 … Close/cover right eye … Draw visual field …
Observation #2: Have PU assume RH hitter stance … Square head to Top-outside corner of the plate … Close/cover right eye … Draw visual field …
Observation #3: Have PU assume LH hitter stance … Square head to F1 … Close/cover left eye … Draw visual field …
Observation #4: Have PU assume LH hitter stance … Square head to Top-outside corner of the plate … Close/cover left eye … Draw visual field …
(2 stalls)
Station #3 - Visual Field Frames:
Learning Objective: Show how slight adjustments to visual field alignment can greatly enhance PU’s information gathering for the “down” & “out” pitches …
Setup #1: Need chair, plate, cardboard frame supported into the air, F1 picture, Batter picture, F2 mitt picture … Create panorama view within frame … F1 in middle … plate in bottom-right corner & F2 mitt extended beyond bottom-right corner …
Setup #2: Setup #1: Need chair, plate, cardboard frame supported into the air, F1 picture, Batter picture, F2 mitt picture … Create panorama view within frame … F1 in top-left corner … plate in middel & F2 mitt in bottom-right corner …
Observation #1: Have student sit in chair & see what it looks like … Is like prior “one eye” drill?
Observation #2: Have student sit in chair & see what it looks like … Is like prior “one eye” drill?
(2 stalls)
Station #4a - “Tubed” Goggle Drills - Tunnel Vision :
Learning Objective: Demonstrate what how “tunnel” vision can prevent a quality evaluation of the “accepted” strike zone ...
Station #5a - “Tubed” Goggle Drills - Judging F2 Reception:
Learning Objective: Demonstrate how F2’s reception can be a good way to judge borderline pitches on the bottom & outside edges of the strike zone ...
(Classroom)
Station #6 - “Blacklight” Drills:
Learning Objective: Demonstrate how F2’s reception can be a good way to judge borderline pitches on the bottom & outside edges of the strike zone ...
(2 stalls)
Station #7 - “Soft Toss” Drills:
Learning Objective: Practice & reinforce earlier “visual” concepts …
Station #8 - “Pitching Machine” Drills:
Learning Objective: Practice & reinforce earlier “visual” concepts …
(Driveway Beyond Chain)
Station #9 - “Stakeholder” Analysis Drills:
Learning Objective: Demonstrate exactly what other important “stakeholders” are using to judge your strike zone ...
(Classroom)
Station #10 - Student Strike Zone Drawing:
Learning Objective: Record, analyze & compare a variety of strike zone diagrams & possible adjustments to their concept or thinking …
(Classroom)
Station #11 - Review Videos in Small Groups:
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NCOA Baseball 2015 L5.1 Classroom - Plate “Vision” Activities_011315
Detailed Outline ...
Video Activities: Have students video all activities for later review ...
(2 stalls)
Station #1a - “Cable Ball” Drill:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “pitch tracking” skills ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... Stretch out cable ... Video exercises for review …
Procedure: Use “on the rubber”, “set” … Place ending point at the most difficult location for PU to judge pitches - low-outside corner … Count to 3 & release the ball on a pulley …
Station #1b - “Numbered Ball” Drills:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “timing” by requiring & establishing longer read periods ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... Use numbered ball ... Video exercises for review …
Procedure: Use “on the rubber”, “set” procedure … Use “soft toss” to spot pitches to low-outside corner … Count to 3 & toss ball to F2 like throwing a dart … Have F2 flip the ball over so a number is visible … Have PU say the number & then call the pitch … Repeat process ...
Station #1c - “Blindfold” Drills:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “timing” by requiring & establishing longer read periods ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F2 & PU ... Install blindfold over PU’s eyes ... Have F2 hit two (2) wooden blocks together to simulate the ball hitting the mitt … Sync two (2) side-by-side PU’s to work off of the same wooden blocks snapping … Video exercises for review …
Procedure: Use “on the rubber”, “set” … Count to 3 & Have F2 hit the blocks together to simulate ball hitting glove … Then have each PU signal & call the “result” of the pitch … Repeat the process ...
