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Baseball drill

Three-step throwing drill

A first throwing lesson in three counts: grip the ball, separate the hands up and back, then step and throw hard into a net. It gives tee ball and coach pitch players a simple routine they can repeat on their own.

A young baseball player sideways to a throwing net with the ball up and back as a kneeling coach behind watches the throwing elbow
Video by GoDog Sports on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport
Baseball and Softball
Skill
Throwing
Ages
6U
Players
1 per net (run several nets, or a coach with 2 or 3 players)
Time
About 10 minutes
Level
Beginner
Equipment
Gloves, A bucket of balls (soft balls indoors), A throwing net, screen or fence
Indoors
Yes

Most five- and six-year-olds throw one of two ways: they push the ball from the ear, or they lob it softly so nobody gets hurt. Neither one teaches them anything. Splitting the throw into three short counts gives a young player one thing to think about at a time, and gives the coach a place to stop and check.

Throwing into a net matters as much as the counts. With no partner on the other end, there is nobody to hit and nothing to drop, so kids are willing to reach back and let the ball go. Run it as a station on the first days of the season, and come back to it whenever a player's throw falls apart.

Setup

  • Set a net, screen or fence about 15 to 20 feet in front of the player. Older or stronger kids can back up a few feet.
  • Put a bucket of balls next to the coach so the reps keep coming.
  • Stand the player sideways to the net, feet about shoulder width apart, glove shoulder pointing at the target.

How to run it

  1. Count one, the grip: fingers on top of the ball across a seam, thumb underneath. Check it before every throw for the first few rounds.
  2. Count two, up and back: the hands break apart, the glove arm reaches toward the net and the throwing hand goes back and up, with the elbow at shoulder height.
  3. Hold count two for a second while the coach checks the elbow and the front arm.
  4. Count three, the throw: step toward the net, pull the glove into the chest and throw the ball hard into the net.
  5. Reset sideways and go again. Eight to ten throws, then the next player steps in.

Coaching points

  • Thumb under the ball, not on the side. A ball held in the palm cannot be thrown well by small hands.
  • Start sideways. If the chest and toes face the net before the throw starts, the shoulders cannot turn.
  • The throwing hand reaches all the way back and up. A short, low arm is where pushing starts.
  • Pull the glove in to the chest as the arm comes through, so the body turns instead of falling off to the side.
  • Ask for a hard throw. The net is there so they can throw it as hard as they like.

Common mistakes

  • Squeezing the ball in the palm with the thumb on the side.
  • Turning to face the net before count two, which leaves only the arm to throw with.
  • Bringing the arm back low and short, with the elbow below the shoulder.
  • Slowing the arm down to aim. Accuracy comes later; at this age the habit to build is a full, firm throw.

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

Tee ball

Let small hands use three or four fingers on top. The two things that matter are the thumb underneath and the hand reaching all the way back. Say the counts out loud together.

Coach pitch

Move toward a two- or three-finger grip across the seams, and blend the three counts into one smooth throw once the pause at count two looks right.

Next: Free defensive lineup generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should a young child grip a baseball?

Fingers on top across a seam and the thumb directly underneath. Small hands can use three or four fingers on top; what matters most is that the ball is held in the fingers, not squeezed in the palm.

How do I stop young kids from lobbing the ball?

Take the partner away. Have them throw into a net or fence from 15 to 20 feet. With no one to hit, most kids will reach back and throw hard.

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