Brandon Belanger, University of Louisiana Monroe: According to Coach B, this drill is his outfielders go-to drill and it is part of the Warhawks daily Outfield routine. Colorado Springs gets new Mexican restaurant with award-winning chef Hitters will cycle through, getting one chance to hit a line drive off the L-screen. Your teams total warmup should take about 25-30 minutes. The coach will then throw the ball over the outfielders head so that the baseball rolls to the wall. Garcia is one of their more talented young players, slashing .306/.368/.554 with 21 homers in 364 minor league PAs from 2021 through 2022. This drill aims to teach outfielders proper diving mechanics. As always, start the drill in a good catching position. Youll never miss a fly ball again. The goal of this drill: this is a situational drill where there is a runner who is trying to score off of a base hit. The Routine Ground & Fly Balls and Assists drill highlights the footwork techniques when catching ground or fly balls, or trying to throw a player off base, especially when the game is on the line. Drill #1: Change of Directions. Another competition is the age-old hit the screen game. From here, the hitter strides forward and fires his lower half to the ball while shifting his momentum into his front leg. With your hat on the ground, stand at an angle behind your hat with your plant foot directly behind your hat (left leg for right-handers) and your non-plant foot behind you, at about a 45-degree angle. The player will sprint ahead 15-20 yards and immediately make a sharp right turn at a 90 degree angle. If not, you can do the drill without the bands, or just tie some rope (comfortably) around the players wrist. The coach will stand approximately 15 feet away from the player and will proceed to toss the ball at, or near, the wall. The ball will then be lobbed to the player so that the player will have to catch the ball and land on their glove side foot at the same time the ball is caught. When a player has to catch a sinking ball, they have two options: they can dive and catch the ball as its falling, or they can field the ball on the bounce. But unfortunately, too often, people are doing exercises and training methods that they . Have the coach stand about 25 feet away from the player. Another interesting comment from Cora this week regarding his bench: "Although we're very left-handed," he said, "we will need probably a left-handed hitter to help in the outfield." Outfield Drills | Baseball Zone Outfielders need to have the ability to anticipate where the ball may land to be in prime position to make the catch. This drill is good for players to practice catching line drives on the run. Why would you want to take your eyes off the ball? /BBox [0 0 792 612] Vanderbilt baseball coaches use ATEC training machines like the ATEC M3X to conduct several outfield drills, including flyball drills and relay drills. Having the ability to execute a bunt or a hit and run makes the difference between good and great teams. However, like most outfield drills, the more room you have the better, but this can still be performed indoors. >> Once the outfielders have gone through the triangle drill for 10-15 minutes, hit them a mix of fly balls and ground balls, and have them work on coming through the ball as much as they can. In general, youll want to limit this throwing duration to around 15 minutes. Its slow and awkward, which makes it the wrong way to get to fly balls. These are two different movements: hitters need to be able to explode through the zone with their lower half before their upper body follows. If you have a basketball gym to use, this will be perfect for it. In addition to playing in the sun, another challenge outfielders will inevitably face during games is diving for a ball. The long toss drill is simple: two players play catch, but at a long distance. This drill teaches proper diving techniques and builds confidence in outfielders. As the ball is moving, the outfielders will have to move to where the ball will land. /Resources To teach outfielders to communicate with each other, 2. The player will track down the ball and make the catch on the move. What are the best baseball outfield drills? This means coming to every practice session with a thoughtfully-considered schedule that (at the very least) outlines exactly what drills youll be doing that day, how long youll be spending on them, and which players will be participating in which groups. For this drill, you might need a pitch back net. Swing-Shuffle Drill - 10 Throws @ 55-90 feet (move back slowly) Outfield Footwork Throws - 10 Throws @ 90-120 feet Fast Shuffle Throws - 10 Throws @ 60 feet (come back in) Bonus Video & Playlist for Softball Players and Coaches Click here or start the video below to view my "Master These Softball Throwing Basics" YouTube playlist. If some of the arms have not matured enough to make the throw from right, then by all means move them to left. This drill is performed by an outfielder and another player or a coach. endstream Ground ball to the pitcher, who throws to second to complete a 1-6-3 double play. 3 0 obj The one-time All-Star bats left-handed and can play multiple outfield spots, further helping his chances of making the team. In our softball drills and practice plan article, we have a competition round that, with a few adjustments for outs and team size, is also a great way to end a baseball practice on a high note. A player has to be quick enough to move around effectively to get any fly balls that are hit above their head. (Home plate - which stays the same size . (720) 