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• Have the players throw the ball up in the air and catch it.
• Now without looking have the players reach in their glove and find the proper grip.
• Have the players do this until it becomes routine.

Tip: Coach should walk around and ask the players to show the proper grip. If they are using the wrong grip, show them the correct grip. The grip should be the same every time. The index and middle fingers should be over the “C” or the wide part of the baseball seams. This is called a four-seam grip.
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B. Alligator Drill
This drill is used to show the player how to field using two hands.

Equipment Needed: 1 ball per group, 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Line the players up in a half circle approximately 3 ft. away from each other.
• Players should be in fielding positions ready to field the ball.
• Coach rolls the ball to the players and they field it using two hands. (players’ hands should be in the shape of an alligator’s mouth)
• Have the players do this until it becomes routine.

Tip: Coach should roll the ball in sequence until it appears to be getting easier for the players, then start mixing it up. Roll the ball to any of the players at any time.
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C. Backhand Drill
This drill is designed to train the fielder to get into the proper position to field a backhand properly.

Equipment Needed: 1 ball per group, 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Line up your players at short stop.
• Coach rolls the ball to the backhand side of player (rolling the ball further and further away as the players get better). Coach can eventually use a fungo bat as the players get better.
• Players field the ball using the backhand technique.
• Have the players do this until it becomes routine.

Tip: Coach should roll the ball slowly at first emphasizing technique and then increase the gradient as the players get better. Coach should look for the cross-over step and make sure that the left leg (right handed player) is in front of the right leg and is bent at a 90 degrees. The players glove should be palm side down and low to the ground. Coach should mix up the direction of the ball occasionally so the players do not cheat.
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D. Cone Drill
This drill is to establish lateral movement for your infielders.

Equipment Needed: balls, 1 glove for all of participants, cones, and fungo bat.

Drill Procedure:

• Place a cone between 3rd base and short stop and between 1st base and 2nd base. The cones should represent the distance that each player should be able to field a ground ball. It also represents the short stop and 2nd baseman.
• Line up players at 3rd base and 1st base. Have 1 player at a time on the infield at both 3rd base and 1st base.
• Coach hits ground balls toward the cone and the player fields it. The coach should alternate sides each hit.
• Players work on their lateral movement and quickness to the ball

Tip: Coach should hit the ball easy at first and get harder as the players get better. This drill can be used for the short stop and 2nd base positions as well. Just change the cones accordingly! You can also incorporate the throw to 1st after the first couple rounds.
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E. Slow Roller Drill
This drill is used to teach the player how to bear hand slow rollers and throw them to first base.

Equipment Needed: balls and 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Place balls on infield grass approximately 15 ft. from the normal 3rd base and 1st base positions.
• Line up players at 3rd base and 1st base. Have 1 player at a time on the infield at both 3rd base and 1st base.
• Coaches directs the player to charge the ball to make the play.
• Player charges the ball, picks it up staying low to the ground, and throws the ball to either 1st base or 3rd base off their throwing side leg.

Tip: Coach should make sure that the players are staying low and are throwing off the correct foot. Coach can also start rolling and hitting slow rollers after the players show progress. This drill can be done at the other infield positions as well.
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F. Hockey Drill
This drill is to teach the player quick reaction time and teach them to react to the ball.
Baseball Equipment Needed: backstop, balls, fungo, and 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Split the team into two groups and put one team in each dugout.
• Next, have one team line up behind the backstop and have 1 player at a time rotate in to serve as the goalie in between homeplate and the backstop.
• Coach hits ground balls trying to get them by the goalie.
• Players try to keep the ball from getting behind them.
• Keep score for each team. Winners don’t have to run or they get some type of treat.

Tip: Coach should start slowly and then increase the speed and angle of the balls hit. Coach should make sure that the players are using proper fielding mechanics and keeping their head on the ball.
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G. Knock Out Drill
This drill is a fun drill used to teach reaction to the ball and to concentrate.

