http://baseballbytheyard.blogs...for-outfielders.html
Tough to get outfielders work indoors. How do some of you work outfielders indoors?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
If you have access to a full sized gym you can use the Pitching machine (if one is available) to fire soft line drives at them. They can come in on them and work on going to their Left and Right. Set the machine so it has as much arc as possible without hitting the rafters/ceiling.
I like it. Being from Long Island, you're in the same boat as I am! Thanks for adding!
One that our kids enjoy and I feel is beneficial:
Place a pitch-back net at one end of the gym with the outfielders at the other. The coach rolls a grounder to the outfielder charging in toward the pitch-back. The outfielder fields the ball and throws the ball accurately to the bottom half of the net, which gives him an over the shoulder pop-up. He catches turns the correct way and throws to the top half of the net giving a ground ball to the next fielder and the drill repeats itself. This drill focuses on foot-work, accurate throwing, reaction to the ball, and correct angles.
Place a pitch-back net at one end of the gym with the outfielders at the other. The coach rolls a grounder to the outfielder charging in toward the pitch-back. The outfielder fields the ball and throws the ball accurately to the bottom half of the net, which gives him an over the shoulder pop-up. He catches turns the correct way and throws to the top half of the net giving a ground ball to the next fielder and the drill repeats itself. This drill focuses on foot-work, accurate throwing, reaction to the ball, and correct angles.
You could take them in a gym and have them throw a tennis ball off of the wall. They could throw to different parts of the wall as to get ground balls, fly balls, and liners. It's also a good way to work on throwing mechanics and motion. You can also work on situations. This is more of a talking and teaching kind of thing, but this way they will know 100% where to go with the ball.
All good drills from The Yard. I also spend lots of time:
- rolling balls to them teaching them the outside front foot pick up followed by the back foot cross over step to get the ball where it needs to be (replaces the crow hop). Proper aggresive footwork takes lots of practice.
- Soft fly balls where they set up long and early, then catch the ball coming in with momentum going in.
- Off to the side fly balls where they get to where the ball is going, set up early, then catch the ball coming in (no drifting to the ball where they get to the ball the same time its coming down)
- Gap fly ball coordination, priorities, calling off or getting called off. How to slide out of the way when called off and high/low catch angle on the ball for more experienced players/teams where, with possible conflict, one takes a high catch and the other a low catch approach so that even if they don't communicate they won't collide.
- In/out coordination, calling off an infielder or telling him to take it and set up for back up.
- Playing the wall where you get to the wall early and run parallel to where the ball will hit the wall or go over, learning to time the ball on your jump. How to "softly" go up on a wall as opposed to slamming. And for the most experienced players, how to climb a wall.
- Light toss line drives where they learn the habit of taking a slightly oval shaped approach/drop to the direct line drive so that they can judge the flight of a hard hit direct line drive. Try to get a slight angle on a ball hit directly at you.
- Of course, drop step footwork, changing direction while going back, taking eye off of ball to run and then refinding it.
- Of course two hands. Of course running catches.
- Also situationals where they learn, or at least think about, balls fielded where the do an off the foot running scoop (cut a leading runner down) or a drop to one knee block catch to keep a single a single.
- Also, w/infield, situationals, when it is very appropriate to assuredly hit the cut guy versus when its critical to throw it on a line to the ultimate target, cut guy be ****ed. And I know that many of you teach always hit the cut guy but I believe that many times if you hit the cut guy you're giving up the run unnecesarily with a quality outfielder who can throw a 250' line drive strike.
- rolling balls to them teaching them the outside front foot pick up followed by the back foot cross over step to get the ball where it needs to be (replaces the crow hop). Proper aggresive footwork takes lots of practice.
- Soft fly balls where they set up long and early, then catch the ball coming in with momentum going in.
- Off to the side fly balls where they get to where the ball is going, set up early, then catch the ball coming in (no drifting to the ball where they get to the ball the same time its coming down)
- Gap fly ball coordination, priorities, calling off or getting called off. How to slide out of the way when called off and high/low catch angle on the ball for more experienced players/teams where, with possible conflict, one takes a high catch and the other a low catch approach so that even if they don't communicate they won't collide.
- In/out coordination, calling off an infielder or telling him to take it and set up for back up.
- Playing the wall where you get to the wall early and run parallel to where the ball will hit the wall or go over, learning to time the ball on your jump. How to "softly" go up on a wall as opposed to slamming. And for the most experienced players, how to climb a wall.
- Light toss line drives where they learn the habit of taking a slightly oval shaped approach/drop to the direct line drive so that they can judge the flight of a hard hit direct line drive. Try to get a slight angle on a ball hit directly at you.
- Of course, drop step footwork, changing direction while going back, taking eye off of ball to run and then refinding it.
- Of course two hands. Of course running catches.
- Also situationals where they learn, or at least think about, balls fielded where the do an off the foot running scoop (cut a leading runner down) or a drop to one knee block catch to keep a single a single.
- Also, w/infield, situationals, when it is very appropriate to assuredly hit the cut guy versus when its critical to throw it on a line to the ultimate target, cut guy be ****ed. And I know that many of you teach always hit the cut guy but I believe that many times if you hit the cut guy you're giving up the run unnecesarily with a quality outfielder who can throw a 250' line drive strike.
Great stuff Harv! Thanks for adding!
I agree about hitting the cutoff. I talked about that in this post:
http://baseballbytheyard.blogs...0/12/left-field.html
I agree about hitting the cutoff. I talked about that in this post:
http://baseballbytheyard.blogs...0/12/left-field.html
Indoors, I start my outfielders with learning how to go back on a ball. I have them stand about 10 ft in front of me. I go slow to emphasize proper mechanics. I will point to either the right or the left and yell "drop" where they do their initial drop step. Then I yell "go" and let them start running at which point I throw the ball so they can execute an over the shoulder catch. Start slow (I even make them pause at first) and then build...by the 3rd or 4th week, you can switch to a simple "go" and watch them execute.
I also work hard on the proper crow hop because you only have so many chances to throw somebody out at the plate, and there is never enough time to work on it outdoors.
I also work hard on the proper crow hop because you only have so many chances to throw somebody out at the plate, and there is never enough time to work on it outdoors.
