I have a baseball drill used for fielding ground balls; it works for me and the kids always seem to like it. It builds eye coordination, technique on fielding, cardio, and of course confidence.
Baseball Fielding Drill
Set up:
Place 5 balls in a spot along the third base line, making 3 more piles of 5 balls about 12’ apart.
Station 1 cone approximately 15’ across from the pile of balls. (4 piles of balls-4 cones)
Have 1 player kneel behind each pile of balls. (they will be the rollers)
Have 2 players stand behind cones. (they will be the retrievers)
Remainder of players form a line either on right or left side of cone with their glove.
- Line of players will assume a fielding position.
- On coaches’ start they will shuffle in front of cones (one at a time) with glove, as the roller rolls a ball at them to be fielded and rolled back to same person who rolled it.
- The second one in line takes off when the first gets to the third person in line. This way they don’t bunch up in the middle and the line moves swiftly.
- Remainder of players not rolling or retrieving go thru the drill with their gloves and complete the drill.
- When the first one reaches the end of the line he hustles back to beginning of drill and repeats the same process 3 times total.
Responsibilities of the retrievers are to make sure the rollers have baseballs in front of them to roll.
At the end of third time thru the players exchange positions and repeat drill. Should be done 3 times from one side.
Repeat the same drill from the other side once everyone has gone thru 3 times. (allows for left and right lateral movement)
Purpose of drill:
1. Increase Cardio
2. Shuffling reminds the girls to stay in 3 point stand when fielding balls
3. Look the ball into glove, tucking chin to chest for proper form
4. Getting ball out of glove quickly with the other hand as they roll it back
5. Proper lateral movement for infielders ( showing them not to stand and move laterally)
6. Coach can watch, correct, instruct on proper shuffling, fielding, etc
Suggestions/Extensions:
Coach can first do the drill with no gloves, bare handed (3 times)
2nd time with glove ( 3 times)
3rd time fielding with glove and not using the none glove hand to roll back (field with glove, roll with glove) more advanced (3 times)
Share this with other baseball coaches!