Throw and catch review
For many, the arrival of spring means only one thing: baseball season, with baseball fever often gripping those who play or coach the game. During the winter, baseball players tap their bats and grease their stiff, new mitts before warm weather so they can hit the diamond and brush up on their skills.
Throwing and catching are by far the most universal skills in the game, as every position on the field needs to be able to do them so well that they could practically do them in their sleep. This year, add some variety to your baseball practice by including some of the following free baseball drills that focus on improving your players’ pitching and catching skills.
Go long!
the first of free baseball drills it is for gardeners in particular. The Long Toss drill is a great way to lengthen players’ throwing distances and build arm strength for players, especially those who throw with a pushing motion. To start the drill, divide your team into partners standing facing each other approximately 30 feet apart. Whenever possible, associate players with similar throwing distances.
Have partner dive and catch. When they successfully throw 5 throws and catch each one without missing a single one, have each player step back 5 feet, or one giant step length. Continue until players are no longer able to shoot smoothly.
The following of the free baseball drills rewards players with quick reflexes. The quick hands drill is set up similar to the long pitch drill mentioned above: with players paired up and standing facing each other about 30 feet apart. The drill begins with a blow on the whistle and partners must throw the ball back and forth to each other as fast as they can.
As they make each catch, ask the player to call out the number of catches. Whichever pair can throw the most sacks in a 30-second period, which is marked by another whistle blow, is the winner. If either player misses a catch, his count resets to zero. As your team gets better, ask them to start spreading out further. This drill is great for fostering some healthy competition among your team.
running wild
Finally, we have the Base Throw drill, which teaches players precise throwing and bunting procedures during a run at second base. To set up the drill, place a fielder at first and second base. Divide the remaining players into two groups, placing one group behind first base and the other behind second base.
The drill begins with his whistle blowing, and all players except the fielders begin running wild between first and second base. During this drill, the fielders must tag as many players as possible. As soon as a player is tagged, he must leave the field. The fielders have one minute to mark as many players as possible. This drill forces your fielders to think quickly and react quickly during a high-pressure situation.
