with Seth Thibodeaux,
Nicholls State University Head Coach;
2014 Southland Conference Coach of the Year;
has had 18 student-athletes play professional baseball in the last eight years
The race to 27 outs in a baseball game is won or lost with consistency in the infield. Seth Thibodeaux's Nicholls State Colonels consistently rank at the top of the Southland Conference in fielding percentage by keeping their infield defense approach simple and consistent. Utilizing proper glove placement and presentation to calmly and consistently play catch, combined with elite communication to work together as one defensive unit, is Coach Thibodeaux's trademark and will help mold your team into an efficient defensive machine.
Start With "Early" Work
Every day starts with consistent purpose at Nicholls State. Appropriate attention to arm care, footwork, and vision build the foundation of a good practice. Making sure your athletes are warm and focused before seeing a ground ball will set the tone for effective reps.
Coach Thibodeaux's practice plans are focused and consistent. His "Early Work" drills include:
- Footwork - Drills utilizing agility cones and ladders to create athletic movements with connected body and eyes, calmly working together.
- Muscle Memory - Focused pancake gloves reinforce the use of two hands when applicable, and shortened mitts allow for concentrated eyes and hands working together to field the baseball in the heart of the glove.
- Angles - The V-Cut and Drop Step drills will get your athletes in the right mindset to attack the baseball methodically and extend their range.
Properly Play Catch
Ball security is a premium for effective defensive play. By correctly throwing and receiving the baseball, a cohesive infield can consistently make the plays that should be made. Coach Thibodeaux and the Colonels athletes demonstrate effective ways to:
- Present a calm and consistent glove target for your partner/teammate.
- Grip and throw a 4-seam baseball with backspin for maximum consistency.
- Accurately hit your target with clean mechanics and lower body engagement, especially the hip drive from the back leg.
- Promote efficiency in every play and eliminate errors, allow for mistakes, and seize the opportunity for coach involvement to build relationships with players and their growth.
Put "Core" Drills at the Core of Your Practice
When your athletes are healthy, warm, and athletic, it's time to field the baseball. Rolled balls in a controlled environment, situational plays with fungos or machines, and challenging competitive drills all combine to create an immersive defensive practice at Nicholls State.
Core areas for developing elite defenders include practicing routine plays, uncomfortable plays, "freedom" plays and situational plays. You'll get multiple drills for each type of play courtesy of Coach Thibodeaux that will make sure your players can handle any kind of ball hit at them in any situation.
With 25 game-like defensive drills, Thibodeaux shows the keys to footwork, athleticism, glove handling, and accurate throwing that will develop fundamentally sound infielders. By learning how to be quiet and purposeful with your glove and eyes while playing catch, fielding the baseball or even showing your target, you can consistently be in the right place at the right time to effortlessly get 27 outs.
89 minutes. 2021.
LD-05794B:
with Zach Butler,
University of Texas at San Antonio Assistant Coach (Pitching);
former Nicholls State University Assistant Coach (Pitching);
has had five pitchers taken in the MLB Draft in eight years at Nicholls State;
drafted in the 34th round of the 2011 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays
With advances in technology and training techniques, offenses are more potent than ever; getting hitters out has never been more difficult. In this video, Nicholls State University pitching coach Zach Butler shows how to prepare your pitchers to win the race to 27 outs through drills that connect back to his foundational principles. He also offers ways to grip five different pitches, and closes out with sage advice he's learned over a decorated career on the mound and as a coach.
Drills
Coach Butler offers 10 pitching drills that will help you get your pitchers closer to 27 outs. These drills all incorporate Butler's foundational pitching principles of balance, rhythm and timing, intent, and direction. Improving in these four areas with Coach Butler's pitching drills will give your pitchers a solid mechanical base to build on.
In the Uphill Rocker Drill, Coach Butler has the pitcher stand on the back slope of the mound to complete the drill. The additional resistance from working uphill forces the pitcher to work through their front side.
Grips
One of the fun aspects of pitching is experimenting with new or different grips that will produce entirely new pitches. Adjust the fingers a little one way or another and the baseball will break in a completely different way!
