Softball drill

Position-specific catch play

Name: A Throwing Routine For All Youth Baseball Players
Channel: Antonelli Baseball
Description: During warm-up catch, every throw starts with the ball in the glove and the footwork of the player's position: an infielder's funnel and shuffle, an outfielder's step-behind, a catcher's quick pop-up. It turns plain catch into defensive practice.

During warm-up catch, every throw starts with the ball in the glove and the footwork of the player's position: an infielder's funnel and shuffle, an outfielder's step-behind, a catcher's quick pop-up. It turns plain catch into defensive practice.

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

At a glance

Sport: Baseball and Softball
Skill: Throwing
Ages: 6U to High school
Players: 2 per pair (any number of pairs)
Time: About 5 minutes
Level: Beginner
Equipment: Gloves, One ball per pair
Indoors: Yes

Regular catch drifts into flat-footed, lazy throws with the ball already sitting in the throwing hand. Position-specific catch play fixes that with one rule, the ball goes back in the glove before every throw, and one change: each throw uses the footwork and arm action a player needs at their position.

Infielders field an imaginary ground ball, outfielders catch an imaginary fly and step behind, and catchers pop up from a squat with a short throw. Run it in the middle of the throwing warm-up at medium distance, after kneeling or short throws and before long toss.

Setup

Partners stand about 35 to 50 feet apart.
Every rep starts with the ball inside the glove, not in the bare hand.

How to run it

Infielders: drop into a fielding stance with the glove on the ground, bring the ball up to the middle of the body, then right foot, left foot toward the target (lefties the opposite way) and throw.
Outfielders: get under an imaginary fly ball, catch it with the ball in the glove, step behind with the back foot and throw.
Catchers: drop into a squat, ball in the glove, pop up with quick feet and make a short, compact throw.
On every catch, put the ball back in the glove before starting the next rep.
Do a few reps at each position, then spend most of the time at your own position.

Coaching points

Ball back in the glove every time. A game throw always starts with a transfer, so warm-up should too.
Match the arm to the position: short and quick for catchers and infielders, a little longer for outfielders.
Feet move through the target on every throw; nobody throws flat-footed.
Bring the ball to the middle of the chest as the feet line up.

Common mistakes

Catching the ball, taking it out and holding it in the bare hand before starting the footwork.
A long, slow windup on infield or catcher reps.
Standing tall and throwing without setting the feet.

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

Coach pitch and 10U

Everyone does five infield reps and five outfield reps, so every player learns both footwork patterns. Skip the catcher reps for now, or keep them to the squat and pop-up.

12U and up

Work a primary and a second position at game speed. Pitchers can use the infield footwork.

Next: Free defensive lineup generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should players put the ball back in the glove during catch?

Every throw in a game starts with a transfer from the glove to the throwing hand. Starting each warm-up throw from the glove adds dozens of extra transfers to every practice.

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