Throwing... The Key To Defensive Baseball - Part III

Box Drill

Purpose:

1. To develop quick, accurate throws.
2. To emphasize proper throwing mechanics and throwing rhythm.

Procedure:

1. Four players form a box - 60 feet apart for older players - 45 feet apart for little leaguers.
2. Use throw-down bases to simulate a diamond, if needed.
3. Throw the ball around the box/bases clockwise for 30 seconds then switch groups.
4. Have groups throw in counterclockwise direction for variety.
5. For competition, count the number of times each group throws the ball around the box in 30 seconds.

Line Relay Drill

Purpose:

1. To simulate throwing under game conditions.
2. To force the players to throw quickly and accurately while under pressure.
3. To emphasize the proper execution of throwing and relay mechanics.
4. To teach players to turn correctly while making the relay throw.

Procedure:

1. Divide the team into groups of four - (groups of three are okay if necessary, but not ideal.)
2. Place members of each group about 90 feet apart for adults, or 60 feet apart for little leaguers. This will approximate the throwing distance between bases and is about the distance the relay man is from outfielder.
3. Place first man on foul line and place balance of players in the group equal distance apart toward the outfield fence.
4. Individual groups should be as far apart as practical for safety's sake.
5. Infielders should be in middle positions (2 & 3) of lines so as to practice relay moves and throws.
6. Outfielders and catchers should be at end positions (1 & 4).
7. Players at beginning of line have the balls.
8. Begin drill on coach's command.
9. Throw the ball down and back a pre-determined number of times.

If an overthrow occurs or relay man is missed, the ball must be returned and throw made accurately to overthrown player before ball can be advanced.

Winning group is the one that can throw the ball to the end of the line and back (prescribed number of times) the fastest.

Relay man should turn to his "glove hand side" on accurate throws to him, when making his throw to next player.

Do not put all best arms in one line. It destroys competition.

Outfield / Tandem Relay Drill

Purpose:

1. To teach the correct mechanics of the relay throw on extra base hits.
2. To emphasize outfielder throwing accurately to the relay man.
3. To teach Tandem Relay System.

Procedure - This drill (Phase #1 and Phase #2) can be run with both groups throwing at the same time. Or, the groups may alternate - left field group throws first, then right field group throws. This is the safer of the two mechanics and is easier for the coach to supervise and instruct.

Phase #1 -

1. Divide the team into two groups.
2. Place several balls in left center and right center fields.
3. Half of the outfielders in left field and half in right field.
4. Outfielder in left field runs and picks up ball in left center field and throws to relay man (shortstop) who throws to third base - second baseman trails shortstop if Tandem Relay System is used.
5. Outfielder in right field runs and picks up ball in right center field and throws to relay man (second baseman) who throws to the catcher at home plate. First baseman acts as "cut-off man" in line with home plate - shortstop trails second baseman if Tandem Relay System is used.

Phase #2 -

1. Flip flop the drill by having the right-fielder throw to the relay man (second baseman) who throws to third base.
2. Left-fielder throws to relay man (shortstop) who throws to catcher at home plate. First baseman acts as "cut-off man" in line with home plate.
3. First baseman when acting as "cut-off man" on throws from left field must be alert for throws coming from right field to third base to avoid being hit by the ball.
4. Include trailers if Tandem Relay System is used.

Cover Your Bases

Purpose:

1. To emphasize proper throwing techniques.
2. To learn to throw accurately under pressure.
3. To teach infielders to cover their bases when they are not directly involved in the play.
4. To teach communication between infielders.
5. To build throwing confidence.

Procedure:

Variation #1 -

1. Divide team into groups of five.
2. Place infielders and catcher on their bases.
3. Catcher has ball and starts drill.
4. Catcher may throw to any base he chooses.
5. Shortstop and second baseman should be close to second base.
6. Shortstop covers base at start of drill.
7. The second baseman has second base responsibility whenever the third baseman has the ball.
8. The shortstop has second base responsibility whenever the first baseman has the ball.
9. Middle infielders must communicate to determine who has second base responsibility.
10. When the catcher has the ball, second base responsibility belongs to the middle infielder last covering the base, other than when the drill first starts.
11. The player who receives the throw may throw to any base he chooses - receiver at next base will do likewise.
12. Players must be alert and cover their bases so they will not be hit by the ball or have the ball thrown into the outfield.
13. To make drill competitive, have players count the number of throws made successfully during a specified time.
14. Every third throw must be across the diamond, (1-B to 3-B –3-B to 1-B – C to 2-B – 2-B to C), that will keep the players from always making the shortest throw.

