Bat barrel glove position drill

At a glance

Sport

Baseball and Softball

Skill

Catching the ball

Ages

6U to 10U

Players

2 (a coach and a player)

Time

About 5 minutes

Level

Beginner

Equipment

A glove, A bat, broomstick or foam stick

Indoors

Yes

Telling a young player to turn the glove over on the throwing-hand side rarely works, because they cannot picture it. Holding the end of a bat at that spot and asking them to cover it with the pocket shows them. The bat stands in for the ball, it stays still, and the coach can see and fix the angle at each spot.

The drill takes a few minutes, needs no throwing at all, and works for a player who is scared of the ball. Use it to set up a catching session, then toss balls to the same spots.

Setup

• The player stands in a ready position with the glove on.
• The coach stands a step or two away, holding a bat by the handle with the barrel pointed at the player.

How to run it

1. Hold the barrel at chest height on the glove side. The player puts the glove pocket over the end of the bat.
2. Move the barrel to the throwing-hand side at chest height. The player turns the glove over, thumb down, so the pocket still faces the barrel.
3. Drop the barrel low on each side. The player bends the knees and turns the fingers down.
4. Hold it right in front of the chest and face, and check that the fingers point up rather than the glove scooping palm up.
5. Call spots at random and move the barrel quickly; the player snaps the glove to it at the right angle.

Coaching points

• Above the waist, the glove fingers point up or out, never flat like a basket.
• On the throwing-hand side, the elbow lifts and the wrist turns so the pocket faces the barrel.
• Below the waist, bend the knees to get the eyes down with the ball.
• When the angle is wrong, stop and turn the player's glove on the barrel so they feel it.

Common mistakes

• Reaching for low spots by bending at the waist with straight legs.
• Turning the head away on the throwing-hand side.
• Moving the barrel too fast before the player has the positions.

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.

Smaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).

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Frequently Asked Questions

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