FIELDING DRILLS

THE STAR DRILL The fielder stands about 20 yards away from the person throwing the ball. The fielder runs to the right and makes the catch of the fly ball, then drops the ball and hauls it over to the far left, makes the catch, drops the ball, then runs away from the thrower to field the long ball, catches it, drops it, and runs straight towards the thrower for the shallow ball to end the round.

RELAY THROW DRILL

Have the players line up in a line stretching to the outfield. Have the first player throw the ball to the glove side of the second player in line. Do the same for the rest of the players. This teaches the proper location for the relay throw and also teaches quick turn and release of the throw.

READY FOR ANY THING DRILL

Form a line about 30 to 40 feet away from the coach that is throwing the ball. Tell the players just to charge the ball. Also tell them that they could expect almost anything. Grounder, Pop fly, or line drive right to them. Anything. This teaches them to be ready for anything and to always charge the ball.

PADDLE DRILL For this drill make paddles with straps out of ping pong paddles and staple a strap on to the back of the paddle. Have the players strap on the paddles and hit them tennis balls on the ground. This teaches them to go to the ball with both hands and also to have soft hands. It also teaches them to watch the ball all the way to the glove.

Have the players line up and have one of them selected to field a ball hit over their head. Hit or throw the ball over the players head and to the right or the left. Make sure that the player doe not run with their glove up, but rather put the glove down and run to catch the ball, then get the glove up and make the catch. Also when doing these drills, make sure the fielder catches the ball in front or to the throwing side so they can make a quick release of the ball to an infielder.

OUTFIELD FLY DRILL

Place half of the team in left field and the rest in center. The coach then hits a fly ball in between the first two outfielders. They both go for the ball with one catching it and the other properly backing up the fielder. If the ball happens to get by both fielders then they will use a relay throw to get the ball back to the coach. This drill will help greatly in backing up on all balls and easy to do before games.

FUNNEL DRILL

One player keeps their glove on, the other takes their glove off. The partner with the glove rolls them the ball. The fielder must get down on the ball, or they will miss it. They also learn they must get completely in front of the ball, and scoop or "funnel" the ball to their waist.

FOOTBALL FLYS DRILL

In order to have the players practice catching running fly balls over the shoulder use soft footballs. They run out like a football receiver from the coach. The coach throws the football and they have to catch it over their right shoulder or left shoulder using both hands up and bringing in the ball. They cannot turn around and back up. This helps with hand-eye coordination also. After several successful catches put their gloves on and have them catch the football with the glove on. They always use both hands. After more successful catches move to catching the softball or baseball.

CONES DRILL

Set out some small cones in a arc in the outfield and then hit grounders to the outfielders. They must round the cones before reaching the ball. This teaches them to go to the path of the ball and not directly at the ball.

COLORED NUMBERS DRILL

This drill is to help the kids keep an eye on the ball. Write numbers on the balls in different colors 1-5. The players have to field the ball and call out the color the number is written in. When they get the hang of that have them call out the number written. Use a permanent marker and depending on the age vary the size of the numbers.

CLOCKWORK DRILL Place a cutoff player approximately 50 feet from the catcher. Place 5 or 6 outfielders each spread out from right to left, approximately 50 feet from the cutoff player. Start by hitting a ball to the player farthest left, the player throws to the cutoff the cutoff throws home. After throwing to the cutoff the fielder then runs to take the cutoffs spot. The cutoff after throwing home runs home to become the catcher and the catcher runs to the open spot in the outfield. In a short amount of time fielders get to field in all outfield positions, work on throws, and get some conditioning.

BROOM DRILL

This drill is good for younger players trying to learn the wrist flip.

Have a coach, friend, parent or player hold a broom where the long part is horizontal and touching the arch in the players back right where the wrist would hit on the players release point. Have the player take their arm behind them and slowly pitch, their wrist will hit the broom making their wrist flick the ball.

Note, you don't want the player to throw the ball hard, it should not go far and will go slow.

BREAK DOWN DRILL

Have the players get in partners. On their knees have them roll each other the ball. While fielding the ball with bare hands ( in force soft hands, paddles can be good for this ) they lift there feet off the ground behind them. This forces the player to see the ball all the way in. After they have done about twenty of that have them repeat the drill with their gloves on. Do about twenty that way. Then have them work forehand and backhand the same way. When they are done with this round have them stand up and do the same things while standing. Start with their gloves off and go through the rotation again. When they do the backhands and the forehands make them start with their feet in the position they would be in when fielding the ball and make them concentrate on soft hands.

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Revision: 1/8/2002