How to Coach Drills for Baseball Catching
Coaching young players how to play baseball can be challenging. Many youngsters are excited with the idea of playing baseball, but it may be difficult to learn some of the skills of the game. To help players learn how to catch a baseball, stay calm, clear and concise when instructing them how to catch. Try to make each drill fun and a bit of a game when teaching them this important fundamental.
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Instructions
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Play the alligator drill with young players when teaching them to catch ground balls. It's important for players to catch the ball with two hands. Show players how to put their glove on the ground with the palm facing upward when a ground ball is hit their way. As soon as the ball hits the glove, the throwing hand comes down on the ball. The reason it is called the alligator drill is that the action of the throwing hand coming down on the ball to make sure it doesn't fall out of the glove is similar to the way an alligator's jaw comes down on its prey. Count how many times out of 10 grounders the infielders can catch the ball without dropping it.
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Have six players form a semicircle on the field. Give the ball to one player. Ask that player to throw the ball to a random player in the circle. This will teach the players to stay alert when catching a baseball. This is a very important drill because there are many times in a game when a player will have to wait a long time before getting a play. This teaches a player to be alert.
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Play over or under with your players. Teach players that when they are trying to catch a ball that is below their waist to turn their fingers toward the ground. When the ball is coming in over waist level, their fingers should be turned upward. Give each player a point during practice when she catches the ball the correct way. The player with the most points gets recognized as a winner and gets a cheer from her teammates.
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Have players use a whiffle ball and their bare hands to have a game of catch. Using a plastic whiffle ball will take away the fear factor that so many young players have when they first start to play. They will soon recognize that it's easy to catch when the fear factor is removed. Have players line up 15 feet from each other and play catch barehanded. In about 10 minutes, they will be much improved at catching the ball, and then they will have more confidence catching a baseball.
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