Equipment Needed: balls, fungo, and 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Split team into two groups. Place one team at short stop and the other team at 2nd base having 1 player from each team on the infield ready to field.
• Coach hits ground ball to each group trying to get the ball past them.
• Players try to field the ball cleanly. If they do not field the ball cleanly, they are removed from the game.
• Last man standing in each group goes to the playoffs. The two players compete until the other missies a ball or doesn’t field one cleanly. The team with the player who wins the contest get some type of treat or do not have to run that day.

Tip: Coach should start slowly and then increase the speed and angle of the balls hit. Coach should make sure that the players are using proper fielding mechanics and keeping their head on the ball. This is a great drill to do at the end of practice.
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H. Numbered Ball Drill
This drill is used to increase the player’s ability to watch the ball all the way into their glove. It can be used for both infield and outfield.

Equipment Needed: Numbered balls, fungo, and 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Split team into two groups. Place one team at short stop and the other team at 2nd base having 1 player from each team on the infield ready to field.
• Coach hits ground balls and fly balls to each group one at a time.
• Players call out the number of the ball as soon as possible, field the ball, and throw it to 1st base.
• The team with the fewest errors in calling out the correct number win.

Tip: Coach should start slowly and then increase the speed and angle of the balls hit. Coach should make sure that the players are using proper fielding mechanics and keeping their head on the ball. This drill can also be used with colored dots or colored balls.
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I. Rocket Relay Drill
This drill teaches the players how to take relay throws from the outfield and throw the ball to the next player accurately.

Equipment Needed: 1 ball per group and 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Split team into two groups. Place one group in left field and the other group in right field.
• Line up the players in a straight line approximately 25 ft. apart.
• Coach gives a ball to the player at one end of the line of each team.
• The 1st player then points their glove shoulder to the next player in the line and relays a chest high throw to them. The next player should have their hands up in the air yelling “relay, relay!” Then they relay to the next player and so on. The first group to finish the relay going through all of the players in the group five times is the winner (1 relay is up and back).

Tip: Coach should make sure that the relay person is squared up to the player throwing and lined up with the next player in line. The coach can make the last throw of the relay to a base if they choose to.
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J. Thumbs Up Drill
This drill is designed to teach the players how to catch with two hands and to learn how to get the ball out of the glove quickly.

Equipment Needed: 1 ball per 2 players, 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Line up your players across from each other approximately 15 ft. away.
• Place the balls with players on one side only so you can monitor the drill effectively.
• Have the players with the balls throw the ball chest high to the other players.
• The players receiving the ball should have their arms out with their thumbs up ready to receive the ball. (note: the players receiving the ball should not squeeze the glove when catching the ball unless it is a poorly thrown ball. The glove should remain open and should stop the ball with the throwing hand covering the ball as soon as the ball hits the glove)
• The player then finds the 4 seam grip, separates the hands, and points the glove shoulder at the player across from them without throwing it back. As the players get better, you can have them throw the ball back to the other player. But at the beginning it is important to throw accurately to the players receiving the balls.
• Have the players do this until it becomes routine.

Tip: Coach should have the players throwing the balls accurately to the chest of the players receiving the balls. If a player(s) can not throw accurately, have them flip the ball underhand until their accuracy gets better.
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K. Shuffle Drill
This drill teaches the infielder to move their feet by shuffling toward the ball.

Equipment Needed: 1 ball per 2 players and 1 glove for all of participants

Drill Procedure:

• Line up the players in a straight line approximately 8 ft. apart across from each other.
• Coach gives a ball to each player on one side of the lines.
• The players with the ball roll the ball to their partners; first to the left and then to the right. The players fielding the ball should shuffle their feet while staying low to the ground when fielding the ball.
• After the player fields the ground ball, they should flip the ball underhand to their partner.

Tip: Coach should make sure that the player rolling the ball is rolling them where the other player can field them rather easily at first and make it more difficult as the drill goes on.

Next Up: Outfield Drills >>