— Baseball is a Game of Movement —
DRILLS
Core Concepts
Underhand Toss
Cover the Base with Your Eyes
Keep the Ball Moving
Mini Diamond – Super Tool
One of the most valuable tools a coach can use is the Mini Diamond. Any drill in which the focus of the teaching is something other than working on full on overhand throwing technique can be run on a Mini Diamond. Use of the Mini Diamond is referenced throughout the Coaching Guide.
A Mini Diamond is 20’-25' square, but can be modified larger or smaller depending on the activity. It is constructed using cones, throw down bases, ball caps, extra shirts that are laying around, a leaf, anything. Anytime we compact the teaching/learning environment we reduce distractions, improve communication and the players get many more repetitions during a drill.
Examples of drills that can be run using a Mini Diamond include relays, backing-up and base coverage responsibilities, and first and third defense. Keep in mind that for most activities the throwing and catching aspect is the last skill that needs to be mastered (and we take care of that during 'Playing Catch Practice'). Proper movement, positioning and communication need to be understood and mastered to some extent before be add the throwing aspect to cement the execution of the activity.
The Mini Diamond is also useful for teaching how a drill is supposed to run before going to the full size diamond.
Moving the Ball - options
Most kids consider only one option for moving the ball around the field: throwing overhand.
We need to teach that there are three ways to move the ball:
Overhand Throw - for medium and long distance throws
Underhand Toss - used when the player is approximately 25’ or closer to their target
Carry the ball - when a fielder can reach a base before the runner OR when the runner are no longer attempting to advance on the base paths.
Carrying the Ball
Most every youth ballplayer believes that the only way transport a ball around a baseball or softball around the field is to throw it. We must make it understood that ‘There is no rule against carrying the ball’ and then constantly point out to our players situations when they want to carry the ball rather than throw it. As coaches we understand that each time the ball is thrown there is the risk of a mistake that can lead to the runner(s) advancing to the next base.
The two primary situations when a player wants to carry the ball rather than throw it. (Note: in most cases, when a player ‘carries’ the ball, they RUN with the ball.):
They can beat a base runner to a base to execute a force out
Runners have stopped trying to advance and the ball needs to be transported back to the pitcher
The Ball is Constantly Moving on Defense
Once the players understand the three ways of moving the ball around the field we teach the concept of the ball being in constant motion in defense.
Another game situation most of us are familiar with is the player with the ball in their hands, not knowing what to do and just standing there, often while base runners are advancing to the next base. This is most common when the ball is in the hands of an outfielder and there are multiple base runner.
What is the player to do when they don’t know where to throw the ball? There is one simple answer:
…Run as fast as they can towards the middle of the infield (pitching rubber)
Why? When a player is unsure of what to do with the ball, but at the same time are running toward the middle of the infield they are increasing the possibility for success when they finally do determine what needs to be done with the ball.
When the ball is in the center of the infield it is a threat to a runner attempting to advance to any of the bases. Each step closer to the middle of the infield a player with the ball is, they are that much more of a threat to the base runners. They also shorten the distance of any subsequent throw they may have to make.
Given the ‘rule’ that a player ‘Never Stands in Place Holding the Ball’ we reduce the likelihood of runners advancing to the next base.
We teach our defensive players: The ball is constantly in motion. The moment you get the ball you immediately do one of two things:
Throw the ball
Run with the ball toward the middle of the infield
Moving the Ball - options
Most kids consider only one option for moving the ball around the field: throwing overhand.
We need to teach that there are three ways to move the ball:
Overhand Throw - for medium and long distance throws
Underhand Toss - used when the player is approximately 25’ or closer to their target
Carry the ball - when a fielder can reach a base before the runner OR when the runner are no longer attempting to advance on the base paths.
Underhand Toss
This is a Major League Skill. In any given MLB game the underhand toss is utilized 5-10+ times. On the smaller diamond where the players are positioned closer to each other there is a higher percentage of situations where the distance the ball needs to be transported a short distance.
Most of us are familiar with the scene where the player with the ball is not far from the player they want to throw to and we see uncertainty: “How hard do I throw the ball when my teammate is so close?”
Educating our kids that an underhand toss is an alternative option and then drilling them daily in this skill results in kids successfully completing many of these ‘simple’ plays, which in fact are very difficult when throwing the ball overhand is the only option in the mind of the player holding the ball.
Turn Glove Side
In situations when a player is fielding, catching, or picking up a ball with their back to where they need to throw the ball, they Turn Glove Side to prepare to throw. When throwing the ball a player wants the 'glove side’ of their body pointing at their target.
The most efficient way to get lined up to throw is for a player to turn in the direction of their glove. Only a 90 degree turn is required to go from having one's back to the target to being lined up to throw. Also, the momentum of the turn leads into the throw.
However, kids tend to turn the opposite direction. Reasons:
(1) Turning to the Glove Side is ‘blind’. When making the 270 degree turn to the Throwing Arm side, in the process, the player is fully facing their target and ‘see’ their target well before throwing. They are more ‘comfortable’.
(2) The momentum of a thrown ball usually pulls players to their throwing arm side, so they just ‘go with it.
The problem with turning to the throwing-hand side is it is 270 degrees and the momentum of the turn is away from where they need to throw. Most of the time the player doesn’t complete the turn, doesn’t get properly lined up to make the throw, and doesn’t use their legs (Move Their Feet) to power the throw. The result is a weak, inaccurate throw.
Instruction:
Move your Feet to Catch. We want to catch the ball on the Glove Side of the body.
Use the teaching phrase, "Turn Glove Side".
Common situations that a player has their back to the target:
Relay throws
Pitcher fielding the ball
Replaying muffed ground balls
Catcher retrieving wild pitches and passed balls
Covering a BASE
On any given play a player has the responsibility to either (1) Play the Ball (2) Cover a Base, or (3) Back-up a Base. In most cases when an infielder is not playing the ball their responsibility is to Cover a Base.
The moment an infielder recognizes they are not going to be playing the ball, the Base becomes their singular focus until they are in position at the base to receive a throw. We instruct our players to Cover The Base With Your Eyes.
This means the player takes their eyes off the ball (the ball is another player’s responsibility), turn to face the base, focus their eyes on the base and spring to the base as quickly as possible, not taking their eyes off the base until they arrive at the base.
Once arriving a the base, THEN the infielder turns and faces the ball.
We want them on the same side of the base as the ball in a Ready Position prepared to take a throw.