with Ed Servais,
Creighton University Head Coach;
3x Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year;
NCAA Record .984 Team Fielding Percentage (2009)
From the weight room to the field, Ed Servais and his team provide a candid look
into what has made the Creighton University baseball program a consistent
championship contender. Coach Servais delivers two days of live fall practices
that will improve your players' and provide you with structure, organization and
a competitive drill progression series to incorporate into your practices.
Day One:
Coach Servais and his team go through an intense and progressive team and
individual practice session divided into five main phases: The Stretch,
Baserunning, a concentrated Throwing Program, Team Defense, Individual Defense,
and an Offensive Team Workout. His "progression style" practice focuses on time
efficiency and forcing the players to make quick decisions on the fly.
Coach Servais' throwing program progresses from the ground up and isolates every
element of the throw, proper mechanics and places a high concentration on
accuracy and keeping the "ball off the ground." This is the basis of his
defensive philosophy.
In the 40 minute Team Defense segment, Servais' team demonstrates high intensity
drills designed to minimize your opponent's running game and small ball
strategies while maximizing your team's effectiveness at outfield communication,
cuts, relays, double play feeds and pivots. This session also includes Servais'
combo drill (utilizing the whole team); situation drills that feature game-like
sequences challenge your players baseball skills and their mental awareness,
individual group progressions for catchers, middle and corner infielders,
outfielders; and a timing drill.
You'll also see Creighton's early workout segment, which is done about 40
minutes before practice. It will always have a theme for the day, such as,
hitters will work on hitting the ball to the opposite field with authority and
middle infielders working on their footwork around second base.
Day Two:
The day begins with an inside look at Creighton's strength training program. Led
by Creighton's Strength Coach, the team performs a series of baseball-specific
exercises designed to improve strength and explosiveness.
In the afternoon, the team hits the field for team practice that focuses on
proper defensive execution, attention to detail and improvement of defensive
footwork. Coach Servais covers a series of defensive drills that are executed in
3-4 minute time frames that address double play footwork, pitcher fielding
practice, fly ball priorities, cuts and relays, 1st and 3rd defense, situational
drills and live defensive work.
The Blue Jay's flat ground throwing program for pitchers features a series of
drills that focus on proper mechanics and pitch development. After the throwing
drills, the pitchers practice individual defensive drills known as `Four
Corners'.
The last half of practice is dedicated to an offensive team workout that focuses
on isolating different parts of the swing ensuring the proper mechanics and
approach needed to successfully hit a baseball. The drills provide the hitter
with instant feedback on their swing and enable the hitter to be their own best
hitting coach.
This DVD set will help any coach at any level develop and incorporate a more
efficient and structured practice. Improve your overall team performance each
day using these innovative team practice ideas and drills.
280 minutes (2 DVDs). 2012. DVD.