Outfield Drill: 12-Step Cone Drill (Baseball & Softball)
A 5-cone drill covering all 12 outfield movements a player will face in a game. Uses 4 cones in a square (15 strides apart) plus a center cone to practice fly balls, ground balls, line drives, shoestring catches, over-the-head balls, and the speed turn.
How to Run This Drill
- SETUP: Place 4 cones in a square about 15 strides apart. Put a 5th cone in the center of the square. Player starts at the bottom right cone. Coach positions below the bottom left cone. Adjust spacing based on age and ability - give enough room for players to reach full speed.
- Step 1 - Fly ball opening right: Player starts in athletic ready position on the balls of their feet. Coach signals a fly ball to the back-left cone. Player drop steps, opens hips cleanly with no false steps, chest gets going, arms pump. Coach throws a simulated fly ball. Player adjusts in the air, works behind the ball, and catches in front of the bill of the hat on the center-to-throwing-hand side. Work through the baseball into transition.
- Step 2 - Ground ball (left side): Player stays at the top-left cone, setting up slightly inside and behind the cone. Player jab steps right to clear the cone and create their first angle. Coach rolls a ground ball. Player breaks down: on the balls of the feet, legs bent, hinge at the waist, eyes behind the ball, glove out front with fingertips down. Field off the glove-hand foot, gather to center, step into transition.
- Step 3 - Fly ball opening left: Player moves to the bottom-left cone. Coach moves below the bottom-right cone. Mirrors Step 1 to the opposite side. Player opens to the left, works to the back-right cone, adjusts to the fly ball, gets behind it, and works through it transitioning toward the target.
- Step 4 - Ground ball (right side): Player stays at the top-right cone, setting up inside the cone. Mirrors Step 2 to the opposite side. Jab step to the left, create angle, field the ground ball, gather to center, transition.
- Step 5 - Line drive on the run (right): Player at the bottom-right cone. Coach below the bottom-left cone. Same angle as Step 1, but now the ball is a line drive that the player must catch while running. Player stays athletic and does NOT run with the glove up. Reaches for the ball only when it is time to catch, gets feet under them, and transitions. Right-handed throwers plant to simulate the throw. Left-handed throwers catch and spin out since the ball takes them away.
- Step 6 - Hard ground ball direct: Player at the top-left cone, starting outside the cone and moving directly at the coach. Emphasis on eliminating false steps - the first step must go directly to the baseball. Player attacks the ball aggressively, does NOT break down. Catches on the run (short hop, shoestring, whatever the coach gives), fields clean, gathers into transition.
- Step 7 - Line drive on the run (left): Mirrors Step 5 to the opposite side. Player catches a line drive moving to the left at full speed. Right-handed throwers catch and spin out. Left-handed throwers catch, plant, and throw.
- Step 8 - Low line drive / shoestring catch: Player at the top-right cone, starting outside, coming straight at the coach who is below the bottom-right cone. Ball is at or below the waist. Player must be in a good base with no wasted movement when breaking for the ball. Forces full speed, eyes down behind the ball, glove awareness, knowing when to turn the glove over, and staying athletic through the catch.
- Step 9 - Fly ball directly overhead: Player returns to the bottom-right cone. Coach sets up directly below to give space. Ball is thrown directly over the player's head. Key: open to the glove side on a ball directly overhead for better visuals and reach. Player sinks and opens their hips to create a good drop step, stays in their legs to reach full speed, works to the spot without drifting, adjusts to the ball in the air, and catches into transition.
- Step 10 - Ground ball around the center cone: Player stays at the top-right cone. Coach moves to the center cone and rolls a ground ball to the opposite side of the player. This creates a wider angle, forcing the player to get around the baseball. Player attacks the angle with their first step, keeps feet under control to get around the center cone, fields the ball with their body working toward the coach as target, into transition.
- Step 11 - Speed turn: Player at the bottom-left cone. Coach throws a fly ball slightly further than before so the player must catch it fully on the run. This is the speed turn - the most challenging step. Player opens glove side, gets eyes up, and the coach throws to the opposite shoulder. Goal: stay in line, stay at full speed and balanced, head on a swivel, transition the eyes and chin from one shoulder to the other, and catch the ball without the body getting out of line or slowing down. Coaches can vary this step: glove-side speed turn, throwing-hand-side speed turn, mix it up as needed.
- Step 12 - Ground ball around the center cone (opposite side): Mirrors Step 10 on the other side. Player at the top-left cone. Coach in the center. Player works back toward the center cone, attacks the angle, breaks down, gets feet under them and in control, fields clean, gathers to center, transitions.
Coaching Points
- No false steps - the first step must always go directly toward the ball. Being out of an athletic base causes false steps.
- Drop step by sinking and opening the hips - do not just lean back. Stay in the legs to get to full speed.
- Catch fly balls in front of the bill of the hat on the center-to-throwing-hand side of the body, then work through the baseball.
- On hard ground balls coming straight at you, attack and catch on the run - do not break down. Attack the short hop or shoestring.
- Stay athletic through the catch on line drives - do not run with the glove up the whole time. Reach when it is time.
- Field routine ground balls off the glove-hand foot, gather to center before throwing.
- Speed turn: head on a swivel, eyes and chin go from one shoulder to the other. Stay in line and at full speed - do not let the body break straight or drift.
- Variations: (1) 75% speed with no baseball to lock in footwork first, (2) full speed with a baseball as shown, (3) advanced - no glove, catch tennis balls bare-handed to force athleticism and proper positioning.
Quick Actions
At a Glance
Categories
Outfield
Focus Areas
RoutesFootworkFly Balls
Age Groups
11-1213-1415-1617-1818+
Players
1-2 players
Difficulty
intermediate
Equipment Needed
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