Outfield Drills that can be done indoors this winter.

[default]

My daughter is playing 12u next year. By the looks of our team right now, she's likely going to be playing outfield. We have access to an indoor facility this winter, but it's just cages. And the ceilings are not really that high to be able to work on any fly ball drills. What are some good drills that I can be doing with her indoors to make her a better outfielder for this coming season?

 

[default]

Read the throwing post above. 90% of the kids never learn to throw correctly from the outfield. When you do get to an area you can hit pop ups use a tennis racket and tennis balls. Teaches them to judge the ball and have soft hands.

 

[default]

For all fielders, but escpecially outfielders it's useful to learn how to catch a ball running full speed over both shoulders equally well. Every practice we run indoors or out I run a "passing" drill where every kid grabs a ball, as they get to the front of the line they hand me the ball and I play quaterback, girl faces me and drop steps in the direction she is going to go and sprints away from me. I do my best Drew Brees attempt to hit them on the run at full speed they then curl back to the end of the line. After a while we switch which direction they are drop stepping so they learn to make the catch going both ways and on days where we are emphasising this we will also have them practice changing directions while on the run to simulate misjudging a ball initially and recovering.

If you have a reasonably high ceiling you should be able to stretch throwing drills out to 80' and 100' as well. As someone else mentioned most kids could benefit from throwing better and long toss builds strength for all your throws and exposes bad mechanics (i.e. tough to sidearm a ball 100')

 

[default]

If you have any ceiling height at all this drill has been a mainstay of ours for years. Player stands in front of the coach approximately 60 ft away. They get in an outfielder's ready stance and the coach throws a line drive at them slightly to the left or right. Player catches the line drive, sets and throws to the coach and then sprints as hard as they can for a short little pop up that they catch at the shoe tops. They flip the ball to the caoch and sprint back for an over the shoulder catch, set their feet quickly and make a good throw. Back to the end of the line. You can work on catching technique, throwing technique, maybe sliding for short balls and get in some conditioning at the same time.

 

[default]

Thank you all for the great advise. I'm still fairly new to travel ball. 2012 will be my daughter's second full year. So, we can use all the help we can get.

 

[default]

Sometimes catching of fly balls is "overrated" for outfielders. By this I mean that, if you really think about it, most of the opportunities an outfielder gets to contribute defensively are not catchable fly balls but instead ...

1) balls hit in front of them, over their heads or in the gaps
2) backing up of plays in both the infield and outfield
3) throwing ... throwing to the right place, and the right way (low line drive type throws)

Much of this work can be done indoors with a low ceiling, and/or "on the chalkboard".

 

[default]

I agree with coachjwb, I would say being mentally prepared for each situation, where runners are and being prepared to have a good jump on the ball are very important, not to include the obvious of knowing where you will be trying to make a play. Fly balls would be a small part of the outfield in my opinion.

 

[default]

Coach jwb is right on the mark. I see more runs scored by balls getting past players on line drives or misplayed throws or uncovered overthrows. They are total gamekillers in my opinion.

 

[default]

Coachjwb has it right, we mostly work on angles and back up angles.
One of the drills I like most is the crow hop drill ( set 2 helmets about 4 to 6 feet apart, put a wood dow rod across the bills, old broom handle works well and have them catch, crow hop and throw over them)

 

[default]

Thanks again! This is great stuff.