By: Ron Bing, Puritas Little League, Cleveland, Ohio
This simple drill will help players learn proper fielding positions and to help develop good fielding rhythm. The main objective here is to develop a timing mechanism for each player, and it helps them learn that the whole fielding process is a continuously smooth movement. Done correctly, the players movements should flow continuously and smoothly. It should look as if it is one sequence, not individual parts of a whole. 1) Line up the fielders with a few feet between each player.
Date: March 23, 1998 at 20:07
2) Have the players assume the ready position with their gloves on.
3) At the coach's command, have the players start forward as if moving to a ground ball in front of them. The objective here is not speed but smoothness.
4) After a few steps the coach yells, "field". At this point each player should take two steps, first a right step, then a left step (left handers reverse this). The players are pretending the ball is going into their gloves at this time. The players hold this position while the coach looks to see if they are in the correct fielding position.
5) After making any corrections, the coach says, "resume", and the players continue forward as before.
6) Once the players become comfortable with this, the next step is to imitate the throwing sequence of right/left throw. The full sequence is right/left catch; right/left throw.