218-0737, 2023 Baseball Training World - All Rights Reserved, link to Step-By-Step Guide To Putting on A Lizard Skin Bat Grip, link to How to Throw the Perfect Soft Toss Every Time. The across the middle drill will improve an outfielders range and running mechanics, which also increases a players ability to catch balls on the move. It opened in time for the 2009 season and has a seating capacity of 222, plus a terraced area beyond the outfield walls. Have your players jog, stretch, run through plyometrics or whatever warmup routine you have in place. The player will then drop step in reaction to whichever side the coach is holding the ball over his head. Ground ball to second base, turning a 4-6-3 double play. Skills, Drills, and Coaching Aids Step-By-Step Guide To Putting on A Lizard Skin Bat Grip. The goal of this drill: outfielders will be throwing over much longer distances than other players on the field so they need to learn how to gain velocity and distance on their throws while still having accurate throws. Ive been playing for most of my life and have played for several AAA teams. 1312 17th Street # 1623 Thats especially true on pitches where the hitter is late, and occasionally on an outside pitch. How the pitch clock works. << While throwing the ball, the outfielder will need to aim the ball towards the cutoff mans head and towards their gloved side. Barlow brought a new two-seam fastball to spring, and the feedback he's gotten from hitters so far is clear: Throw it more. From there, opening up to a 50-70-foot box with your infielders, really gives a ton of flexibility as to what to work on. Put one or two players in the center of the circle (island) - identify who the center fielder is if two players are in circle c. Coach has a buck of balls and a player to feed the balls to the coach. You might find yourself having a hard time at first, and it will feel odd to have such a light ball enter the glove, but this will translate over to games. >> Search results for: - Softball.com Throw the ball at the net and field every ground ball. /Encoding /WinAnsiEncoding Among the numerous skills and drills covered are: Outfield Everyday Drills, Ground Ball Drills, Hitting to Fielders and Making Throws, Inf. Throwing over long distances with the crow hop will also help to strengthen a players throwing arm. During this round, players should get down three bunts, execute two hit and runs, one get him over, and drive the runner in twice. However, dont just take wasteful hacks with no intent to do damage. You'll see how to teach players to catch a line drive coming directly at them - one of the hardest plays for outfielders to read. The coach will then toss the ball up in the air at a random location. The best players in baseball and softball have the ability to finish their swing and rotate around their torso like this. This particular indoor drill is great for outfielders to practice on their basic catching fundamentals. Soft ground ball or bunt to the pitcher with a glove flip home to prevent a suicide squeeze. By simply laying on your back and catching the tennis ball into your mitt, youre subtely teaching yourself to see the ball into the mitt on every single catch. Partners will alternate in throwing firm (but not overpowering) short hops, completing eight reps each of: Repeat this drill two more times once standing in the ready position with no glove, and once in the ready position with a glove. Outfielders can read fungo bats easier than reading One Fish, Two Fish by Dr. Seuss, because the hitter usually turns his or her body towards where they intend to hit. Notice the wrinkles in Coach Petersons shirt, which illustrates the desired rotation. This drill is quite commonly overlooked by most coaches. While these are important reps for outfielders, they do not compare to the ones they need to take in batting practice. After warming up, doing band work to stabilize the shoulder, and throwing, start to integrate a few drills for your infielders to help their hands. The drill begins by spacing out two outfielders in the outfield. To make the drill more difficult, players can quickly get up after the catch and throw the ball to a base. Ideally, if you have pitchers that are able to throw live, thats the best option for your hitters. /I1 5 0 R This drill will familiarize outfielders with returning balls to the infield and teach them where to aim when throwing the ball. After catching the ball, the outfielder will then throw the ball to the cutoff man. OUTFIELD TRANSITION DRILLS This drill can be done indoors in a room with a high ceiling, but we recommend doing this one outdoors. As an outfielder making long throws, using a long hop opposed to a rainbow throw will be more accurate and quicker. In the picture on the right, shes moving towards contact. You can have your hitters take two rounds of five or one round of 8-12 swings. The coach will then point in one direction, indicating to the player to run backward in that direction. No sales may have occurred at this price.. stream When performed correctly, this drill will help hitters prevent themselves from wrapping the bat around their head, and instead teach the correct movement of the shoulders. Baseball Outfield Drills After warming up, players should immediately break into groups of infielders, outfielders, pitchers and catchers. q One of the most basic drills players learn in baseball and softball is the soft toss drill, also known as the side toss drill. Any outfielder knows that no matter how hard you try, sometimes you will just misread a flyball or the wind will push the ball in a different direction, causing you to have to adjust your path to the ball, along with how you position your body. Watch how the student-athlete performs each drill with instruction on using the proper footwork, reading the direction of the ball, and being set-up for a good catch or throw back to the infield. This drill is as old as time. Teach the player to squeeze their mitt on every catch. Outfielder's Preset Drill with Darren Fenster - Boston Red Sox Everyday Drills to Maximize Practice Time - Softball -- Championship ET. BT The new rules: The bases are now 18 inches square (previously 15 inches). 