"Fly Ball Drill for the Outfield" Drill

This drill comes from Leo Daniels our December 2004 Drill of the Month Winner.

Equipment: Balls, Gloves, Cones, and Pitching Machine

I set-up my JUGS Combo Pitching Machine to throw fly balls to the outfield. The players and parents love this type of drill. We work on many skills in a short time frame. Using the pitching machine, we do not have to waste time trying to hit the balls where we need them to go. The best thing is that each player can get 50 or more balls in less than 30 minutes of practice time. It is amazing how much better and faster they catch after using this drill.

First -

• II set-up four cones placed in a square. Each cone is roughly 15 to 20 feet in four directions from where the ball will hit the ground.
• The players then get about five balls thrown with them starting at each cone.
• Then I move the cones about ten feet further out from center.
• The players then take about five balls again from each cone.
• This simulates them coming in on a ball, going to their right, going to their left, and going back over their heads.

Second -

• I split the players into two lines.
• Each line starts at a different cone opposite from each other.
• The ball is thrown, and the players converge on the ball having to YELL, "I'VE GOT IT."
• The players back up each other.

Third -

• We also have a point scoring system for catching the balls.
• The winning team does not have to do the final running after practice. (For your team, you can decide what the winners will receive.)