Throwing and Catching Review
For many, the arrival of spring means only one thing: baseball season, with baseball fever often taking hold of those who play or coach the game. During the winter, baseball players pat their bats and grease their new stiff gloves in anticipation of hot 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 must be able to do them so well that they could practically do it 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’ throwing and catching skills.
Go long!
The first of the free baseball drills it is for gardeners in particular. The Long Toss drill is a great way to lengthen players’ throwing distances and develop arm strength for players, especially those who throw with a pushing motion. To begin the drill, divide your team into partners standing facing each other approximately 30 feet apart. Whenever possible, team up with players with similar throw distances.
Have the partner jump in and grab each other. When they successfully hit 5 throws and catch each one without missing a single one, have each player step back 5 feet, or the length of one giant stride. Continue until players are no longer able to cast smoothly.
The next of the free baseball drills rewards players with quick reflexes. The fast hands drill is set up in a similar way to the aforementioned long throw drill: with players separated and standing facing each other about 30 feet apart. The drill begins with a whistle signal and partners must throw the ball back and forth as quickly as possible.
As they make each catch, have the player yell out how many catches it is. The pair that can throw the most catches in a 30-second period, which is marked by another whistle signal, is the winner. If either player misses a catch, their count returns to zero. As your team improves, have them start to separate more. This exercise is great for fostering a little healthy competition among your team.
Running wild
Finally, we have the base throwing drill, which teaches players precise throwing and marking procedures during a round at second base. To prepare for the drill, place a fielder on first and second base. Divide the remaining players into two groups, placing one group behind first base and the other behind second.
The drill begins with the sound of his whistle, and all players except the fielders begin running wildly between first and second base. During this drill, fielders should mark as many players as possible. As soon as a player is marked, he must leave the field. The fielders have one minute to mark as many players as possible. This drill forces your players to think quickly and react quickly during a high pressure situation.