Team Defense Drill: Situational Team Defense Practice (Baseball & Softball)
Pre-scripted defensive scenarios with placed runners to practice alignments, covers, and throws.
How to Run This Drill
- Setup:
- - Place runners at appropriate bases for each scenario
- - Use cones or markers for positioning reference
- - Have extra balls ready for quick transitions
- 1. Announce the Situation Clearly
- - State outs, runners on base, score if relevant
- - Example: "Runner on first, nobody out"
- - Let defense set up and communicate
- - Give 10-15 seconds for defensive positioning
- 2. Execute the Play
- - Coach hits or throws ball to specific location
- - Can hit to outfield (LF/CF/RF) or infield positions
- - Runners go live and defense executes
- - All coverages and backups must be made
- 3. Freeze and Teach
- - Freeze play for 5-10 seconds after completion
- - Quick coaching points on positioning and execution
- - Who should have been where?
- - Were backups and coverages correct?
- 4. Rerun at Game Speed
- - Same scenario, same hit location
- - This time defense should execute perfectly
- - Emphasize game speed and crisp throws
- - Move to next scenario
- Key Scenarios to Practice:
- - Runner on 1st, 0 outs (focus on double play)
- - Runner on 2nd, 0 outs (focus on keeping runner at 2nd)
- - Runners on 1st and 3rd, less than 2 outs
- - Fly balls to outfield with runner tagging
Coaching Points
- Call the situation loudly before every rep
- Everyone has a role - cover, backup, or cutoff
- Throws go through the relay/cutoff head
- Keep freeze brief - teach quickly and rerun
- Communication is critical - call everything
- Match game intensity and urgency
At a Glance
- bases
- cones
- fungo-bat
- baseballs or softballs
Quick Actions
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