(2 stalls)
Station #2 - “One-Eye” Field of View Observation:
Learning Objective: Show how covering or closing one eye can can reveal what visual field can be seen with that eye, but also is what can be see as the result of “both eye” vision in the critical pitch evaluation area ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Have PU assume H/T/H/T stance …
Station #2a – With Right-Handed Hitter:
Procedure:
Right-handed hitter:
Observation #1: Have PU assume RH hitter stance … Square head to F1 … Close/cover right eye … Draw visual field …
Observation #2: Have PU assume RH hitter stance … Square head to Top-outside corner of the plate … Close/cover right eye … Draw visual field …
Station #2b – With Left-Handed Hitter:
Procedure:
Left-handed hitter:
Observation #3: Have PU assume LH hitter stance … Square head to F1 … Close/cover left eye … Draw visual field …
Observation #4: Have PU assume LH hitter stance … Square head to Top-outside corner of the plate … Close/cover left eye … Draw visual field …
(2 stalls)
Station #3 - Visual Field Frames - “Shadow Box” View:
Learning Objective: Show how slight adjustments to visual field alignment can greatly enhance PU’s information gathering for the critical evaluation area - “down” & “out” pitches …
Station #3a – F1 in the Middle:
Setup: Need chair, plate, cardboard frame supported into the air, F1 picture, Batter picture, F2 mitt picture … Create panorama view within frame … F1 in middle … plate in bottom-right corner & F2 mitt extended beyond bottom-right corner …
Procedure: Sit in chair & observe the how the “shadow box” positions F1, plate, F2’s mitt & batter in the “visual field” formed by the cardboard frame …
Station #3b – F1 in Top-Left Corner:
Setup: Need chair, plate, cardboard frame supported into the air, F1 picture, Batter picture, F2 mitt picture … Create panorama view within frame … F1 in top-left corner … plate in middle & F2 mitt in bottom-right corner …
Procedure: Sit in chair & observe the how the “shadow box” positions F1, plate, F2’s mitt & batter in the “visual field” formed by the cardboard frame …
(2 stalls)
Station #4a - “Tubed” Goggle Drills - Tunnel Vision :
Learning Objective: Demonstrate what how “tunnel” vision can prevent a quality evaluation of the “accepted” strike zone ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... Have F2 “catch” with the Velcro paddle … Have PU wear “tubed goggles” & focus them to the front of the plate – the “text book” strike zone ...
Procedure: Have F1 say “on the rubber,” “set” … then count to 3 & toss the ball to the low-out corner … Judge pitches coming through the “text book” zone without any additional aids of reading the pitch to F2 … Have F2 “stick” the ball with the Velcro paddle to simulate F2 catching the pitch … Repeat process ... Video exercises for review …
Station #4b - “Tubed” Goggle Drills - Judging F2 Reception:
Learning Objective: Demonstrate how F2’s reception can be a good way to judge borderline pitches on the bottom & outside edges of the strike zone ...
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... Have PU wear “tubed goggles” & focus them to the area behind the plate where F2 receives the pitch ...
Procedure: Have F1 say “on the rubber,” “set” … then count to 3 & toss the ball to the low-out corner … Judge pitches by reading the pitch to F2 & how it is being caught (received) … Have F2 “stick” the ball with the Velcro paddle to simulate F2 catching the pitch … Repeat process ... Video exercises for review …
(2 stalls)
(Classroom)
Station #5 - “Blacklight” Drills:
Learning Objective: Demonstrate how F2’s reception can be a good way to judge borderline pitches on the bottom & outside edges of the strike zone ...
Setup: Roll out a plate vinyl … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... Have PU focus on the area behind the plate where F2 receives the pitch ... Have F2 wear a “glow glove” and Velcro paddle …
Procedure: Have F1 say “on the rubber,” “set” … then count to 3 & toss the ball to the low-out corner … Judge pitches by reading the pitch to F2 & how it is being caught (received) … Have F2 “stick” the ball with the Velcro paddle to simulate F2 catching the pitch … Have PU read how F2 “sticks” the pitch … Repeat process ... Video exercises for review …
(2 stalls)
Station #6 - “Soft Toss” Drills:
Learning Objective: Practice & reinforce earlier “visual” concepts …
Setup:
Procedure:
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... Do normal soft toss procedure for extra practice reading the pitch to F2 ... Video exercises for review …
Procedure: Use “on the rubber”, “set” procedure … Use “soft toss” to spot pitches to low-outside corner … Count to 3 & toss ball to F2 like throwing a dart … Have F2 wear a velcro paddle …
Procedure: Have F1 say “on the rubber,” “set” … then count to 3 & toss the ball to the low-out corner … Judge pitches by reading the pitch to F2 & how it is being caught (received) … Have F2 “stick” the ball with the Velcro paddle to simulate F2 catching the pitch … Have PU read how F2 “sticks” the pitch …
Station #7 - “Pitching Machine” Drills:
Learning Objective: Practice & reinforce earlier “visual” concepts …
Setup: Draw plate positioning template … Need F1, F2, Batter & PU ... set up & “sight in” the machine... Video exercises for review …
Procedure: Use “on the rubber”, “set” procedure … Count to 3 & insert the ball into the machine … Have F2 wear a glove …
Procedure: Have F1 say “on the rubber,” “set” … then count to 3 & insert the ball into the machine so it ends up passing through the low-out corner … Judge pitches by reading the pitch to F2 & how it is being caught (received) … Have F2 “stick” the ball with the glove … Have PU read how F2 “sticks” the pitch …
(Driveway Beyond Chain)
Station #8 - “Stakeholder” Analysis Drills:
Learning Objective: Demonstrate exactly what other important “stakeholders” are using to judge your strike zone ...
