43Drills

One of the most commons pitfalls seen by infielders is the mistake of fielding a ground ball too close to their body - often letting the ball get all the way in between their feet. Thi cuts down on their reaction time, and most bobbles tend to end up behind the fielder, making it difficult to recover and record an out on even a slow baserunner.

To help prevent your players from holding their arms too close to their body when fielding grounders, give them a mouthful of their cap! To perform the drill, the fielder should hold his hat in his mouth by the bill - the back of the hat should be facing away from his body. A coach then hits grounders at him, stressing proper footwork and fundamentals.

Since the hat will block a large portion of the player’s field of vision, he will be forced to place his hands further out in front of him in an effort to see the ball into his hands - and thus, to field the ball properly. Though the drill naturally helps to ensure this (and most players do so without even being told), make sure that your players actually are reaching out, and not trying to simply field the ball blind, else you will do more harm than good!

Younger players should simply field the ball. Older, more skilled players can incorporate the hat in the mouth drill into their normal fielding routines - making throws to first, covering bases, even turning double plays.

Olan Suddeth is a Dixie youth baseball coach from Birmingham, Alabama. His website, youthbaseballinfo.com, provides free reprintable articles, tips, and drills.

The purpose of this drill is to perfect your infielders’ skill against the bunt. To set up the drill, you’ll need your typical infielders, though a pitcher is optional. You can double the effectiveness of the drill by having some of your other players rotate as batters - let them take turns laying down bunts. Alternately, you can simply have your catcher (or a coach) roll soft grounders to simulate bunts, but I prefer using batters.

To perform the drill correctly, you need to emphasize the importance of hard charging by the fielders. Once the fielders see the batter squaring to bunt, the first and third basemen must charge at full speed to field the ball. Simultaneously, the second basemen and shortstop must wheel to cover the corners - the shortstop covers third base, while the second baseman covers first.

Have the fielders throw to the opposite corner - the third baseman throws to first, while the first baseman throws to third. Stress aggresiveness, since a timind corner infielder might as well let the catcher pick up the bunt. Don’t let them be afraid to overrun the ball, to pick up the ball barehanded, and to make throws on the run if need be.

You can of course mix things up by having the first baseman throw to first, and the third baseman throw to third, since both of these situations do show up in games. Once your players become proficient at the drill, you might want to mix in some regular hitting so that the fielders do not cheat.

Work this drill from time to time, and you’ll be amazed at the progress of your infielders.

Olan Suddeth is a Dixie youth baseball coach from Birmingham, Alabama. His website, youthbaseballinfo.com, provides free reprintable articles, tips, and drills.

This drill works well with younger players, 8 to 12 year-olds especially.

Personnel:

Two coaches, Coach A at the plate and Coach B in the 3^rd base coaches box.

Equipment:

• Hit-a-Way hitting stick
• Two gloves or other suitable objects to place on the baseline.
• A bat for each player.
• A least 3 batting helmets
• Standard bases.

Place a glove or other object such as an orange cone centered between 1^st and 2^nd base and 4 feet back from the line running directly between the two bags.

Place a glove or other object such as an orange cone centered between 2nd and 3rd base and 4 feet back from the line running directly between the two bags.

Line each player up along the fence by the 3^rd base dugout. Each player should have his or her bat. Bats should remain with the head on the ground and the players should act like they are leaning on a cane. (This is to keep them from swinging the bats and possibly hurting someone.)

First player in line goes to the plate and takes a stance.

Coach A takes the hitting stick and stands on the opposite side of the plate as the batter and holds the hitting stick out over the plate.

The batter takes 3 to 5 cuts at the stick; Coach A watches the stance, swing, etc., instructing the batter to improve their technique. On one of the swings, Coach A moves the hitting stick completely around and steps forward, out of the way of a right-handed batter heading to 1^st. This motion signifies a “hit.”

The batter takes the bat and carries it for 2 steps toward 1^st and then drops it in foul territory.

Batter continues around the bases at a full run, working hard to stay inside the gloves or cones between the bases.

Coach B watches the runner round each bag and come into 3^rd either in a slide (if the player has sliding shorts on) or standing up. Coach B then can debrief the runner at 3^rd.

After the batter has taken off for 1^st, Coach A brings the next player to the plate and begins working on that player’s swing.

Repeat this for each player at least once, more if time allows.

Techniques being taught:

• Hitting fundamentals
• Maintaining control of the bat after a hit to avoid “throwing” the bat.
• Running on the inside line around the bases.
• Sliding technique or how to hold up at a base.

Its a baseball drill to increase skills for blocking pitches.Place a cone on each side of the catcher with width depending on age or skill level. Coach or a player will stand 30 feet in front depending on its arm strength. Throw ball to the catcher within the cones. Throw some in air so that the catcher doesn’t starts dropping early and then start throwing in the dirt. This drill helps the catcher to develop the skill of blocking pitches in the dirt.