PIP "Partners in Practice" DRILLS

ACE Staff members will incorporate our training methods in organized training sessions with your league's teams or certain age groups in partnership with your volunteer coaches. Some of our drills are described below. 

Throwing Station (Skateboard position, arm circle-rapid fire into the net)

Objective-Get player’s feet, knees, hips and shoulders in line with their target…front side towards target.  As the receiver, we show them how to be athletic and give a target or window with fingers up!  Rapid throw into net helps teach the player to use a full arm circle

Set up a bucket of baseball behind the players back foot.  Have the players throw a set number of balls into a net or fence as fast as they can.  By reaching for the ball they are creating the proper full arm circle. 

Key points: Skate board position, full arm circle, point your front side at target.

Throwing Station (Defense of back drills)

Objective – To challenge the players to get into proper throwing form while moving backwards.  It forces the players to be precise with driving the front side to the target.

With the ball in their hand have player start to walk backwards and at a certain point tell them to throw, they must turn glove side and throw the ball at the target (net, fence, player.)  Then you progress to them to a faster walk and repeat.  Finally you can take the ball out of their hand, have them start moving and throw it to them and as they catch it, they turn glove side and throw.  This translates real well for infielders and their relays from the outfield.

Key points: drive glove shoulder at target, move under control.

Wall Progressions fielding (Catching a flip, groundball, fly ball)

Objective-Teach players to step with their glove foot as they catch the ball and when they field ground balls and fly balls.

Line players up against a wall or a fence.  Make sure they are pushing against the wall/fence.  Then, a coach or partner can flip then underhand throws as they step off the wall/fence to catch.  Progress to groundballs and fly balls.

Key points: teach them to step, not lunge, make sure they are using proper catching form with their gloves (i.e. fingers up for throws and fly balls)

Hitting (Stance, grip, bat angle, and stride)

Objective-Teach players to get into comfortable, athletic stance every at bat.

Have players standing where the coach can see them and they can see the coach and work from the feet up.  First explaining that feet should be in-line, toes forward, knees bent (also known as skateboard position)  Explain that the bat should be held in the fingers, not in the hands and that the bat knob should be pointed down at the catcher until they start to swing.  When focusing on the stride, we must emphasize that we step closed and that it is a soft controlled step that happens every pitch, before the pitcher releases the ball.

Key points:  Athletic, comfortable, quiet, barrel up, and soft controlled stride

Fielding (Partners on 2 knees, 1 standing-showing pocket, breaking down)

Objective-Teach players proper fielding mechanics including footwork and glove action

A great way to get multiple reps for multiple players.  Have players partner up and have them roll ground balls back and forth.  Here you can have them concentrate of the glove action and fielding the ball out in front-emphasize good feeds.  You can have them work on backhands and different hops too.  Next have one player stand up and focusing on breaking down on the ground ball now focusing on both footwork and glove action…showing pocket in the path of the ball.

Key points: pocket in the path of the ball, glove foot forward as they field the ball, breakdown like an airplane landing, not a helicopter

Hand/Eye coordination (Discs, 1on1, Knockout-competition)

Objective-To help players with their hand/eye coordination

This is a drill that we use with all ages, but it is a great way to begin developing the young player’s hand/eye.  Have players partner up and stand about 3-5 feet away from each other.  With their feet spread apart and bent at the knees, they will throw, disc (i.e. plastic butter lids) back and force and the players are trying to catch the disc out in front with just their thumb, fore finger, and middle finger.  Encourage them to switch hands each turn.  If the players have trouble spinning the disc, small waffle balls can work or anything soft.  Great drill to do right after warm-ups to get you players ready for hitting or fielding.  Also, great drill to transition into your catching drills.

Key points: soft hands, use your pinching fingers, see it out front, alternate hands

Wall Drills Hitting

Objective-To teach players to keep their front foot closed and their front leg firm and to fire their back knee at the ball, NOT ROTATE their back foot or Squash the bug

Start by having your players put their front foot against the wall and get into a wide stance.  Have them replicate a swing and create some pressure on their front leg.  Obviously the wall won’t allow them to turn their front foot and they will need to firm their front leg up or their knee will go into the wall.

Next, have them put their back foot against the wall and replicate the swing and force them to get their heel off the wall without rotating.  This is a great drill to do with multiple hitters at a time.

Key Points:  Closed front foot, firm front leg, fire back knee at ball.  DO NOT SQUASH THE BUG!

Anti Drift Drill

Objective-To teach players to work behind pop-ups and fly balls.  To sprint to a spot, not back pedal.  We want them to work 1 step behind fly balls, so they can step into it as they catch it.

Set-up 2 cones about 5-10 yards apart.  Have the player at the front cone (facing away from the back cone.)  When the coach says go, have the player drop step with their glove foot and sprint (without looking back) around the back cone.  Once they get around the cone (the coach throws a fly ball), they must turn around, stay active with their feet, find the ball and catch the ball.  As they progress, you can throw the ball early to force them to adjust quicker and you can talk about fly ball communication (mine, mine, mine.)

Key Points: Work behind fly balls, over estimate by 1 step, sprint to a spot

Any questions or for further explanation, please contact ACE Program Director, Neal Packanik   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it