****COACHING DRILL VIDEOS****
Below are coaching drill videos. We will update the links the closer to the beginning of the spring season. To click on the link hit the control key and click with your mouse. You must have Adobe Flash Player downloaded on your computer to view.
Infield Training Drills all levels (Click to link)
3 adults on each bucket with ball bucket at side, athletes start from one line, charge GB, head down-eyes on ball in glove-glove to bread basket, hesitate, run forward, round coach, drop bal to bucket, repeat in the zig zag format. (no jogging, talk about running)
Double Charge (Click to link)
Coaches on bucket 15 feet apart, two lines of players, first coach rolls ball, players charge and make throw to catcher for tag, fielder gets ready for the second roll from the second coach and repeats throw to catcher. Must be good throws to catcher. (complete the play).
Lead Off (Click to link)
Power to three steps, lower head, pump arms. After three steps then square to the infield and be light on your feet prepared to move. Be prepared to run to second on a pass ball. Coach call out pass ball to surprise the runner or hold so they shuffle back. Stand up repeat at third, back fill runners Stand up repeat at home, back fill runners 3 runners doing same drill on one field
Squeeze, DP, Throw to 3rd (Click to link)
Max your practice time by running three drills at the same time.
Soft Toss (Click to Link)
Position slightly in front and to the side of the hitter, show the ball, short downward motion then flip the ball in a flat track. Be mindful to not arc the ball, allow player to reset before next toss
Soft Toss Back Arm (Click to Link)
Chock up, keep non swinging arm free from the body, watch for to much dipping of the shoulders, finish high and ensure the hips and shoulders turn all the way open towards the pitcher position.
Soft Toss Two Ball (Click to Link)
Hold two balls stacked in one hand, try to have a gap between the balls, while you toss the balls to the hitter call out “top” or “bottom”, batter is to strike the ball you called out
Soft Toss Front Arm (Click to Link)
Chock up, keep non swinging arm free from the body, keep the lead arm tight to the body during swing and finish high and ensure the hips and shoulders turn all the way open towards the pitcher position.
Soft Toss From Behind (Click to Link)
Sit behind the plate in the umpire position and toss the ball forward, flat, through the zone. Watch to ensure the head turning backwards to see the throw does not turn the body of the athlete “closed”
Soft Toss Rapid Fire (Click to Link)
3 quick soft toss balls, 5 sets, rotate players slight wide stance, focus on rotation without striding, anticipate the hands becoming set prior to toss
Soft Toss Combo (Click to Link)
Start on one knee, choke up when doing both one hand swings. Toss 3 balls quickly.
1st ball, lead hand
2nd ball, back hand
3rd ball, stand up quickly, no longer choking up
Infield Grounders (Click to Link)
Adult throws grounders, adult catches throws at base, adult rotates buckets of balls.
All players start as SS, rotate to 3B, throws go to 2nd then throws go to 1st.
Grounders to work in:
Front charge, shuffle left, shuffle right, backhand, short hop
Fielder in the Middle (Click to Link)
2 sets of strikers and catchers on opposite ends of straight line 60 feet apart, fielder in the middle, fungo to fielder, return throw, quick turn 180 degrees and repeat, 8 reps, rotate players.
Around the Horn (Click to Link)
2 deep at each base, step with catching side foot to catch, square shoulders to throw, chest high throw.
3 types to run drill, inside turn, outside turn, tag and shuffle feet. (tag portion is a shuffle NOT A STEP AND THROWS ARE KNEE HIGH)
Relay Throw (Click to Link)
Hands high, shoulders body and feet cheating open, catch high, two hands, shuffle to release (NO CROW HOP)
Field Stopped Ball (Click to Link)
Adult at 1st catching throws, adult place 5 balls starting at 10 feet from catcher up 3rd base line- every 5 feet.
