3-Day Accelerator Email Course
Drill #1: Outfield Ground Ball Fielding Drill
The outfielders will line up single file in the outfield facing home plate. A coach stands at home plate (or the edge of the infield) with a fungo bat and balls. An additional coach or players stands to the side to receive throws from the fielders.
The coach will hit a ground ball to the first player in the outfielders line. The outfielder will charge hard at the ball, breakdown, field the ball using the Knee Method, Semi-Knee Method or Pro Method, then make an accurate throw back to home plate. The coach will then hit a ground ball to the next player, as the first player rotates to the back of the line.
- The Knee Method is typically taught to young players as the safest and most reliable way to field a ground ball in the outfield. You can also use this technique when there are no runners on base, when the ground is very bumpy, or when there is no chance of throwing a runner out.
- The outfielder should charge the ball hard for the first 4 or 5 steps, then decrease his speed, get under control, and break down to field the ball.
- To field the ball, drop to the throwing side knee (the right knee for right handed players) and put the back of the glove flat on the ground between the legs. Watch the ball into the glove, trap it with the throwing hand, then rise up and step into the throw.
- The outfielder should center his body in front of the ball, so he can block it with his torso if it takes a bad hop.
- The Semi-Knee Method is a faster, but slightly riskier way to field a outfield grounder. The technique is the same as the Knee Method, except the outfielder will only drop the throwing-side knee halfway to the ground while fielding the ball. This will allow him to move into his throwing motion more quickly, and have a better chance at throwing out a runner
- The Pro Method (or Scoop Method) is the riskiest way to field an outfield grounder and should be used only in situations where the game will be lost if the fielder doesn’t get the ball in quickly. This technique is for a do-or-die situation in which the tying or winning run is attempting to score and the outfielder must make a quick throw to the infield. The outfielder runs at the ball and scoops it up while on the move, placing the glove to the outside of the glove-side leg (instead of between the legs).
Place a line of players at the pitcher's mound and a line of players behind first base. The coach stands at home plate with a fungo bat and balls. A catcher is in his stance behind the plate.
The first player in the pitcher's line will simulate throwing a pitch. The coach will then hit a slow ground ball to the area between the pitcher and first baseman.
If the pitcher fields the ball, the first baseman will cover first and the pitcher will make the throw to him. If the first baseman fields the ball, the pitcher will cover first. The players will rotate to the back of the line after each rep.
- The player who is fielding the ball should always call "Ball" loud and clear
- The player who is covering first base will call "Bag"
- Ball should always be called first, and Bag called second
- If the pitcher takes 3 steps and does not call Ball, the first baseman calls Ball
- The first baseman is the captain - he gets the final decision on who will play the ball
- The pitcher should always tag first base with his right foot and stay inside the baseline, to avoid colliding with the runner
- Use an underhand toss for short range throws
- If you have several multi-position players, have them switch lines after every player has had a turn, so they can run the drill from multiple positions