Fielding Drill: Alligator Hands Grounders (Baseball & Softball)

Setup: - Partners 10-15 feet apart facing each other - Mark lanes with cones if working with multiple pairs - Use soft or practice baseballs for safety with beginners 1. Teach the Alligator Concept - Glove hand out front, palm up (bottom jaw) - Throwing hand above glove, palm down (top jaw) - When ball enters, hands clamp together like alligator mouth - This prevents ball from popping out 2. Athletic Stance and Ready Position - Feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent - Weight on balls of feet, not heels - Glove should be out front, not pulled back to body - Eyes behind the ball - watch it all the way in 3. Center Feeds (8-10 reps) - Partner rolls slow grounders directly at player - Player fields with alligator hands at centerline of body - Secure ball to chest/centerline before throwing - Step and throw to partner's chest 4. Forehand Feeds (5-8 reps) - Partner rolls grounders to glove-hand side - Player shuffles to get centered behind ball - Still field at centerline with proper technique - Focus on footwork to get body in position 5. Backhand Feeds (5-8 reps) - Partner rolls grounders to throwing-hand side - Player moves feet to get centered - Same alligator technique applies - Emphasize moving feet, not reaching

• Glove out front always - do not pull back to body
• Eyes behind the ball - watch it into the glove
• Secure to centerline before making throw
• Throw through big target - partner chest
• Move feet to center ball - do not just reach
• Two hands on every ground ball at this age