Ideas for teaching diving for the ball??

default

Member

• Oct 15, 2007

• #1

Looking for some fresh ideas on teaching infielders/outfielders to dive for the ball. Have used the card board with eggs drill, but I am looking for a few new tricks.

Thank you.

 

default

Member

• Oct 15, 2007

• #2

You should first start them on their knees, and do soft toss to their right and left, teaching them to use their non-glove hand to break their fall. ?I have done this many times with my HS and Travel teams, in the grass, as a warmup drill.
I also purchased a "Slide Rite" mat and have them work on diving that way. ?
Until they lose the fear of hitting the ground, it will be a difficult problem.

You may not be able to do this, but a couple years back I had an outfield that let everything hit the ground. ?I took half a practice, one day and I went out with the outfield and actually took fly balls with them. ?When they saw their 35 year old coach diving for balls, it then became a game, where everyone tried to outdo the coach. ?Man I paid the price for it the next couple days, but my outfield ended up making some outstanding diving plays that year. ?Not sure but I may have broke a couple ribs. ? LOL

 

default

Member

• Oct 15, 2007

• #3

have their cell phone taped to the ball, toss it ahead/behind them aways and watch them go wild!!!!

 

default

Member

• Oct 15, 2007

• #4

Great idea Statman.... we will have to try that!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

default

Member

• Oct 15, 2007

• #5

Lady Knights sent you a PM...Howard

 

default

Member

• Oct 16, 2007

• #6

get a hot summer day, a hose and a big tarp.... oh and a few towels. teach them to use their throwning hand to levle their body has they hit the ground.

in the fall or spring the tarp and a couple bags of Field chalk work pretty well too.

make sure you have your camera

the cell phone thing sounds like a winner too.

 

default

Member

• Oct 16, 2007

• #7

Thanks Howard for some of the great ideas.
Shayne

 

default

Member

• Oct 16, 2007

• #8

Care to share?

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #9

Sent you a PM....Howard

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #10

Sent you a PM Howard!

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #11

Sent cshilt a PM to forward to you...Howard

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #12

Done.

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #13

i didn't send a pm (just thought i'd throw that in)

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #14

Must be "TOP SECRET" info.

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #15

I don't think its secret stuff, but that Howard prefers to be careful about what he posts publicly.

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #16

OK, now I'm confused... what does diving have to do with hitting???

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #17

I was wondering the same thing, but I thought I may be missing something.

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #18

Sammy said:

OK, now I'm confused... what does diving have to do with hitting???

Click to expand...

Modified my above post.

It made sense to me.

 

default

Member

• Oct 17, 2007

• #19

Great information! Thanks.....diving is just like hitting....aggressive to the ball, stay smooth..... practice and more practice. Thanks Howard and thanks Cshilt.

 

default

Member

• Oct 19, 2007

• #20

Wow, it is amazing how much different aspects of the game are related. When Howard begins working with a new student, he teaches them how to throw first. The mechanics are pretty much the same in the way you throw to the way you bat. Shoot, Howard taught my daughter how to be a better catcher too in her first lesson. Thanks Howard.