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Baseball drill

Turn and find the ball drill

Outfielders start turned away from the coach, lying on their stomach or with their eyes closed, then react on a call, find a ball already in the air and get under it. It builds the quick ball-finding an outfielder needs off the bat.

A youth baseball outfielder twisting back over the shoulder to find a ball a coach has just tossed up from a bucket
Video by Baseball Canada on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport
Baseball and Softball
Skill
Outfield
Ages
10U to High school
Players
A small group in a line, one coach
Time
About 10 minutes
Level
Intermediate
Equipment
Gloves, A bucket of balls
Indoors
Needs a field

An outfielder has only a moment to pick up the ball off the bat. Players who are slow to find it either freeze or start running before they know where it is going. This drill takes that moment away on purpose: the ball is already in the air when the player turns around, so the eyes have to find it fast.

The video shows three starting positions, from easiest to hardest: turned away from the coach, lying on the stomach, and facing the coach with the eyes closed. It needs only a coach and a bucket, and it moves quickly with a short line of players.

Setup

  • The coach stands about 15 to 20 feet in front of a short line of outfielders, with a bucket of balls.
  • The first player takes the starting position for the round: facing away, on the stomach or with eyes closed.
  • Leave clear space around the player so they can move in any direction.

How to run it

  1. The coach tosses a ball high into the air.
  2. The coach calls out, and the player turns around, gets up, or opens their eyes.
  3. The player finds the ball in the air before moving, then moves the feet to get under it.
  4. The player sets up in a balanced position and catches the ball, with two hands when possible.
  5. The player tosses the ball back and goes to the end of the line. Change the starting position each round.

Coaching points

  • Eyes first, feet second. Find the ball, then go.
  • Get to the spot and set the feet before the ball arrives rather than reaching or lunging.
  • Use two hands on the catch whenever the ball allows it.
  • Vary the height and direction of the toss so players cannot guess where it will be.

Common mistakes

  • Running before finding the ball, then having to change direction.
  • Catching off balance or flat-footed after drifting to the ball.
  • Turning around slowly because the player waits to hear the call twice.

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

10U

Stay with the turned-away start and keep the tosses fairly high and close so players have time to find the ball.

12U and 14U

Add the stomach and eyes-closed starts, and toss the ball higher and a little away so the player has to move to it.

High school

Delay the call until the ball is near its peak, which leaves less time to find it and get under it.

Next: Free defensive lineup generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you teach outfielders to find the ball faster?

Give them reps where the ball is already in the air when they look up, as in this drill, so finding it quickly becomes a habit. Mix in real fly balls off a bat so the read starts at contact.

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