What position(s) do you play? In any case, 3 weeks is not much time to improve significantly in any aspect of the game. I played small-time college ball, and I'm a High school coach now. I'll throw a few things out there:
If you are a position player, you will probably be asked to run the 40 or 60yard dash. Coaches love speed. Work on your start, which is the most important element in any sprint. Work on starting both from a base-running (stealing a base) stance, and track-style (hand on the ground). Some coaches will make you start from the base-running stance, but if you have a choice use track-style which is a little quicker. Work on explosion with your cross-over in BR stance and stay low for the 5 steps or so, and gradually get tall. It makes a big difference.
You will also be asked to throw obviously, no matter what position you play. If you happen to be an outfielder, work on your angles in getting to the ball quickly on ground balls to your left or right. Work on getting rid of it as quickly as possible. If the ball is in the air, work on getting back and getting behind the ball with momentum coming forward, don't drift. Also, keep your throws on line as if you were throwing through the cut-off man. Don't miss high. Long one hoppers are fine as long as they are accurate.
If you are a middle infielder, work on your angles and footwork so that your momentum is behind the ball. Move your feet and try to avoid the backhand if possible, coaches don't like it. Work on your footwork around the bag turning DP's.
If you are a 1st baseman, work on your picks.
If you are a Catcher, work on blocking balls. Have someone beat you to death for the next 3 weeks, and make sure they are spinning it to simulate breaking stuff. Coaches really appreciate a catcher who can block. No matter what your arm strength is, there's not much time to make a difference. But, you can focus on your footwork and speeding up your release. Make sure your footwork is good, and you are bringing the ball straight behind the ear with no hitches. Follow through, and don't short-arm. Be vocal and confident.
As a hitter, the game has changed with the new bat rules. It's no longer HR derby. Make sure you can lay a bunt down, and hit behind runners . If you have speed, work on your push and drag bunt for hit. Coaches will find a place for you if you can do this well, trust me. Also, don't over-swing. Hit the ball where it's pitched. Spray it around and just focus on putting a good swing on it and hitting the ball hard somewhere.
If you are a pitcher, focus on hitting the black at the knees. Keep it down and stay away from the middle of the plate. Make sure you work out of the stretch some, because most kids don't do it enough.
Good luck!
If you are a position player, you will probably be asked to run the 40 or 60yard dash. Coaches love speed. Work on your start, which is the most important element in any sprint. Work on starting both from a base-running (stealing a base) stance, and track-style (hand on the ground). Some coaches will make you start from the base-running stance, but if you have a choice use track-style which is a little quicker. Work on explosion with your cross-over in BR stance and stay low for the 5 steps or so, and gradually get tall. It makes a big difference.
You will also be asked to throw obviously, no matter what position you play. If you happen to be an outfielder, work on your angles in getting to the ball quickly on ground balls to your left or right. Work on getting rid of it as quickly as possible. If the ball is in the air, work on getting back and getting behind the ball with momentum coming forward, don't drift. Also, keep your throws on line as if you were throwing through the cut-off man. Don't miss high. Long one hoppers are fine as long as they are accurate.
If you are a middle infielder, work on your angles and footwork so that your momentum is behind the ball. Move your feet and try to avoid the backhand if possible, coaches don't like it. Work on your footwork around the bag turning DP's.
If you are a 1st baseman, work on your picks.
If you are a Catcher, work on blocking balls. Have someone beat you to death for the next 3 weeks, and make sure they are spinning it to simulate breaking stuff. Coaches really appreciate a catcher who can block. No matter what your arm strength is, there's not much time to make a difference. But, you can focus on your footwork and speeding up your release. Make sure your footwork is good, and you are bringing the ball straight behind the ear with no hitches. Follow through, and don't short-arm. Be vocal and confident.
As a hitter, the game has changed with the new bat rules. It's no longer HR derby. Make sure you can lay a bunt down, and hit behind runners . If you have speed, work on your push and drag bunt for hit. Coaches will find a place for you if you can do this well, trust me. Also, don't over-swing. Hit the ball where it's pitched. Spray it around and just focus on putting a good swing on it and hitting the ball hard somewhere.
If you are a pitcher, focus on hitting the black at the knees. Keep it down and stay away from the middle of the plate. Make sure you work out of the stretch some, because most kids don't do it enough.
Good luck!
I say you, but I mean for me this is what I experienced in my college tryouts/career. The mental approach is the key. Mentally you should want to get better every day. You should want to work each day to maximize your potential as an athelete and a baseball player. You must wake up and go to sleep every night thinking about baseball. Eat sleep and drink it. If your going to do something, you should put everything you have into it and work harder than any other player. In my tryouts, I wasn't the most gifted player but the coach noticed how hard I ran sprints at the end of practice. I ran them so hard I felt like collapsing at the end. Coaches will notice your desire to improve yourself and he can't help but not want that type of person/player on the team. That type of player (whether he can use his skills in the game or not) will be able to make everyone else around them better and make the overall team better. At the same time your mental approach for yourself and your routine and practice must be strong, disciplined and consistent. The mental aspect of sports is often overlooked and it is the most important in baseball. Your focus is required full time (especially when you play 162 games and stand in the field), on the field and off. Everything you do effects your baseball life, especially food too. Strong physical body helps a strong mind and everything eventually works together. Stretch with a purpose of getting more flexible and becoming better at baseball. Play catch with a purpose of becomming fundamentally sound and accuracy. Sleep with the purpose of resting your body to be strong to get better at baseball.
If your skills are good enough to play then the only thing that separates you is your mental toughness. Your fighting yourself when your at the plate when you have time to think and get different thoughts in your head. That is why I am look at players facial expressions now in moments where their thoughts can interfere with their performance (ie, in the batters box, on deck circle, catching the ball back from the pitcher, on the foul line in basketball, when a kicker is iced in football). You can gauge players mental toughness in these situations. Players with the toughness stand out and if your skills are their, then those will separate you from the rest of the players without the same desire to improve and maximize your potential.
If your skills are good enough to play then the only thing that separates you is your mental toughness. Your fighting yourself when your at the plate when you have time to think and get different thoughts in your head. That is why I am look at players facial expressions now in moments where their thoughts can interfere with their performance (ie, in the batters box, on deck circle, catching the ball back from the pitcher, on the foul line in basketball, when a kicker is iced in football). You can gauge players mental toughness in these situations. Players with the toughness stand out and if your skills are their, then those will separate you from the rest of the players without the same desire to improve and maximize your potential.
