🧤 FIELDING DRILLS

Ages 9-12
Ready Position & First Step 3-4 min
Equipment
Gloves only - no balls needed
Setup & Execution
Line players up facing you. On "Ready!" they get in athletic stance. Coach points left, right, or forward - players take explosive first step that direction. Reset and repeat. Keep it quick - 10-12 reps.
Coaching Points
  • Feet wider than shoulders, knees bent, weight on balls of feet
  • Glove out in front, not hanging at side
  • First step is a crossover step for lateral movement
  • Eyes stay level - head doesn't bob up and down
Skills Focus
Ready position First-step quickness Athletic stance
Rolled Ground Ball Progression 8-10 min
Equipment
1 ball per coach, bucket for extras, gloves
Setup & Execution
Players line up 20-25 feet away. Roll grounders directly at each player. Player fields, makes good throw back to coach, goes to end of line. Start with slow rollers, progress to faster. Move to slight angles left/right once fundamentals are solid.
Coaching Points
  • "Butt down, hands out" - field out in front of body
  • Glove on ground, fingers pointing down, pinky near dirt
  • Bare hand ready above glove to secure ("alligator")
  • Field the ball, bring to belly button, separate, throw
  • Watch for kids stabbing at the ball - they should move THROUGH it
Pro Tip
Roll, don't hit, during this drill. Rolling lets you control speed and location perfectly. Save fungo work for later when mechanics are cleaner.
Triangle Drill (Ground Ball Footwork) 6-8 min
Equipment
3 cones per group, 1 ball, gloves
Setup & Execution
Set cones in triangle (10 feet apart). Player starts at back cone. Coach at front. Player approaches ball (rolled to middle cone), fields it, and shuffles/crow-hops to third cone before throwing. Simulates fielding and getting momentum toward first base.
Coaching Points
  • Approach ball at angle, not straight on
  • Field ball on glove-side foot (left foot for righties)
  • Right foot replaces where ball was, then shuffle toward target
  • Momentum should be going toward first base on the throw
Skills Focus
Approach angle Footwork Throwing on the move
Drop Step / Fly Ball Drill 6-8 min
Equipment
Tennis balls or safety balls (easier to toss high), gloves
Setup & Execution
Player faces coach 30 feet away. Coach points left or right, player takes drop step that direction and runs back. Coach tosses ball over that shoulder. Player catches on the run. Alternate sides. Progress to not pointing - just toss and let them react.
Coaching Points
  • Drop step = turn hips and step back with foot on that side
  • Don't backpedal - turn and RUN
  • Glove-side catches: glove up, thumb down
  • Throwing-side catches: glove across body, pinky down
  • Run first, then find the ball - don't drift while watching
Pro Tip
Tennis balls are great for this drill - less fear of getting hit, and you can throw them farther with better control than baseballs.
Paddle/Short-Hop Drill 5-6 min
Equipment
Fielding paddles OR flat gloves OR bare hands, tennis balls
Setup & Execution
Partners face each other 15 feet apart. One player short-hops the ball to the other. Receiving player fields with paddle/flat glove, using soft hands. Switch after 10 reps. No glove pocket forces proper technique.
Coaching Points
  • Hands give with the ball - "catch an egg, don't stab"
  • Get low - you can't field a short-hop standing tall
  • Watch the ball into the paddle - head stays down
  • Work both forehands and backhands
Variation
No paddle? Have them use bare hands with tennis balls. Forces soft hands or it stings!
Infield Stations 12-15 min
Equipment
4-5 balls, full infield, bases, 2-3 coaches/parents helping
Setup & Execution
Put 2-3 players at each infield position. Coach hits/rolls grounders to each position in rotation. Player fields, throws to first, rotates to back of their line. First baseman rotates after catch. Keep pace quick - should be constant movement.
Coaching Points
  • Encourage players to call the ball: "I got it!"
  • First baseman: stretch toward throw, foot on bag
  • Everyone not fielding should be in ready position
  • Watch for lazy feet between reps - stay athletic
Variation
Add a runner at home for game-like pressure. Or call out "Two!" and have them turn a double play.
Communication Drill ("I Got It!") 6-8 min
Equipment
Tennis balls or soft balls, gloves
Setup & Execution
Put 2-3 players in a cluster (simulating SS/2B/CF overlap). Coach pops up ball in the middle. Players must CALL for the ball loudly - "I GOT IT! I GOT IT!" - before catching. If no one calls, ball drops. If two players catch it silently, it doesn't count. Repeat 10-12 times.
Coaching Points
  • Call it EARLY and LOUD - other players need to hear and peel off
  • Call at least twice: "I got it! I got it!"
  • Once someone calls it, everyone else backs away
  • Priority order: SS > 2B > outfielders (players coming IN have priority)
  • If you don't call it, you don't catch it - even if you could
Pro Tip
Collisions happen because players don't talk. This drill prevents injuries and errors. Make it a rule: no call = no catch, every single time in practice.
