These are important baseball fielding concepts for youth players who are learning to play the outfield. Outfield drills are some of the most difficult drills to find. Sometimes its hard to do outfield drills in the winter if you live on the east coast or other snowy areas. Designed to help your kids develop key fundamentals, eliminate errors, and build a topnotch defense to win more games. This drill demonstrates how an outfielder should properly field a ground ball with emphasis on footwork with coach rolling the ball just to get basics down. Outfield play individual drills dive progression 1. If you would like some tips on how to implement your youth baseball drills during practice, please visit our baseball drills coaching tips page. The better a baseball fielders range and mobility, the quicker plays he can make. As you get familiar with the game and use your imagination, you will be able to design your own outfield drills.
With that, coaches can throw balls higher as in a game, and not feat that players will be struck in the head, it only takes getting beaned once by a hard baseball to deter kids from wanting to get under the ball, play outfield, or even to want to continue playing baseball. Index, middle, and ring finger across the seam thumb directly underneath ten toes. Players will start at a specific spot, outfield grass will work if you have it. Interval throwing program for baseball players phase i. Use these fun youth baseball outfield drills regularly at practice and your players will be tracking down tough fly balls in no time. Regardless of position, coaches should be ready to have some meaningful drills for each specific group. Outfield drills lite flite elimination use tennis balls. Fastpitch softball outfield drill intermediate due to practice time constraints, it seems softball outfield drills are often overlooked or short changed.
Intermediate fastpitch softball outfield drill fly balls. You can hit shallow fly balls into the outfield and then try and tag out the tagged up runner. Lightning infielder and outfielders release and work quick. Outfield drills the following is a progression of drills that can be used for kids playing the outfield and drills to help reinforce good habits and team play. Baseball speed drills, which incorporate kbands into this outfield drill, will help to further enhance. The stride should be toward the pitcher, keeping the front shoulder from pulling off the pitch too soon taking the energy away from the. The purpose of this drill is to get the outfielder working on their reaction to the ball. The best baseball coaches know how to use baseball infield drills to improve players ball handling skills, techniques and fundamentals through baseball lesson plans and practice planning top youth coaches use various infielder drills, outfielder drills, throwing drills and fielding drills to teach baseball skills what makes the best coaches the best is they know how to disguise a.
These 5 drills will increase your baseballspecific speed. Sometimes, you dont always have a baseball field at your disposal to do outfield drills on. A brief description of each of the drills may be found in the practice drills summary section at the end of the manual. Of all the positions on the field, the outfield positions tend to get shafted the most with regards to indoor practice. This drill will incorporate the hips and the drop step of fielding a fly ball hit over an outfielders head. Outfielder chases ball, plants feet, grabs ball, shuffles and throws. A great conditioning drill that improves your players quick burst agility, for a quicker jump on the ball and better range in the outfield. Colleges and major league teams are no longer looking for the big basher, they want good defensive outfielders. Move pitching arm in a full circle stretching your hand away from your shoulder as far as possible. This drill can be setup into a game to make it more appealing to a younger team.
Little league coaches seem perpetually on the hunt for simple but solid outfield drills for youth baseball players. Excellence grows within a person, is largely within the persons control, and it meaning lasts. Outfield drills are now more important than ever because baseball has changed back to a speed and skill game. In todays video blog post, we are talking about three important softball drills for developing more effective outfielders. Baseball outfield drills, right field, left field, center. A competent outfielder has the ability to track fly balls and catch them.
Baseball drills and practice plans hilliard baseball association. Outfield drills run your drills in game like situations. Remind the players that this is a continuation of the other throwing drills. Add second ball to stress importance of footwork providing some momentum. The concept of three groups drills is based on a team having 12 players and 3 coachesadults being available to run drills. April 16, 2018 uncategorized, outfield drills, ken eriksen. Practice first step quickness the drop step develop body control controlling your head, eyes, breathing, etc practice running on your toes knowing your angles getting comfortable taking your eyes off the baseball tipread more. Same progression with baseball success and excellence are not the same. But before we get to the nitty gritty, a few guidelines. Below is our collection of baseball fielding drills. Catching fly balls stationary starting with the basic catch, coach stands behind second base on the edge of the outfield and fly balls to players 25 feet away that allow them to. But range and mobility has to be developed through baseball agility drills that work on the lead and firststep burst, quickness and acceleration. Conduct fundamental station and drill work every practice four basic areas pitching, hitting, infield and outfield and the kids have a ball.
This video explains and breaks down the three basic steps that outfielders use when reacting to the baseball. Ages 9 and 10 typically play on fields that are too small for these situations to arise. Down on knee for plays with nobody on base outfielders drop their nonthrowing side knee to be sure the ball cannot get by, before hopping up quickly to return the ball back to the infield. Balls are so light that they have to catch them with two hands over the head.
