| Drill - DIRT LINES "Ground Ball Drill" Great Drill For | | | | never had a team take "make believe" infield that |
| Teaching Ground Ball Fundamentals. | | | | was anything less than great! It's always perfect! |
| This drill is used to teach young players to get | | | | Drill - Ground Ball Pair Work Drill for Infielders This |
| their hands and glove out front when fielding a | | | | drill is actually a method of taking a lot of ground |
| grounder. The young player often gets in the | | | | balls with out having your players make any |
| habit of catching grounders close to his or her | | | | throw. The drill requires 36 baseballs, two buckets |
| feet or slightly in front of the toes. As coaches, | | | | and a fungo bat. The coach will be hitting ground |
| we want infielders to extend their arms and get | | | | balls to at least 3 players. 5 or 6 players can be |
| the glove out in front so that they can see the | | | | worked at a time using this drill. The coach will |
| ball into it. The player should "lay" the glove on the | | | | place the two buckets about 45 feet apart. All of |
| ground out in front of his body. Each players | | | | the balls are in one of the buckets. This is the |
| distance will vary. However, a good rule of thumb | | | | bucket that the coach will get his balls from. The |
| is to try and extend the length from the players | | | | players are lined up single file with one behind |
| arm or from the tip of the fingers to the armpit. | | | | another, on the end with the empty bucket. The |
| Another good measuring scale is they should be | | | | coach hits grounders. The players field each |
| able to extend the length of the bat they use. | | | | ground ball and get in proper throwing position. |
| This distance is measured on the ground from the | | | | They then sprint to the empty bucket, drop the |
| back of his heel outward. For this drill we pair two | | | | ball in and get in the back of the line. There is no |
| players. The players will roll grounders to each | | | | throwing of balls during this drill. When all balls have |
| other from about 6 to 8 feet. The coach draws | | | | been hit, fielded and dropped in the bucket, the |
| two lines in the dirt about 8 feet apart. The | | | | coach and players swap ends and the drill starts |
| players must catch the ball out in front of this line. | | | | over. |
| The coach will then draw a second line for each | | | | Drill: Cut-off Relays Great drill for building skills, |
| player. This is the "feet" line. The feet must stay | | | | speed, accuracy and confidence This drill is a |
| behind this line. The players roll the ball and catch it | | | | great skill builder. There will be at least 5 players |
| while making sure to: | | | | on a team. They line up about 30 feet apart and |
| - Get extension by getting the glove out in front. | | | | stretch about 120 feet across the field. You will |
| - Keep the elbows off the ribs | | | | have two teams or "lines" competing against each |
| - Funnel the ball in using the top "bare" hand. | | | | other. Make sure to have you catcher, first |
| - Work their feet as they bring the ball up to the | | | | baseman, and third baseman on one end. Have an |
| correct "T" throwing position. | | | | outfielder on the opposite end. Your middle |
| - Roll the ball back to your partner | | | | infielder should be in the middle. The drill will start |
| - Repeat the process. | | | | for both lines at the same time. The first team to |
| - Players should catch and roll 50 to 100 ground | | | | take the ball to the other end and get it back is |
| balls each practice. | | | | the winner. The ball must be caught and thrown |
| - The distance can be changed to accommodate | | | | by each player in the line. Teams may not skip a |
| the speed of the ground ball work. | | | | man. The catchers should practice catching and |
| Drill - Make Believe Infield Drill Great warm-up for | | | | tagging a runner. The middle infielders should be |
| certain situations The teams takes perfect infield | | | | taught to properly "round" the ball, make a proper |
| by allowing every player to make a perfect catch | | | | relay catch and quick throw. We often do this drill |
| and throw. The way this drill is conducted is the | | | | and the losing team must do 5 or 10 pushups or |
| coach does not use a ball. He hits a | | | | squat thrust. |
| "make-believe" ball. Each time the player goes | | | | -------------------Outfielder |
| through the correct motion of fielding the ball and | | | | The distance between players should be matched |
| making a perfect play. Each time the player | | | | to the age of the players working. You may also |
| receiving the throw will pat his glove to simulate a | | | | have the outfielder let the ball go and hit the |
| catch. Emphasis is placed on talking, following | | | | fence, before he goes retrieves it and makes his |
| through, and making everything look perfect. No | | | | throw to the cutoff man. You may also want to |
| one will mess up or make a bad mistake. I have | | | | make this a "total team" drill with the whole team |
| used this drill many, many times in practice and | | | | having to catch and throw the ball to cover a long |
| before games. It is especially good with young | | | | distance. If you have the room to do this, it is |
| kids to emphasis correct body mechanics. It is | | | | great to have the team work together to beat |
| also useful if you get to a field for a game and | | | | the clock. They must beat a set time or they |
| the playing surface is too wet or rough to take a | | | | "pay". You may also want to have the "line" make |
| "good" round of infield. Sometimes it is better not | | | | more than one trip down and back. It is great to |
| to use a real ball in warm-up if there is a risk of | | | | make each "line" take the ball to the other end |
| the ball taking a terrible bounce. Bad infield and | | | | three times. |
| warm-up may bring down "team esteem". I've | | | | |