Help for Outfielders

Hi Jim, All prior comments to help coaches with outfielder drills are good. I have seen many books on Subject. A video I have seen is by MLB.

I agree with you that 'winter' camps may not focus on OF drills as much as I would like for the younger coaches. Ditto for drills for the LH players. I have seen ABCA white papers in their library on subject though, where I have seen a few good ones. Polk's book is very good too.

(Not too sure about 'validity' of wider eye players. This coach may want to read Birminghams cross dominant eye paper first.)

Some other practical ideas, that I have put to use:

Face it, at the young ages 5-12, none of better players like playing the OF. They all want to play the Inf. The Dad who says at tryout, "my son's a SS and bats 3rd", may very well be this year, but may also be your best OF in high school in 6 years. So what I suggest it all kids at the youngest of ages train at all the positions.

OutField Drills

1. Elementary Tracking Skills to Judge Fly Balls 2. OF Sitting in the Hot Seat 3. OF Feetwork, Jab step or Crossover 4. Drifting, the sin of the OF 5. Routine Ground Balls & the OF Do or Die Drill 6. Will OF Throw to the Right Location 7. Stay on Top of Ball when Throwing. Stay Behind Ball.

1. Elementary Tracking Skills to Judge Fly Balls

Tracking to Right Line the kids up in the OF in a single line facing the coach. Have the coach say go, the kid runs to his right, coach throws the ball in air. Kid catches ball. Stops transitions ball out of glove to throwing hand. Front side toward direction of throw (& closed). Relays ball to receiver standing near coach.

Tracking to Left Line the kids up in the OF in a single line facing the coach. Have the coach say go, the kid runs to his left, coach throws the ball in air. Kid catches ball. Stops transitions ball out of glove to throwing hand. Front side toward direction of throw (& closed). Relays ball to receiver standing near coach.

2. OF Sitting in the Hot Seat First get a small stool or seat and place in OF. Line the kids up in the CF in a single line facing the machine (or coach). Have the coach 'hit' high fly balls. With the kid in hot seat, instruct the child to yell out In, Left, Back, Right, the moment he sees the flies ball. (The kids will usually determine the flight of ball at the apex.) After a dozen of so rounds, if the kid in the hot seat see the ball in front, have him run in to catch it. Progress up to Over Head catches, Line-Drives. Kids Love the HOT SEAT Drill. (for very young use wiffle balls or tennis balls, or RIF balls ...which may get chewed up in machine).. For the older boys we have used 7 1/2 balls with great success. (For those 'wide' eyed enthusiasts, I have found that the LH do this drill more easily than the RH )

3. OF Feetwork, Jab step or Crossover, Drop Step

Demonstrate the OF feetwork, very similar (when going to right) as crossover when running bases. (Although recent studies have show a jab step could be quicker.) Drop step for OF is easier to teach following Hot Seat Drill just turn in direction of ball. (At the young ages, the hitters are not strong enough for ball to spin off bat !)

4. Drifting, the sin of the OF

Most common flaw for 'new' & old players. Always sprint to location where fly ball will land. Never ever have OF run with baseball.

5. Routine Ground Balls & the OF Do or Die Drill Routine Ground Balls No Runners on base. Teach OF to charge ground ball, breakdown & block, (one knee), keeping ball in front of body, pick, transition and throw ball to Inf.

OF Do or Die Drill Runner in scoring position (2b) ground ball to OF. Teach OF to charge ground ball, retrieve ball on glove hand side, pick, transition and throw ball in almost one motion.

6. OF Throws to a Base Properly & to the Right Location

With possible two base hit to OF, get to the ball on diagonal, block ball and throw ball in to 2b through relay (SS or 2b) as quickly as possible.

7. Stay on Top of Ball when Throwing. Stay Behind Ball. Look for even rotation. Only teach Pitchers to cut baseball. Advancing Drills for the 10 yr old to Catch the fly Ball behind ball to step up to throw in one motion. (Crow Hop vs other). We work this drill with our long toss.

cheers, Bear

p.s. Most every coach has at one time or another played the #9 hitter in RF. And when the fly ball when to RF in the last inning or when bases loaded, held their breath.