Softball drill
Retrieve and throw drill
Outfielders sprint back to a ball sitting in the grass, pick it up while planting the back foot, and throw it right away to the infield with no crow hop. It builds the quick pickup and release that keeps runners from taking an extra base.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Outfield
- Ages
- 8U to 14U
- Players
- 2 or more (outfielders and a receiver in the infield)
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Level
- Intermediate
- Equipment
- Gloves, Balls
- Indoors
- Needs a field
When a ball rolls past an outfielder or stops in the grass, the runner is watching. Every extra step between the pickup and the throw gives them time to take another base. Outfielders who pick the ball up, stand, take a crow hop and then throw are giving away that time.
This drill puts a ball on the ground behind the outfielder and asks for a fast sprint, a pickup with the feet already set, and a throw. It needs nothing but balls and a teammate to throw to, and it is easy to run with the outfielders while the infield works on something else.
Setup
- Place a ball on the grass in the outfield.
- The outfielder stands several yards in front of it, facing the infield.
- A coach or teammate stands in the infield to receive the throw.
How to run it
- On the coach's call, the outfielder turns and sprints back to the ball.
- Near the ball, the player shortens the steps and gets low.
- The player picks the ball up while planting the back foot, the throwing-side foot.
- With no extra steps and no crow hop, the player turns and throws to the receiver.
- The player follows the throw and returns to the start as the next ball is set out.
Coaching points
- Turn and sprint. This is a race to the ball.
- The back foot plants as the ball is picked up, so the body is ready to throw.
- Skip the crow hop. The point here is the quick release, not the long throw.
- Stay low and balanced through the pickup.
Common mistakes
- Adding steps or a crow hop after the pickup.
- Not planting the back foot, which leads to a weak, off-balance throw.
- Slowing down too early on the way to the ball.
- Standing straight up before throwing.
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
8U
Keep the ball close and the throw short. Walk through the plant-and-pick before going full speed.
10U
Put the ball farther back and look for the plant and pickup happening together.
12U and up
Run it at game speed and time it from the call to the throw, and roll the ball so it is still moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should an outfielder always crow hop before throwing?
No. A crow hop adds power for long throws, but on a ball they have to chase down with a runner going, a quick plant-and-throw to the cutoff is often faster.
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