Coach Butler shows you a few grips and variations for five different pitches. You will learn grips and variations for the four-seam and two-seam fastballs, change-up, curve, and slider/cutter.
Coaching Pitchers
Coaching pitching is more than mechanics and drills. Coach Butler tackles several of the nuances of pitching that will help take your coaching skills to the next level, including:
- When to call a mound visit and what to say.
- How the team within the team (the catcher, pitcher, and coach) can work together to beat opposing batters.
- What to think about when considering your in-game philosophy.
- How to develop your pitchers.
In all, Coach Butler explains his foundational pitching principles, offers 10 drills that connect back to those pillars, and offers up valuable advice on coaching pitchers. You'll learn how to help your pitching staff win the race to 27 outs and close out baseball games!
61 minutes. 2021.
LD-05794C:
with Ford Pemberton,
Nicholls State University Assistant Coach (Hitting);
former Assistant coach at C.E. Byrd HS, Zachary HS and Parkview Baptist HS (helped lead all three schools to the LHSAA State Championship);
former associate scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Coach Ford Pemberton's foundational approach to hitting helps keep the swing simple and will allow you to identify problem areas while customizing your practice program to how different types of players learn and grow. In this video, Pemberton teaches you how to evaluate hitters from setup to follow-through, including identifying effortless swing power and impact value such as the sight and sound of the ball off the bat to continue reinforcing positive development. Pemberton then defines strategies for developing routines, and focus areas, for players through their drill and tee work in the cage.
Foundation 1: A Clean First Move (Load)
By focusing on a simple load, or first movement, Coach Pemberton helps hitters develop consistent and repeatable mechanics to build upon. Hitting flaws often are rooted at the very beginning. Keeping things simple will build a solid foundation for later enhancements to your hitter's swing and hitting approach.
The first iteration of Pemberton's Wall Drill focuses on the first foundation in the load phase. By utilizing the drill, hitters can:
- Reduce swaying and twisting
- Avoid over-rotating
- Get into an ideal "attack position"
By creatively utilizing a free weight plate in an activity called the Weight Drill, Pemberton shows how coaches and players can be more effective in identifying inefficient movements. The drill provides real-time feedback to the hitter and coach. By helping prevent swaying and twisting, it proves extremely simple and effective as part of a swing training program.
Foundation 2: Make a Forward Move (Balanced Position)
By making an effective move after load, Coach Pemberton helps hitters identify how to get to the ideal attack position and be athletic. Drills like the Toe Up Drill help hitters ensure forward movement without swaying. Staying athletic and "in the legs" is a recurring theme of optimal balance and positioning.
The next Wall Drill focuses on the second foundation in the balanced attack position. With this portion of the drill, hitters learn to:
- Get to 50/50 weight distribution - the most athletic position possible
- Get into proper hitting position
- Keep control of the barrel, balance, and posture by staying in proper position
While facing live batting practice pitching, the Feet Together Drill is a dynamic exercise in validating proper 50/50 weight balance at swing start. Ensuring hitters do not sit and spin rotationally, or reach with their head past the mid-line, Pemberton shows how to help hitters finish strong and in a balanced position "in the legs."
Foundation 3: Make an Efficient Move (To and Through Contact)
By focusing on key areas like hip/shoulder separation and palm up/palm down hand placement, Coach Pemberton extends the hitting foundations to contact and finish positions. Drills like the High Tee Drill and High Front Toss accentuate Pemberton's desire for the hitter's swing to be compact and simple to the ball.
Adding some fun to the mix, Pemberton teaches the Self Toss Drill and Advanced Self Toss Drill, where players can feed themselves a moving ball and locate on their own for a quick and easy hitting session. Other drills focus on top hand path and 3/4 swing finish to control the barrel of the bat and reduce "rolling over" of the hands.
By properly assessing what players are doing well, and what they need to improve upon, Coach Pemberton teaches how to develop a hitting program for each player on your team. Hitting is hard, but by keeping it simple and efficient, you can give your athletes their best opportunity to be successful. Hitters of all ages and skill levels can improve by following these hitting techniques.
61 minutes. 2021.