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Subscribe to our NewsletterDrill of the Day: Four Corner Throwing
May 8, 2010 – 05:30 PM
This drill is for your entire team and will focus on throwing, catching, and communication skills.
SET UP:
- there are four lines of players, one line at each base and one at home plate. Try to make the lines as even as possible.
- start with one ball at home plate.
- the first player in line at home plate will throw the ball to the first player at 1B. The thrower goes to the end of the line at home.
- the player at 1B will catch the ball and throw to the first player in line at 2B. The thrower at 1B goes to the end of that line.
- the player at 2B will catch the ball and turn to throw to the first player at 3B. The thrower at 2B goes to the end of that line.
- the player at 3B will catch the ball and turn to throw home to the second player that was in line there. The thrower at 3B goes to the end of that line.
- now we're at the 2nd player in each line.
- keep going around until you feel they are comfortable (no mistakes), now you can reverse directions of the throws.
- when you see they're comfortable again, you can put a 2nd ball into play! once the first ball is to 2B, start a second ball at home.
- instruct them not to let the second ball catch up to the first one.
- you will probably have to stop them on any errant throws and let them get going again before starting the second ball again, but they'll get the hang of it.
- having 2 balls in play will really make them focus and communicate with each other.
- if they master that, throw in a 3rd ball and see how they handle it.
- don't forget to reverse directions every now and again.
COMMUNICATION:
- you will want to stress that each player who is being thrown to, call out to the player who's throwing the ball and give them a big target to throw to. Communication is an essential part of the game and this is an easy way to get them started on it.
STEPPING TO THE BALL:
- insist that players step to the ball when receiving any throw. Have them imagine they have a "V" directly in front of them on the ground. If the throw is coming to them on the left part of the "V", have them step to it in that direction, if it's on the right of the "V", have them step to it in that direction, if it's coming right at them down the middle, have them come straight to it.
STRESS THE FOLLOWING THINGS:
- catching the ball with TWO HANDS whenever possible.
- catching anything above the bottom of the shorts with their glove hand fingers pointing TO THE SKY and bending at the knees to go down for low throws.
- Give the person throwing to you a BIG TARGET!
- BE VOCAL!!! Call for the ball!
- catch first, throw second. "Be QUICK, not in a HURRY!"
ADVANCED VERSION:
- if you want to add a CONDITIONING ELEMENT to the drill, have each player follow their throw afterward.
- first person throws to 1B and sprints to the end of the line at 1B. 1B throws to 2B and sprints to the end of that line, 2B throws and sprints over to the end of the line at 3B, 3B throws home and sprints to the end of that line.
-other than the running, everything stays the same!
Enjoy!!!
SET UP:
- there are four lines of players, one line at each base and one at home plate. Try to make the lines as even as possible.
- start with one ball at home plate.
- the first player in line at home plate will throw the ball to the first player at 1B. The thrower goes to the end of the line at home.
- the player at 1B will catch the ball and throw to the first player in line at 2B. The thrower at 1B goes to the end of that line.
- the player at 2B will catch the ball and turn to throw to the first player at 3B. The thrower at 2B goes to the end of that line.
- the player at 3B will catch the ball and turn to throw home to the second player that was in line there. The thrower at 3B goes to the end of that line.
- now we're at the 2nd player in each line.
- keep going around until you feel they are comfortable (no mistakes), now you can reverse directions of the throws.
- when you see they're comfortable again, you can put a 2nd ball into play! once the first ball is to 2B, start a second ball at home.
- instruct them not to let the second ball catch up to the first one.
- you will probably have to stop them on any errant throws and let them get going again before starting the second ball again, but they'll get the hang of it.
- having 2 balls in play will really make them focus and communicate with each other.
- if they master that, throw in a 3rd ball and see how they handle it.
- don't forget to reverse directions every now and again.
COMMUNICATION:
- you will want to stress that each player who is being thrown to, call out to the player who's throwing the ball and give them a big target to throw to. Communication is an essential part of the game and this is an easy way to get them started on it.
STEPPING TO THE BALL:
- insist that players step to the ball when receiving any throw. Have them imagine they have a "V" directly in front of them on the ground. If the throw is coming to them on the left part of the "V", have them step to it in that direction, if it's on the right of the "V", have them step to it in that direction, if it's coming right at them down the middle, have them come straight to it.
STRESS THE FOLLOWING THINGS:
- catching the ball with TWO HANDS whenever possible.
- catching anything above the bottom of the shorts with their glove hand fingers pointing TO THE SKY and bending at the knees to go down for low throws.
- Give the person throwing to you a BIG TARGET!
- BE VOCAL!!! Call for the ball!
- catch first, throw second. "Be QUICK, not in a HURRY!"
ADVANCED VERSION:
- if you want to add a CONDITIONING ELEMENT to the drill, have each player follow their throw afterward.
- first person throws to 1B and sprints to the end of the line at 1B. 1B throws to 2B and sprints to the end of that line, 2B throws and sprints over to the end of the line at 3B, 3B throws home and sprints to the end of that line.
-other than the running, everything stays the same!
Enjoy!!!
