JUGS Toss Machine Drill
March 2007
By: Phil Hocutt
EQUIPMENT:Softballs, JUGS Toss Machine, Gloves
Great for indoor or outdoor practice, this drill will help improve hand eye coordination, underhand short toss, overhand catch, and throws simulating a double play, and finally this drill is good for foot speed and it is a great cardio workout.
Three players are positioned twenty feet apart in a straight line. The drill starts in the middle and the JUGS Toss Machine is positioned directly in front of the middle player. The ball is tossed and the player catches the ball and shuffles toward the teammate and underhand shuffles the ball to her. The second fielder catches the toss and quickly squares and throws the ball to the third player. The third player catches the throw and returns to the middle preparing to catch the next tossed ball from the machine. The drill then starts all over.
Each player is to follow her toss or throw throughout each play. Thus, creating a figure eight motion as she moves down the line. The JUGS Toss Machine is set for five-second intervals. Therefore, if the girls are not hustling and/or if they do not execute their portion of the drill the next ball will be tossed with no one ready in the middle position to make the play. Nine balls are loaded into the JUGS Toss Machine to begin this drill, and the same three girls continue the drill until the machine is empty.
The older players can experience an extra challenge when the coach operating the JUGS Toss Machine calls out a direction of the first toss from the middle player, either left or right. This will optimize quick decision-making skills. Also, this will allow the players to focus on better balance and improve their footwork.
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