This is one of the [tag]baseball skills and drills[/tag] ideas sent to me by one of my readers last spring. Try this out with your team tonight!
From Paul”¦
I [tag]coach[/tag] 10 year olds and at that level confidence is critical (well at every age). Before every [tag]baseball[/tag] game we hit [tag]ground balls[/tag] to our players on the diamond but not on the [tag]infield[/tag]. We line them up in a row and have them concentrate on just fielding the ball.
When we take our infield, we do not hit ground balls. It is all about the throws.
ROUND ONE
– The 3rd baseman and the short-stop each start with a ball in their glove.
– On go the 3rd baseman simulates [tag]fielding[/tag] a ground ball and throws it to 1st. The 1st baseman throws then throws it to the 2nd baseman.
– Next the short-stop simulates fielding a ground ball and throws it to 1st and the 1st baseman throws it home.
– The 2nd baseman simulates fielding a ground ball and throws it to short covering second who turns the [tag]double play[/tag] to 1st.
– The catcher simulates fielding a ground ball in front of home plate and throws it to 3rd.
– The 1st baseman simulates fielding a ground ball and throws it to short covering second base.
ROUND TWO
– The 3rd baseman simulates fielding a ground ball and throws to 2nd who turns the double play to first.
– The short-stop simulates fielding a ground ball and throws to 2nd who throws home.
– The 1st baseman simulates fielding a ground ball and throws to short covering second who throws it to the 2nd baseman covering 1st.
– The catcher simulates fielding a ground ball in front of home plate and throws it to short covering second base.
– The 2nd baseman simulates fielding a ground ball and throws to 3rd.
ROUND THREE
– The 3rd baseman simulates fielding a ground ball and throws home.
– The short-stop simulates fielding a ground ball and throws to 2nd who turns the double play to 1st. The 1st baseman then throws it the 2nd baseman.
– The catcher simulates fielding a ground ball in front of home plate and throws it to 1st.
– The 1st baseman simulates fielding a ground ball, touches first base and throws to short covering second.
– The 2nd baseman simulates fielding a ground ball, touches second base and throws to 1st.
The coach will have to call out where to throw the ball at first, but even 10 year olds pick it up quickly. When they do pick it up it not only builds their confidence, but the players think they look pretty cool doing it.