Outfield drills can be easily incorporated into baseball practice drills. All of have priority over the infielders unless they wave their hands this tells the of they are camped under the baseball. The barehand drill with mn twins eric farris outfield drills video summary whos it for. What if you could practice outfield drills indoors. Have players stand 1015 feet away from each other with one ball. This competitive drill should reinforce the idea of making plays. There are several different variations of this drill that your team can use. This drill demonstrates how an outfielder should get ready at each pitch. The drills help players practice moving to the ball, making catches on the run and working against the outfield fence. The interval throwing program itp is designed to gradually return motion, strength and. Outfield tips, technique, and strategy free instruction articles, written by professional baseball players or coaches. Free bat speed boosters workout subscribe to the channel here in todays video, discover 3 elite baseball outfield drills that youve probably never. It not only allows outfielders to make more plays on the ball, but allows them to cover up a bad read on a fly ball by having enough acceleration and leg drive to recover and make the play. Coach throws in a ball simulating from an outfielder or cutoff man.
Little league managers training video proper baseball practice newport beach little league. Outfield play baseball exercises, drills, mechanics, and. Outfield weave start the drill w three groups, one in left field, one in center. Older players and more advanced younger players can use bare hands. Learn the ins and outs and how to improve for the next baseball game. Often overlooked by coaches, playing the outfield well requires the player to learn and execute the fundamentals. In cases of younger players ages 78 an extra adults may be helpful to receive long throws, which these younger kids would have difficulty to catch consistently in a fast paced environment.
The drop step enables an outfielder to move backwards. Most of them dont include a lot of throwing by the outfielders. January 12, 2011 by coach mccreary filed under coaching, indoor, offseason, outfield, practice. Inside, she shows us three of her favorite softball outfield drills for developing young players. Infielders need to communicate and work together, and their drills will be more focused on things that happen during a game on the infield. However, a fly ball to the outfield means momentum is about to swing to one team or the other. Put an entire infield together, along with an outfield. This baseball outfield communication drill will help increase communication with outfielders. Outfield drills that work and baseball coaches must use. Split the team into 2 groups and have fielders in right fieldleft field and one hitter for each group. Once you have gone through this book, you will be armed with a number of great drills and an idea of how to implement them for your team. You need an open area, either indoors or outdoors, to. Baseball outfield drills work with your outfielders.
A rule of thumb is if the ball makes your head look up, youll need to come in. The fences are usually so short that the ball hits and stops at the fence before the runner may even be to first. Pregame warmup focus to lubricate joints while moving blood out of the core organs and into the joints, muscles, and connective tissue. Outfield catching throwing o working on movement to the ball, ball judgment, two hands, powerthrowing, etc. Thats why i put together this list of drills that i often recommend. Outfielder communication drill baseball drills, free. The objective of this outfield and fielding drill is to practice a relay from the outfield to the infield.
The 2 ball chase drill, the barehand drill, and the gap communication drill. Outfield love what is outfield doing while infield is doing their drills. Drills for outfielders often happen during the course of team defensive drill and live batting practice. Players should learn to do their throwing warmups in the outfield as theyll be doing that for as long as they play baseball. The best high school baseball teams are wellrounded, and in every fielding position there is a welltrained athlete who can deftly field every ball that comes his way. A game where hitter throws up the ball and hits it to the fielders. One thing i think coaches make a mistake in doing outfielder drills is theyre always having girls throw home or throw to the cut, chilman said. In todays video, coach justin shows you a few key outfield drills to add to your routine thatll help you track more balls down. Michael is the most comprehensive reference book on the outfield position. This video covers three important softball drills for developing more effective outfielders.
Discover complete information on baseball pitching, batting, base running, fielding, bunting, infield, outfield and catcher. Outfielders what this drill is meant to accomplish. Have player 1 throw to player 2 a med high fly ball. I want to share with you some great outfield drills to help you take your team to the next level. Then you will notice those drills included in a the practice plans we have provided for you in the second half of the book. Baseballxpert complete baseball training information. Have each person face each other with glove in front of their face and make sure all 10 toes are facing the other person. Outfield drills progression for baseball my youth baseball. The best 9 high school baseball outfield drills with tips. Cones or pylons, baseballs, fungo bat, group of 4 or 5 players. Advanced outfielder skills for team defense my youth. Games are obviously the best way to learn this skill but. Be sure to check out the baseball by the yard youtube, facebook, and twitter pages.
Outfield tips, technique, and strategy pro baseball insider. Prepare for practice before you arrive to the baseball field. Fun youth baseball outfield drills baseball made fun. When you read through them, keep in mind the following. Using kbands for this drill will give outfielders full range of motion, but will also enhance the ability to drop step and gain ground with power. Keep your arm straight but loose throughout and perform at moderate speed one per second. Station 2 fielding infieldoutfield see list of drills. Most of the drills listed below are intended for individual or small group work performed indoors or out. Skills and drills 99 stride a short, soft stride allows your head and eyes to stay on the same plane, providing better vision see figure 8. All baseball teams want to get the most out of their practice time.
With beginner players, it is best to use softer type baseballs, when teaching outfield play. Pro outfield tips and instruction for fielding ground balls, as well as explaining what a crow hop is, and why it can be so effective in the outfield. Im based outside of philadelphia so we routinely have to spend many practice. Outfield drills to improve baseball speed read and. If the ball is caught, the defense has the momentum, but if the ball is dropped or misplayed. Enter your first name and email address below to get our free drills packed with good information and drills. Player will start facing the coach, in an athletic, ready position about 10 feet away. Groundball outfield drills there are four plays outfielders must practice on ground balls to the outfield. Catching a fly ball in the outfield is a huge deal.