5. This teaches the player to never turn their back to the ball. Good outfield drills should be a positive experience for everyone. /DecodeParms [ /Type /XObject Mark Hertz has played baseball most of his life and ended up getting a scholarship to Louisiana State. After catching the ball, the player will throw the ball back to their coach. As the outfielder faces the sun, a partner will throw a ball to the outfielder. This drill can be done as part of team infield drills. Outfielders who have never performed a diving play before might be intimidated by diving for a ball so the best way to prepare for a diving catch in a game is by practicing it before hand. The first athlete will crow hop and throw the baseball to a spot on the opposite side of the gym. /FormType 1 By teaching your players to let the ball travel and stick it, you will find your team stealing a lot more strikes. Set the cones up in a rainbow formation: One in the center and the others 10 15 feet away from the center cone (one directly to the left, one to the right, one directly behind and then two diagonally from the cone). The long toss drill is designed to improve an outfielders arm strength while also improving their throwing accuracy. Communication is a big part of playing in the outfield. In order to catch the fly ball, the two outfielders will need to communicate with each other. Well, thats not true. He has good rotation as his hips are facing the pitcher. As you progress through the drill, move further and further back to practice throws from greater distances. This drill teaches catchers how to let the ball travel and be able to stick it where its thrown. This simple drill allows you to practice tracking down flyballs hit over you or to either side of you and helps you develop proper footwork and a quick first step. The Fly Ball Angel Drill is a great drill for outfielders to practice how to turn their bodies to run and catch a ball that is hit over their heads. Aside from bat control, this drill also helps with learning the right sequence, since were forcing the hitter to have their hips starting ahead of their hands. Outfielder chases ball, plants feet, grabs ball, shuffles and throws. By doing this, you diminish the amount of extra steps you will have to take to perform a quick catch and throw to the infield. Weve focused on properly fielding and chasing down flyballs, this drill will focus on developing your throwing accuracy. Time permitting, the defense can play out grounders and flies. For the first drill, set up six balls about 10 feet apart, off to the side of the baseline. He sets up at one of the cones. IMG Academy baseball has created a library of baseball training drills that you can refer back to any time! This game is a great way to finish practise because it allows for a fun, competitive atmosphere that also works on line drive skills. Ground ball to third base, turning a 5-4-3 double play. But it also works with front toss, where it can be used to develop even more rhythm and timing. It's important to start doing bands around age 11 or 12 to make sure the shoulder and back muscles stay balanced to prevent injury later on. 10. Q The players should align in pairs, across from each other and about 10 feet apart. endobj Toss the ball to each cone at random succession. Teach the player efficient angles at ball pursuing, 3. Have the players learn how to make appropriate call offs to their teammates. Related reading: How to Approach Outside Hitting Coaches. Theyll load, stride and pretend to swing at the ball. 2/21/23 - Galena High School Softball This is an easy drill that all hitters can utilize during their careers. 5) Quarterback switches (bad reads): 3 Each way L-R. 6) Line Drives: players start by running in. Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way - Cal Ripken, Jr. 2006-12-15 Coaching young players, developing their skills, and cultivating a love for the sport may be the most rewarding experience baseball can offer. Once you do that, youll lose the ball entirely. There is a 30-second timer between batters and a time limit between pitches. Learning how to use it properly will let an outfielder perfect their throws. The tennis ball should always be caught with the mitt. Being prepared to catch fly balls this way will allow the outfielder to catch the ball, perform a crow hop, and get the ball into the infield as quickly as possible. /BaseFont /Helvetica-Bold 1. #2 is any ball hit when there is potential of the runner advancing and a throw must be made. With IMG Academy's How-To baseball outfield drills video, our coaches give an overview of the techniques every left, center, and right outfielder should practice. Games, Puzzles, and Crossword. As someone who has been an outfielder for most of his life, I have experienced plenty of outfield drills so I wanted to share some of the top outfield drills in baseball that youth players can do to get better at catching, throwing, and running. The good news about his Major League profile is that he .