Setup: Set up a miniature sized field … Mark F1, F2, 3rd base coach, 1st base dugout …
Procedure: Have the student go to each spot & record thoughts about what can be seen from there …
Station #8a – F1 …
Station #8b – F2 …
Station #8c – 3rd base coach …
Station #8d – 1st base dugout …
(Classroom)
Station #9 - Student Strike Zone Drawing:
Learning Objective: Record, analyze & compare a variety of strike zone diagrams & possible adjustments to their concept or thinking …
Setup: Obtain a batter & plate diagram …
Procedure: Draw the strike zone you wish to call while working …
(Classroom)
Station #10 - Review Videos in Small Groups:
Setup: Position all team members to see the android pad …
Procedure: Display videos of earlier exercises & see how things look … Analyze images from a 3rdperson perspective & to reinforce any earlier learning discussed within your group …
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NCOA Baseball 2015 L5.1 Classroom - Plate “Vision” Activities_011315
Station #1 - Pitch Tracking & Timing Drills: (3 stalls)
Station #1a - “Cable Ball” Drill:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “pitch tracking” skills ...
Note: Sometimes slowing the playing action down can help us see problems in our work …
How is your pitch tracking for a RH batter?
How is your pitch tracking for a LH batter?
Do you finish your tracking differently for either of them?
How does the RH catcher’s mitt work affect have the pitch is caught between each different type of batter?
Which eye dominate are you - left or right?
Station #1b - “Numbered Ball” Drills:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “timing” by requiring & establishing longer read periods …
Note: Sometimes the first step in learning is changing habits or “patterns” … Although “false” timing is not a desirable trait, it can be an early step to developing longer evaluation periods … Training your mind to wait longer & read all the available information is one of the toughest things to do when you start umpiring - fan vs. umpire issues … One way to check your “timing” is to observe when you make your decision and compare it to when F2 turns his mitt over to retrieve the ball ...
How difficult was it to wait for the ball to be turned over & the number become visible?
Was there an “urge” to call the pitch quicker?
Station #1c - “Blindfold” Drills:
Learning Objective: Encourage better “timing” by requiring & establishing longer read periods ...
Note: Sometimes blocking visual input & relying on only sound to trigger your action can help train our mind to wait longer before making decisions … Your mind will not be in a hurry to “anticipate” results based on receiving images ...
Was your pause between the “snap” of the glove, the processing of the audio stimulation & your mind telling you to call it different?
If so, describe the different and how much different?
Station #2 - “One-Eye” Field of View Observation: (2 stalls)
Learning Objective: Show how covering or closing one eye can can reveal what your “quality” visual field will be with two eyes open …
Note: Although you can “see” in your extreme peripheral vision areas, your quality of vision decreases as you move further away from the center of your vision … Awareness of your visual field & its limitations are important to maximizing your perception & hence ability to evaluate pitch quality as an umpire … We are only as good as the “quality” of data we collect ...
Station #2a – With Right-Handed Hitter:
How does a subtle & barely noticeable head angle adjustment change your “field of view”?
Station #2b – With Left-Handed Hitter:
How does a subtle & barely noticeable head angle adjustment change your “field of view”?
Station #3 - Visual Field Frames - “Shadow Box” View: (2 stalls)
Learning Objective: Show how slight adjustments to visual field alignment can greatly enhance PU’s information gathering for the “down” & “out” pitches …
Note: This develops further on the prior thought … As we age, the edges of our peripheral vision gradually narrow without us noticing it … Focusing our “best” vision where we need it can maximize our “quality” visual data gathering becomes more important as we age … What are the toughest areas of the strike zone to judge??? … Down & out because we do not have the “line of sight” like on up & in pitches where our eyes are set up in the “slot” ...This slight adjustment is one strategy to enhance our vision in an area of most need ...
