By: Bear,
Some other practical ideas, that I have put to use: Face it, at the young ages 5-12, none of better players like playing OutField Drills 1. Elementary Tracking Skills to Judge Fly Balls 2. OF Sitting in 1. Elementary Tracking Skills to Judge Fly Balls Tracking to Right Line the kids up in the OF in a single line facing Tracking to Left Line the kids up in the OF in a single line facing the 2. OF Sitting in the Hot Seat First get a small stool or seat and 3. OF Feetwork, Jab step or Crossover, Drop Step Demonstrate the OF feetwork, very similar (when going to right) as 4. Drifting, the sin of the OF Most common flaw for 'new' & old players. Always sprint to location 5. Routine Ground Balls & the OF Do or Die Drill Routine Ground OF Do or Die Drill Runner in scoring position (2b) ground ball to OF. 6. OF Throws to a Base Properly & to the R
ight Location With possible two base hit to OF, get to the ball on diagonal, block 7. Stay on Top of Ball when Throwing. Stay Behind Ball. Look for cheers, Bear
Date: March 28, 1998 at 16:38
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 )
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 !)
where fly ball will land. Never ever have OF run with baseball.
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.
Teach OF to charge ground ball, retrieve ball on glove hand side,
pick, transition and throw ball in almost one motion.
ball and throw ball in to 2b through relay (SS or 2b) as quickly as
possible.
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.