Baseball drill
Foul line fielding drill
Fielders work down a row of balls set on a foul line, approaching each one from the right of the line and stepping across it as they field. It teaches the curved approach that puts an infielder's momentum toward first base.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Infield
- Ages
- 10U to High school
- Players
- 1 to 12 (one line, or several lines on different lines)
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Level
- Beginner
- Equipment
- Gloves, Four to six balls per line, A foul line, a chalk line or tape on a gym floor
- Indoors
- Yes
Many young infielders run straight at a ground ball. They end up fielding it with their momentum going toward home plate and have to stop, turn and throw. Coming at the ball on a slight curve, from the throwing-hand side, lets them field it moving toward first base and see the hops better along the way.
A painted line makes the path easy to see. The balls on the line stay still, so the fielder can think about the feet without worrying about the catch, and a whole team can go through it in a few minutes. It is a good early-season and indoor station.
Setup
- Use a foul line outdoors or a strip of tape indoors.
- Set four to six balls on the line, about three strides apart.
- Players line up behind the first ball, standing on the line. Directions are for a right-handed thrower; a lefty mirrors them.
How to run it
- The fielder steps off to the right of the line and walks or jogs toward the first ball, staying on that side.
- As they reach the ball, they curve in and step across the line with the left foot, fielding the ball out in front of that foot.
- They come up into a throwing motion toward an imaginary first base.
- They put the ball back on the line, or leave it for the next player, and move on to the next ball.
- Once the footwork is clean, a coach kneels at the end of the line and rolls a live ball after the last stationary one, and the fielder uses the same approach on it.
Coaching points
- Approach on a slight curve, like the shape of a banana, not straight down the line.
- Field the ball on the glove side of the body, out in front of the left foot.
- The last two steps are right, then left: the left foot crosses the line as the glove reaches the ball.
- Stay low with the chest over the toes, and keep the feet moving through the catch rather than stopping on top of the ball.
Common mistakes
- Walking straight down the line, right on top of the balls.
- Fielding the ball between the feet instead of out in front of the glove-side foot.
- Stopping dead at each ball, which kills the momentum the drill is trying to build.
- Bending at the waist to reach the stationary balls instead of bending the knees.
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 cardSmaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).
By age
10U
Walk it first, slowly, so players see how they get off the line and come back across it.
12U
Jog it and make the move from the catch to the throwing motion smooth and quick.
14U and up
Go at game speed with no pauses between balls, and finish with the live rolled ball and a real throw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should infielders get around the ground ball?
Coming at the ball on a slight curve lets the fielder see the hops from the side and catch it with their body already moving toward first base, which makes a quicker and stronger throw.
More drills
Start free. Upgrade when your season needs it.
The free plan includes one team and one of each document type, with no license fee and no credit card. Paid plans start at $2.50 a month billed annually, cancel anytime.
No credit card required. Free plan available.