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Softball drill

Fly ball bucket drill

Instead of catching, the outfielder runs to where a tossed fly ball will land and sets a bucket down on the spot before it comes down. It trains reading the ball's flight and getting to the spot early.

A youth softball outfielder with no glove setting an empty bucket on the grass under a high fly ball tossed by a coach
Video by Dominate The Diamond on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport
Baseball and Softball
Skill
Outfield
Ages
10U to High school
Players
2 (a coach and a player), or a short line
Time
About 10 minutes
Level
Intermediate
Equipment
An empty bucket, Soft balls or baseballs/softballs, Gloves (not needed for the drill itself)
Indoors
Yes

Catching a fly ball is mostly about getting to the right place. A player who reads the ball well can arrive early, set the feet and make an easy catch. A player who reads it poorly drifts, reaches and misses. Because young players think about the catch, it is hard to see how well they read the ball.

This drill takes the catch out. The player carries a bucket and has to put it down where the ball will land, then step back and watch. The result is obvious to everyone, which makes it a good teaching drill and a fun contest. With soft balls it runs in a gym, which makes it a useful winter drill.

Setup

  • The coach stands with a bucket of balls. The player starts 30 to 40 feet away, holding an empty bucket.
  • Use soft balls indoors or with younger players, since nobody is catching them.
  • Clear the space around the landing area so the player can run in any direction.

How to run it

  1. The coach tosses a high fly ball into the open space, varying direction and depth.
  2. The player reads the ball and runs to where it will come down.
  3. The player sets the bucket on the ground on that spot and steps back before the ball lands.
  4. Everyone watches where the ball lands. A ball that hits the bucket or lands right beside it is a win.
  5. The player brings back the ball and the bucket, and the next player goes. Keep score if you like.

Coaching points

  • Take a direct route to the spot rather than a curved one.
  • Get there early and wait. The bucket has to be down before the ball arrives.
  • Make the first step quick and in the right direction.
  • Keep the eyes on the ball while running, not on the bucket.

Common mistakes

  • Misjudging depth, coming up short or running past the spot. Depth is the hardest read, so give extra reps on balls straight in and straight back.
  • Drifting slowly toward the ball instead of running to the spot.
  • Dropping the bucket while still moving rather than stopping first.

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

10U and 12U

Start with shorter, predictable tosses so players can succeed, then spread them out.

14U and up

Toss higher and farther, and move to fungoes outdoors so the read starts off a bat.

Next: Free defensive lineup generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you teach kids to judge fly balls?

Give them reps where the only job is getting to the spot, like this bucket drill, so they can see right away whether they read the ball correctly. Add the catch back once they get there early.

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