Breaking back on a fly ball

By: Ron Bing, Puritas Little League, Cleveland, Ohio
Date: March 25, 1998 at 18:57

This drill will help to teach the outfielder how to take a drop-step and turn, when going back on fly ball to his left or right. The usual way this drill is done is the players line up facing in the same direction as the coach, he yells, the player runs out and the coach lofts him a ball. The problem with this is that in a game the fielder is facing in, not out; and that drill does not teach him how to turn and go after the ball.

1) players line up along the side of the coach, with the boy first in line moving to a position 5' - 10' in front of the coach and facing him.
2) the coach points out to the left or right, and that signals the player that the ball has been hit and in which direction it is going.
3) whichever side the ball has been "hit" to, the player takes a drop-step with that leg (fly to his right side, drop-step with the right leg).
4) as he takes his step back, he wants that foot to be beginning to turn in that direction also (if he takes a drop-step back, and plants his foot still pointing toward home, he will waste valuable time rotating that foot as his other leg comes around, and this move will not be completed as smoothly as it should be). In addition to this, the player needs to have most of his weight on the balls of his feet.
5) the other leg then is brought around and in front of the other leg as his whole body rotates around.
6) as the player is drop-stepping and crossing over with his other leg, it is imperative that he keep his eyes on the ball (the coach should be holding the ball up for him to see).
7) after the turn is completed and he begins running out for the ball, the coach throws him a ball to catch. Be sure that the player runs on the balls of his feet and not on his heels. Running on your heels will cause your head and eyes to jerk, making the ball look as if it is jerking.
8) to throw a little twist into this, the coach can point left or right, the player break back in that direction, bu t then throw the ball in the opposite direction. This will simulate a misjudged ball, or a ball that gets caught in the wind.
9) after fielding the ball (or picking it up), he needs to make a good throw back to the coach, then hustle to the back of the line to await his next turn.