Feedback

    Skip to content
    • Log in |
    • Join Now

    LIBRARY

    SEARCH

    FAVORITES

    POPULAR

    RECOMMENDED

    DRILLS

    PRACTICE

      Coach's Tips

        Practice 101

          Early Activity

            Warm Up

              Early Baserunning

                Throwing

                  Quick Defense

                    Station / Drills

                      Baserun / Conditioning

                        Finish

                        SKILLS

                          Baserunning

                            Bunting

                              Catching

                                Conditioning

                                  Hitting

                                    Infield

                                      Life Lessons

                                        Mental Game

                                          Outfield

                                            Pitching

                                              Receiving

                                                Team Defense

                                                  Throwing

                                                    Warm Up

                                                    Mound Progression

                                                    Medium

                                                    Mound Progression highlights and coaches the steps a pitcher takes when assuming the mound.  With baserunners and balks now in order, pitchers need to be taught the routine to take a sign and deliver a pitch.  This can be done individually, or as a group, and follows the following steps.

                                                    EXECUTION – With each athlete at a pitching rubber or cone (or use the foul line for a group), teach the mound progression steps in-order of execution:

                                                    1. Straddle – Back foot stands directly behind the pitching rubber, and the front foot is extended towards catcher (wide stance).
                                                    2. Step On – Back foot moves from behind, to in-front-of, the pitching rubber.
                                                    3. Look In – Get sign from catcher.
                                                    4. Come Set – Front foot steps back to a position closer to back foot (feet under armpits), and hands come together in front of the chest simultaneously.

                                                    Have the athletes do this several times, taking a sign (and potentially a pitch location) from you as catcher.  Deliver the pitch, receive the throw back from the catcher and reset to the straddle position.  After growing comfortable with the steps, assign an athlete to lead the group.  The athlete is to vocally call out the various steps and lead the groups’ actions.  Each athlete should lead the group once.

                                                    OPTIONS & HOLD TIMES (*advanced*)

                                                    The second part of this drill involves the allowed options for movement after ‘coming set’.  These options ARE limited, and thus coach can teach all three (as appropriate to the age-level and drill time available):

                                                    • Pickoff – Right foot, left foot, throw.
                                                    • Step Off – Back foot steps behind rubber and allows for any action.
                                                    • Pitch Home – Called “home” so as not to be confused with Pick

                                                    The final variable to discuss is the concept of Hold Times.  Hold Times are defined as the amount of time taken by the pitcher after coming set, but before executing an option.  These are combined with options to vary the delivery.  This defends against the running game as baserunners can not predict or anticipate the pitcher’s delivery.

                                                    ASSIGNMENTS

                                                    With the Mound Progression steps understood, and the concepts of hold timesand options understood… issue assignments to athlete leaders.  Example:  “Johnny, you’re assignment is to lead the group through a 3-count, pickoff movement.”  That athlete must first call out the progression steps (straddle / step on / look in / come set) and then lead the assignment.  In this case, this would mean verbal count of “one-thousand one, one-thousand two, one-thousand three” before executing a pickoff to first base (R / L / Throw).  Each athlete should lead the group through a different assignment.  Examples include:

                                                    • One-count pitch home
                                                    • Two-count pick off
                                                    • Three-count step off

                                                    DC KEYS

                                                    1. Group, Athlete-Lead, Assignments – First teach the steps.  Then, have each athlete take a turn at verbally leading the group.  Next, introduce options and hold times.  Finally, issue assignments so each athlete leads group again… only this time there is an execution point after coming set.
                                                    2. Slow Down – Explain that everything speeds up in a game.  So practice holding the baseball.  Count long and slow.
                                                    3. Use the Group – Use the power of the group to teach Mound Progression.  Athletes can look at the pitcher in front of or behind them, and get the positive benefit of peer pressure when leading an assignment.
                                                    Supporting Drill Image

                                                    EXECUTION KEYS

                                                    • ISSUE ASSIGNMENTS
                                                    • ADD OPTIONS & HOLD TIMES
                                                    • GROUP MOVEMENTS

                                                    DC KEYS

                                                    • SLOW DOWN
                                                    • GROUP, ATHLETE-LEAD, ASSIGNMENTS
                                                    • USE THE GROUP

                                                    EQUIPMENT LIST

                                                    • Baseball Buckets
                                                      1
                                                    • Cones
                                                      6
                                                    • Pitching Rubbers
                                                      6
                                                    • Book
                                                      Purchase

                                                    Drill Notes(Please enter your drill notes here):

                                                    Well done!Data Added Successfully...!!
                                                    Add
                                                    • Welcome to Dugout Captain!
                                                    • About Us
                                                    • Privacy
                                                    • Contact Us

                                                    © 2025. Dugout Captain All Rights Reserved.

                                                    Video loading...

                                                    Notifications