Outfield Drill: Mind the Gap (Baseball & Softball)
Two outfielders break on the same ball hit into the gap between them. One calls it, the other backs it up, and both rotate through each role.
How to Run This Drill
- Set two cones in the outfield about thirty feet apart and split the group into two lines, one behind each cone
- Stand between the cones and about twenty feet away with a ball
- One line works as the primary fielder and the other line as the backup
- The first player in each line gets into ready position
- Lob a ball high and directly into the gap between the two cones
- Both players break toward the ball and the primary fielder calls for it out loud
- The backup peels out of the way but stays behind the play in case the ball is dropped
- Whoever comes up with the ball throws it back before the next pair goes
- Run it until everyone has played both roles, then swap the lines and play again
Coaching Points
- There is no such thing as calling too loudly for a ball
- Two silent fielders collide and the ball drops, the call is what makes the play
- The backup's job does not end when someone else calls it, stay behind the play until it is caught
- A real ballpark is loud with parents and coaches, so the call has to carry over that
Quick Actions
At a Glance
Equipment Needed
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