Station #3a – F1 in the Middle:
Where is the center of your vision focused in this frame?
Why do hitters need to focus on F1 & more importantly on the “release window”?
Why is this less important to umpires?
If this visual field alignment is used, what happens to the down-out F2 mitt reception?
What ends up occurring when the down-out pitch is judged?
Station #3b – F1 in Top-Left Corner:
Where is the center of your vision focused in this frame?
Why would this visual field alignment be more advantageous for a plate umpire?
How well could PU see & more importantly perceive the down-out pitch?
Why is a good down-out corner important in baseball?
Can this strategy improve your work judgement of down-out pitches?
Station #4 - “Tubed” Goggle Drills (2 stalls)
Note: “Tunnel Vision” is term used to describe a couple of phenomena … “Tunnel Vision” can be “physical” in nature when we are blocked out by the batter or F2 … “Physical Tunnel Vision” can also be caused as a result of poor visual field alignment … As the pitch moves into weaker areas of our vision, the mind will stop evaluating when quality data stops accumulating - similar to voice activated recording … This is visual activated processing … When the processing stops, the mind says it’s time to make a decision … This is where an umpire either suffers from “quick” or “false” timing ... “Conceptual Tunnel Vision” usually occurs when umpires don’t read the pitch past the “pane of glass” described by a “ rulebook interpretation” of the strike zone … The umpire gives up on the pitch instead of continuing to read the pitch into F2’s mitt & letting it serve as a “cue” to the quality of the pitch … Umpires often try to be too “right” & end up being inconsistent because concentration to interpret the strike zone in this manner cannot be maintain for long periods of time … When umpires lose their zone in the middle or late game, this could be a potential problem ...
Station #4a - “Physical” Tunnel Vision :
Learning Objective: Demonstrate what how “tunnel” vision can prevent a quality evaluation of the “accepted” strike zone ...
Judge the pitch & compare to the team video being taken later … See how your judgement is affected …
Station #4b - Judging Pitch Quality by Reading F2 Mitt (Reception):
Learning Objective: Demonstrate how F2’s reception can be a good way to judge borderline pitches on the bottom & outside edges of the strike zone …
Can reading & evaluating F2’s mitt be an effective “algorithm” for judging pitches?
Station #5 - “Blacklight” Drills - Judging Pitch Quality by Reading F2 Mitt (Reception): (2 stalls)
(Inside a Classroom)
Learning Objective: Demonstrate how F2’s reception can be a good way to judge borderline pitches on the bottom & outside edges of the strike zone ...
Note: Collecting visual data is a funny thing … There is so much visual stimula inputting that your mind needs to filter it before it can be prioritized and evaluated … Isolating the mitt work may help you learn the importance & prevent other images from distracting you from focusing on the mitt … This drill is an attempt to give you nothing but ball & mitt so your mind can learn that mitt work can really help you call difficult areas of the strike zone ...
Could you judge the down-out zone well using F2’s mitt work?
Station #6 - “Soft Toss” Drills: (2 stalls)
Learning Objective: Practice & reinforce earlier “visual” concepts …
Note: Practice make permanent … Continue to practice some of the visual techniques & make them permanent skills for your game ...
Station #7 - “Pitching Machine” Drills: (2 stalls)
Learning Objective: Practice & reinforce earlier “visual” concepts …
Note: Practice make permanent … Continue to practice some of the visual techniques & make them permanent skills for your game ..
Station #8 - “Stakeholder” Analysis Drills: (Driveway Beyond Chain)
Learning Objective: Demonstrate exactly what other important “stakeholders” are using to judge your strike zone ...
Note: Learning how others are judging your zone can help you adjust slightly for survival … The game has evolved for more than a century … It has become very conceptual until the development of instant replay & over 20 HD camera angles … Unfortunately, we have the “war of the worlds” going on currently between “new” & “old” worlds … We live in that turbulent “convergence zone” where there are no winners … But, it would probably be best to understand the “old” ways because it isn’t likely any school district will spend $2m+ on “pitch(fx) systems to back up our calls ...
Go to each spot & record what can each “stakeholder” see and what their drawbacks are …
Station #8a – F2 …
Station #8b – F1 …
Station #8c – 3rd base coach …
Station #8d – 1st base dugout …
Station #9 - Student Strike Zone Drawing: (Classroom)
Learning Objective: Record, analyze & compare a variety of strike zone diagrams & possible adjustments to their concept or thinking …
Station #10 - Review Videos in Small Groups: (Classroom)
Learning Objective: Compare & contrast a variety of plate work examples from within the "team" ...
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