Variation #2 -

1. All players in their defensive positions.
2. Coach stands near pitcher's mound and fungoes balls to the outfield - left field first, then center field, then right field.
3. Outfielder fields ball and throws to cut-off or relay man, who then throws to the base that has been pre-determined by the coach.
4. Coach may select to practice any of the various defensive alignments such as: single with nobody on base, single with a runner on first base, an extra base hit with relay to third base, extra base hit with relay to home, etc.
5. Once the ball reaches the appropriate base, the infielder that receives the throw may throw the ball to any base he chooses.
6. The receiver at the next base does likewise, throws wherever he chooses, and the drill continues (same as variation #1) until stopped by the coach.
7. Infielders must be alert and cover their bases so that they will not be hit by the ball or have it thrown into the outfield.
8. This drill (All Cover-Your-Bases Drill) is designed to correct the mistake that many infielders have developed of failing to cover their bases during a game, or when they are not immediately involved in the play.

Variation #3 -

1. Use only the infielders.
2. Drill begins similar to conventional infield practice.
3. Coach fungoes ground ball to third baseman who throws to first base, first baseman throws to catcher, catcher throws ball back to third baseman.
4. Once infielder receives catcher's return throw, he may throw the ball wherever he chooses.
5. Throwing continues (as in other variations) until the coach stops the drill.
6. This drill can be used in conjunction with conventional pre-game infield.

Coaching Key:

Young players often do not know whether to go after the ball or stay on the base. The following "Priority System" should correct this problem.

Priority System:

Number 1 - Ball

Number 2 - Base

Number 3 - Back-up (base, throw)

Communication to player is: Ball! Base! Back-up!

Outfield Throwing (Spice Drill)

Purpose:

1. To develop the outfielder throwing accuracy.
2. To emphasize the importance of throwing the ball low and on the line.
3. To develop the alignment system.
4. To give the outfielder a feeling of importance.

Procedure:

Drill is divided into three sets:

Set 1# -

1. All outfielders are in left field in single file.
2. Infielder and catcher are in their positions.
3. Coach fungoes:
4. A ground ball down the left field line; outfielder throws to second base, then goes to back of line, outfielders throw one at a time.
5. A ground ball to left center field; outfielder throws to second base... then goes to back of line.
6. A ground ball directly to outfielder, who throws home... then goes to back of line.
7. A short, routine, fly ball directly to outfielder, who throws home... then goes to back of line.
8. Outfielders rotate to center field after last outfielder throws.
9. After infielder receives throw, ball may be thrown around infield in any manner coach decides. This prevents infielders from standing around when throw is not made to their base.

Set 2# - Center field

1. All outfielders in center field in single file.
2. Infielders and catchers in their positions.
3. Coach fungoes:
4. A ground ball to left center field; outfielder throws to third base... then goes to back of line.
5. A ground ball to right center field; outfielder throws to third base... then goes to back of line.
6. A ground ball directly to outfielder, who throws to home plate... then goes to back of line.
7. A short, routine, fly ball directly to outfielder, who throws to home plate... then goes to back of line.

Set 3# -

1. Outfielder in right field in single file.
2. Infielders and catchers in their positions.
3. Coach fungoes:
4. A ground ball directly to outfielder, who throws to third base... then goes to back of line.
5. A ground ball to outfielder, who throws to home plate... then goes to back of line.
6. A short, routine, fly ball directly to outfielder, who throws to home plate... then goes to back of line.

Infielders should line up throws in whatever manner or alignment system the coach chooses.

Inside/Outside Concept -

To minimize the chances of hitting the runner with the thrown ball, this simple concept must be understood.

Inside/outside concept means that the thrower and the receiver visualize an imaginary line running between the bases. If the thrower is behind this line the receiver should receive the throw on the outside of the base. For example, if the ball is hit to the first baseman back of base line (outside) shortstop should be to the right field side of base to receive the throw. If ball to first baseman is inside the base line then throw to shortstop must be inside, with shortstop tagging second base with his left foot. This same concept is true for throws at all bases.

An inside/outside concept prevents throwing across, or into the runner.

Conclusion -

With the proper knowledge of the mechanics of throwing, complemented by good body rhythm a player's throwing will become more accurate and consistent making his defensive play an asset rather than a liability to the team.