Three cone tag drill

At a glance

Sport

Baseball and Softball

Skill

Infield

Ages

10U to High school

Players

2 (a thrower and a fielder)

Time

About 10 minutes

Level

Intermediate

Equipment

Gloves, Three cones, A bucket of balls

Indoors

Yes

A tag play is two skills in a row: catch the throw, then put the glove down where the runner's foot or hand will be. Young infielders often try to do both at once, swiping at the runner before the ball is secure. This drill slows that down and repeats it, with cones in place of bases so it can be run anywhere.

Moving from one cone to the next also makes the fielder get to the bag, set up and find the throw, the way a middle infielder covers second on a steal. It is quick, needs two players and takes up very little space, so it suits a gym in the winter.

Setup

• Set three cones in a triangle, about 10 to 15 feet apart.
• The thrower stands about 20 to 30 feet away with a bucket of balls, where they can see all three cones.
• The fielder starts beside one of the cones.

How to run it

1. The fielder moves to the first cone and sets up with the feet around it, facing the thrower.
2. The thrower makes a firm throw to the fielder as they arrive.
3. The fielder catches the ball, then drops the glove straight down to the base of the cone for the tag.
4. The fielder pulls the glove back up and away, as if clearing a sliding runner, then moves on to the next cone.
5. Go around the triangle two or three times, then switch roles.

Coaching points

• Catch first, then tag. A tag without the ball is no out.
• Let the ball come to the glove instead of reaching out for it, which drags the glove away from the base.
• Drop the tag straight down to the base, where the runner will be, rather than sweeping it across.
• Hold the ball tight in the glove during the tag, with the back of the glove facing the runner.
• Get to each cone and set the feet before the throw arrives.

Common mistakes

• Sweeping at the cone before the ball is caught.
• Reaching up the line for the throw and then lunging back to tag.
• Taking the eyes off the ball to look at the base.
• Leaving the glove on the base after the tag, which is where a sliding runner kicks it.

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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