Baseball Situation Drills
Situational drills in baseball are meant to highlight special circumstances that occur during the course of a baseball game. Preparing your players for these instances will improve their baseball IQ. Working on these drills will help your team win.
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Squeeze Play Drill
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A squeeze play is executed by the offense when a runner is on third base, and the batter bunts the ball to the infield. The runner on third base run and tries to "squeeze" past home plate before the infielder can field the ball and throw it to the catcher to apply the tag. Instruct the defense to bring the first and third basemen in so that they are about 75 feet from home plate. Instruct a runner to stand on third base and a batter to step into the box. The pitcher should throw different pitches as if it was a live game situation. The batter should try bunting the ball to different parts of the infield. Once the batter makes contact the runner should break toward home and the defense should try and field the baseball and complete the play. Rotate players at first and third base, as well as the batter and runner. Note that the runner should never slide into the catcher because it is practice. Instruct the runner to run outside of the line so that he does not collide and injure himself or the catcher.
Double-Play Drills
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A double play occurs when the defense records two outs on one play. Getting a double play from a ground ball is a skill which should be continually practiced by your baseball team. Instruct the infield to take the field as they normally would. Place base runners on first, first and second or first second and third. Hit ground balls to various parts of the infield and work on turning double plays. Before hitting each ball, ask the players where the play is based on the situation of the game. For instance, if a runner is on first with no outs, a double play will be turned by forcing the runner at second and first. If the bases are loaded and the game is close, then the play would be at home plate first, and then first base. If the game is not close, a team may opt to give up a run in return for turning that double play. Switch out both fielders and runners so they all get turns at turning situational double plays.
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Tagging Up
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In a close game, scoring or advancing a runner by tagging up could be the difference between a win and a loss. Set your defense as if it was a live game. Place a runner on second and third. Hit baseballs to the outfield in the air. When they are caught the runners on second and third base should try and advance. The outfield must work with the infield at relaying the ball back to the infield and getting a tag out at third base or home plate. The infielders, specifically the first baseman, second baseman or short-stop should take their appropriate position to relay the throw from the outfielder to third base or home plate. Switch out runners and your defense so everyone gets a turn at both tagging up, and throwing out runners from the outfield.
Pop Fly in Foul Territory
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The pop fly in foul territory with runners on base can cause confusion. The infield fly rule is not in effect because the ball is not in fair play. However, once the ball is caught then the runners can try and advance if there are less than two outs. This makes it imperative that the defense shift to compensate for the players trying to catch the baseball. Set your defense as you normally. Place base runners on first and third base. Hit pop flies between first and third base in foul territory. In each situation, the pitcher should cover home plate, while the catcher and first or third baseman go for the baseball (depending whose side it is on.) The short stop or second baseman need to make sure that first base or second base are covered. Also, the outfielders should place themselves behind the bases in the potential path of the baseball in case an errant throw reaches the outfield.
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References
- Photo Credit baseball image by Byron Moore from Fotolia.com