Relay/Cutoff Basics 8-10 min
Equipment
Balls, full field setup (or use cones for bases), 3+ players
Setup & Execution
Outfielder fields ball in gap. Cutoff man (SS or 2B) goes out toward the outfielder, hands up as target. Outfielder throws to cutoff. Cutoff catches, turns, throws to base (3B or home). Practice both left and right field scenarios. 8-10 reps each side.
Coaching Points
  • Cutoff man: get in line between outfielder and target base
  • Cutoff man: hands UP high - give a big target
  • Outfielder: hit the cutoff man chest-high - he can redirect it
  • Cutoff: catch, turn glove-side, throw in one motion
  • Ball to left field: SS is cutoff. Ball to right field: 2B is cutoff
Skills Focus
Relay throws Positioning Team defense
Backup Responsibilities 6-8 min
Equipment
Balls, full field or infield setup
Setup & Execution
Coach hits/rolls ball to various spots. After each play, FREEZE and ask: "Where should everyone be?" Every player has a backup job. Run through common scenarios: ground ball to SS, throw to first (who backs up?), ball to outfield (who backs up which base?).
Coaching Points
  • Pitcher: backup third or home on outfield hits
  • Catcher: backup first on infield grounders (if no runner on)
  • Outfielders: backup each other on fly balls
  • Middle infielders: cover bases and backup throws
  • If you're not fielding the ball, you should be MOVING somewhere
Pro Tip
Standing and watching is the enemy. After EVERY pitch, every player should be moving to a backup position. Make "where should you be?" a constant question in practice.
⬆ 12U / ADVANCED — runners can lead off & steal, so defense has to think
Rundowns / Pickle 8-10 min
Equipment
2 bases (or cones) ~30 ft apart, 1 ball, 1 runner, 2 fielders + a line waiting
Setup & Execution
Runner caught between two bases. Fielder with the ball runs HARD at the runner to commit him one direction, then throws to the partner covering the base behind the runner. Goal: tag the runner out in as few throws as possible (ideally one). Rotate runner and fielders every few reps.
Coaching Points
  • Run the runner BACK toward the base he came from - never let him advance for free
  • Ball up by your ear, ready to throw - don't pump-fake or dance
  • Receiving fielder: call "Now!" or "Ball!" and give a target, then come toward the runner to receive
  • Make the tag, then clear the lane - throw and follow your throw to back up
  • One throw is the win. Every extra throw is a chance to advance the runner
Skills Focus
Rundowns Tag plays Throw & cover
First-and-Third Defense 10-12 min
Equipment
Full infield, catcher gear, 2 runners (1st & 3rd), balls
Setup & Execution
Runners on first and third. Runner on first breaks to steal second. Walk through each team response: (1) catcher throws through to second, (2) catcher fakes and checks the runner at third, (3) catcher throws to the cut man (SS/pitcher) who reads the runner at third. Have the runner at third bluff or break to teach the read. Pick ONE default for your team and rep it.
Coaching Points
  • Decide your team default BEFORE the game and call it out pre-pitch
  • If the run at third matters, hold it - give up second, don't give up the run
  • Middle infielder/cut man watches the runner at third, not just the throw
  • Third baseman: stay home with your runner, talk to the catcher
  • Keep it simple at 12U: "throw through and look him back" is usually enough
Pro Tip
Don't over-coach this. Pick one safe response, drill it until it's automatic, and let the kids execute it confidently rather than juggling four options under pressure.
Double-Play Feeds & Turns 10-12 min
Equipment
Infield with 2nd base, balls, SS & 2B (rotate players through)
Setup & Execution
Start with just the feed and the turn - no runners. Roll grounders to SS and 2B. They feed the pivot man at second, who catches, touches the bag, clears, and throws to first. Teach the underhand flip (close), the chest throw (medium), and the footwork at the bag. Add a runner only once the exchange is clean.
Coaching Points
  • Who covers second? SS covers on balls hit to the right side; 2B covers on balls to the left side
  • Feed it firm and chest-high - let the pivot man see it the whole way
  • Underhand flip on anything close; show the ball, don't hide it
  • Pivot man: catch, touch the inside corner of the bag, clear the runner, throw
  • At 12U, the sure out at first beats a rushed, blown double play - get one first
Skills Focus
DP feeds Footwork at the bag Middle-infield reads
Bunt Defense 8-10 min
Equipment
Infield, catcher gear, balls; a coach to drop bunts
Setup & Execution
Coach pushes bunts to different spots. Corners (1B/3B) crash on the bunt, pitcher comes off the mound, catcher is the field general - he can see the whole play. Teach who fields it and who covers the vacated base. Run it with a runner on first, then a runner on second, so they learn where the lead out is.
Coaching Points
  • Catcher calls the base: loud "One!" / "Two!" / "Three!" so the fielder knows where to throw
  • Field the ball with two hands or bare-hand only when it's stopped - no kicking it around
  • When the corner crashes, someone has to cover his base (2B covers first, SS covers third/second)
  • Get the sure out. Only go for the lead runner if you'll clearly beat him
  • Pitcher: field it, turn glove-side to your target, set your feet, throw
Pro Tip
The catcher running the play is the whole drill. If he's quiet, fielders throw to the wrong base. Make him yell the target every single rep.
Fielding Drills