1. Two Lesson Plans<br />Title: Fielding Mechanics<br />Overall Goal: For student-athletes to learn and work on proper fielding mechanics. By developing sound fielding mechanics, student-athletes will be less apt to making errors and have a higher fielding percentage thus making themselves more appealing to College and Professional recruiters.<br />Lesson: <br />Student-athletes will be given ten minutes to head to the turf infield and warm their arms up my playing catch with one another. Once they are loose enough to make throws across the diamond, they will take their gloves off and toss them onto the edge of the outfield turf right behind them. They will then get on their knees even with bases. An instructor will hit baseballs lightly with a baseball bat to random fielders, fielders will be forced to use “soft hands” when accepting the baseball. Glove-less fielding exercise should take ten minutes. <br />Student-athletes will then get up and put their gloves on. The instructor will take approximately five minutes to demonstrate how to round the baseball upon fielding it to align the throw to the desired base. Instructor will then hit baseballs and will be constantly improving or complimenting the technique of the fielders. This is an open format, players are encouraged to ask questions and an allotted fifteen minutes will be given for these drills. <br />The last twenty minutes of this drill will be given to instructional games. Fielders will compete on their knees without gloves and then with gloves at their positions and on their feet. If a player makes an error or uses bad technique to complete the play, that individual is out of the game. The last player in, the survivor, wins the game. This activity will demonstrate to athletes that by using proper technique, ground balls are in fact easier to handle. The last five minutes of this exercise will be given for instructor/player time. They will huddle up and any concerns or question that haven’t been covered can be asked. The instructor will also be encouraged to assess his team performance in the drills.<br />Checklist for Fielding Mechanics<br />___ Players arms are loose as so they can make throws across the turf diamond.<br />___ Players use “soft hands” fielding groundballs on their knees without the use of a <br /> glove.<br />___ Instructor demonstrates how to round the baseball as to align for the throw to <br /> the desired base.<br />___ Players demonstrate understanding of how to round the baseball and how to <br /> align their body and feet for the throw.<br />___ Instructional games are played.<br />___ Time is left for review of drills.<br />Title: Self-Assessment<br />Overall Goal: For student-athletes to honestly evaluate their athletic and scholastic performances and to conclude a plan of action to improve in lacking aspects. Furthermore, the self-assessment should give me insight to the strengths and weaknesses of my student-athlete on the diamond and in the classroom.<br />Lesson: <br />Each applicant of the academy must complete a self-assessment before placed on a team. As an instructional facility that not only wants to improve student-athletes athletic performances, we want to enhance their scholastic performances. We believe athletes should excel both on the diamond and in the classroom. Student-Athletes will state what they believe their strengths are as an athlete and as a student. Student-Athletes will then state what they believe their weaknesses are as an athlete and then as a student.<br />Students will, however, focus on their admitted weaknesses at first. They will be asked to come up with a plan of action of which they will be realistically able to implement to help their weakness turn into a strength. For example, if a student struggles in math, they may want to see a tutor twice a week. Or if a student struggles hitting baseballs to the opposite field, they may want to commit to lessons with an instructor who specializes in the swing or commit to doing tee work twice a week. Students will then focus on their strengths. They will be asked to offer advice to student-athletes who may struggle in that particular area and give ideas as to how they can continue to improve even in a “strong” area. <br />I will expect students to present their findings on the Smart Board located in the student room through PowerPoint one at a time. This assignment will not only show students that I care both about their athletic and academic performances, it will demonstrate that the focus of this academy is development both on and off the field. I will then be given time to understand and learn about players and how best I can help them. I will also use this opportunity to give student-athletes tips on how to use our facility to maximize their needs. <br />Checklist for Self-Assessment<br />___ Student-Athlete list scholastic weaknesses and strengths<br />___ Student-Athlete list athletic weaknesses and strengths<br />___ Student-Athlete constructed a plan of action to turn weaknesses into strengths <br /> both from an athletic and academic standpoint.<br />___ Student-Athlete offered advice to other student-athletes who may be struggling <br /> in an area they consider themselves to be sufficient.<br />___ Student-Athlete gave ideas on how they could improve in already “strong” areas <br /> of academic and athletics.<br />___ Student-Athlete created a PowerPoint presentation.<br />___ Student-Athlete presented PowerPoint on Smart Board.<br />