Baseball drill

Alligator traps drill

Name: 10 Best Baseball Fielding Drills for Kids | Fun Youth Baseball Drills From the MOJO App
Channel: yougotmojo
Description: Young players take turns fielding rolled ground balls and snapping the bare hand down over the glove, like an alligator closing its mouth. It teaches beginners to field with two hands and keep the glove on the ground.

Young players take turns fielding rolled ground balls and snapping the bare hand down over the glove, like an alligator closing its mouth. It teaches beginners to field with two hands and keep the glove on the ground.

Video by yougotmojo on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport: Baseball and Softball
Skill: Infield
Ages: 6U to 10U
Players: 3 to 5 per line (run more than one line with more coaches)
Time: About 10 minutes
Level: Beginner
Equipment: Gloves, A bucket of balls (soft balls for tee ball)
Indoors: Yes

The alligator is the picture most youth coaches use for two-handed fielding: the glove is the bottom jaw, open on the ground, and the throwing hand is the top jaw that snaps down once the ball is in. Little kids remember a picture far better than a list of instructions.

This is a first-week drill for tee ball and coach pitch, and a good warm-up for older beginners. The coach rolls the ball, so every rep is a good one, and a line of four or five players keeps everyone close and moving.

Setup

Players stand in a line facing the coach, about 10 to 15 feet away.
The coach has a bucket of balls. Each player has a glove.
Show the alligator first: glove open with the fingers on the ground, throwing hand held above it.

How to run it

The first player steps forward into a ready position with knees bent and glove down.
The coach rolls a ground ball right at them.
The player fields it out in front and snaps the throwing hand down on top of the ball to close the trap.
The player throws or rolls it back to the coach and goes to the back of the line.
After a few rounds, roll the ball a step to the left or right so players have to move to it.

Coaching points

The glove is open and touching the ground before the ball arrives. It is easier to come up than to go down.
The top jaw closes as soon as the ball is in the glove.
Eyes on the ball until it is trapped.
Stay low through the catch, bending the knees rather than the waist.

Common mistakes

Fielding with the glove hand only and leaving the throwing hand behind the back or at the side.
Lifting the glove off the ground early, so the ball rolls under it.
Looking at the coach or the next player before the ball is trapped.

Printable drill card

Take this drill to the field: the setup, steps, coaching points and equipment on one card, with the video's address to find it again. Free, no account needed.

Print the drill card

Smaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).

By age

Tee ball

Use soft balls and slow rolls. Make the alligator sound if it helps; the snap of two hands is the whole lesson.

Coach pitch

Roll a little harder and add a quick throw back to the coach after the trap.

10U

Roll the ball to either side so players move their feet, and add a throw to a base.

Next: Free defensive lineup generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if a young player is scared of the ball?

Switch to a soft ball or a tennis ball and roll it slowly from closer. Most kids lose the fear quickly once they catch a few in a row.

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