Fielder charges closest ball, use back of glove (reduce transfer time), plant drive foot as the ball is grasped and throw in one motion. (waste of time to grasp ball first then relocate feet)
Ball in Glove X3 (Click to Link)
3 adults on each bucket with ball bucket at side, athletes start from one line, charge GB, head down-eyes on ball in glove-glove to bread basket, hesitate, run forward, round coach, drop bal to bucket, repeat in the zig zag format. (no jogging, talk about running)
Rundown (Click to Link)
1 throw to achieve the out, runner has a path, fielders have different path (line of site), arm in loaded position (only forward movement of arm), not throwing OVER the runner, thrower “sprints” down runner, receiver calls for ball, rundown is a “smarts” drill
Middle Infield Short Toss (Click to Link)
Fielder in the middle, one helper 15 feet to right and left of fielder. Roll the ball to the fielder (slightly to right and left), fielder focuses on short flat flips to the other players. Fielder to focus on moving body in the direction of the toss they make.
Infield Play at the Plate (Click to Link)
Pitcher makes the initial pitch to the catcher, drop in bucket, coach strikes ball, catcher calls 4 and applies the tag
3 Tee Drill (Click to Link)
Players hit off tees from home, turns to each side of infield, outfield hits off tee to outfielders also,
Coaches sit in foul territory (not behind bases) down towards home for fielders to throw back.
Hitters focus on tee work while putting the ball in play to the infielders. Outfielders also work on groundballs and throws back.
Relay 1st to 3rd (Click to Link)
1 coach in outfield, 1 coach on base path, 1 hitting
Work relay throw positions to third, lead offs, rounding bases, pitchers back up, 3rd base players always throws back to the catch to make tag.
Hit shots all over, including hard to middle infielders so runners have to go back to the base
Split Infield Bunt Drill (Click to Link)
Double battery off to each side of the mound, one coach hits to the right side and one to the left, catcher identifies prior to pitch, batter strikes the ball from bunting down the line, between fielders or hot shots all the way to first, pitcher covers, DP gets turned, rotate pitchers in
Circus 21 (Click to Link)
Players catch 21 pop-ups, strike pop-ups all over the field, players call and make throws back to relay players for plays at the plate or bases
3 Ball Block (Click to Link)
Catcher behind the plate, 3 balls in front of plate as markers, stand behind so you call the same direction the catcher needs to move also, Don’t become a small catcher stay big, Pop up with both legs at once. Do not get up with one foot first and then the other.
Fast Feet Ladder (Click to Link)
Squat in good receiving position, hold helmet in front of chest, rotate right to simulate throw to second, squat, rotate left to simulate throw to second, move down the line in progression. Rotate in both directions to develop core strength.
3 Ball Mirror (Click to Link)
(2:10 into video)
Catcher behind plate, catcher in front.
One catcher leads, second catcher mirrors movement, focus on speed and pop up with both legs at once. Do not get up with one foot first and then the other.
Knockdown Drill (Click to Link)
With the flat paddle or bare hand the catcher should be able to knock down the perforated balls directly in front of them. Rotate the palm of the hand into the proper position to do this. Thrower sets up 5 feet in front of the squatted catcher.
Fielding the Bunt (Click to Link)
Jump Catch and Throw (Click to Link)
Instructions are very clear in this video link.
Rotate this drill to different positions on the field. Drill is good for high throws at second, first, relays, pitcher, catcher
Think 2 out plays
Line Drive Tennis Ball (Click to Link)
Instruction on video is complete. This drill is to mimic the hard struck, quick sinking line drives for outfielders
Drop Step and Shoestring (Click to Link)
DROP STEP: quick crop step rotate open if needed, shoulder catch, back foot plant and riffle a strong throw back.
SHOE STRING: short flys to right and left, plant feet and riffle a strong throw back.
Keep some focus on strong throws back after the catches are made. (complete the play)
Crow Hop (Click to Link)
Charging Line Drive Drill (Click to Link)
Start fielder deep, fire in succession 4 line drive balls as fielder charges each line drive
Drop Step Triangle (Click to Link)
Push the fielders to run hard.
1st throw- deep over the shoulder to right
2nd throw- across the field
3rd throw- short pop up
final path the fielder ran should resemble a triangle
Double Charge (Click to Link)
Coaches on bucket 15 feet apart, two lines of players, first coach slow rolls right and left, players charge an make throw to catcher for tag, fielder gets ready for the second roll from the second coach and repeats throw to catcher. Must be good throws to catcher. (complete the play)
