Practice ideas

DD practices w/ me just about every day after school, usually for 60 to 90 minutes. Need some ideas on spicing up the defensive training for an outfielder.

What she does is pretty basic - Lots of repetition of taking fly balls, liners, short-hops, grounders in the grass, 'do-or-die' scoop-and-throws. Not a lot of creative drills. I do throw the football at her as a fun way to help her learn to track balls running away from the ''batter,'' ie, over her shoulder.

Suggestions? What are the best drills for outfielders that would make it a little different and still productive?

PS - I should add that she's going to a important prospects camp this weekend, so might be good to anticipate and prepare for what she might get there.

Sounds like you got most of it covered. I do like scoop an shoot to a target at home plate. Fly balls working on moving into the ball toward the target as she catches the ball. See lots of girls standing flat footed while catching the ball

shaker1 said:

Fly balls working on moving into the ball toward the target as she catches the ball. See lots of girls standing flat footed while catching the ball

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That's a good one. Certainly a focal point while doing some of the usual.

Was thinking about some drills using cones, where she's looking for the thrown ball. Just want it to be something beneficial and not something I invented just to flatter myself.

When I practice OF with DD I always put cones on the field, I yell out to her what cone she needs to throw it to.

If you have access to a machine that will consistently put a ball in the same place, give her a handful of cones. She starts at the cone to catch the ball. If she catches it move the cone farther away, if she catches the ball, etc. See how far she can get the cones away from where the ball is landing.

We like running two machines side by side, one throws right, one left, the fielder doesn't know which machine the ball gets dropped. Also use the same idea with a semi short line drive right at them and line drive over their heads to get that first step correct at tracking these balls. It is nicer seeing the hit off a bat than a machine but I can't do the accuracy for each hit like I can dial in with the machines.

A machine is on my wish list. Used to have access to one at a park where we once lived.

You don't say the age, but at younger ages a great drill that someone taught me was to hit tennis balls with a tennis racket. Have the kid or kids wear a batting helmet and try and have the ball bounce off the top of their heads. Even better if they can have it bounce up and catch it. You can hit some really high ones and make them move a little.

Do you do drills against the fence? That seems to big at every camp/workout we've done...

iMlearning said:

Do you do drills against the fence? That seems to big at every camp/workout we've done...

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Good idea. We don't do that specifically. When she takes flies, it's with a fence at her back. I do like the idea of working in game conditions and having her comfortable with fences. But as far as drills that have her specifically work on that, no. I'll try that this week.

Wanted to follow up and say I took iMlearning's advice and did some fence drills today w/ DD, and she enjoyed it and got something out of it. Really working to get her more comfortable with fences. It's part of the job as an outfielder. She's not bad with it, but a little timid when it's real chain-link fences. Getting better.

One thing she can't do is dive. ... Well, she can dive and has caught balls after leaving her feet, but not a full layout where she's sliding on her chest. (I don't blame her, I couldn't demonstrate it if she asked me too.) Short of a matress to dive on, not sure how to teach that. Might require the high motivation of a game for her to let instincts take over. I really wonder if diving isn't slightly overrated any way. Once you get older and all three outfielders can run pretty good, there aren't that many opportunities, and some of those opportunities are highly risky.