'Hitting' Balls Accurately in Drills...EVERY Time --- Coaching Youth Baseball & Softball

[@michaelfindley4652]

@baseball Positive - I started coaching a tball team that ranges in ages from 4-7. I am using alot of the drills you demonstrate and I am seeing a great improvement already. These kids were hit balls to them standing in a line where some balls were so far off they had to repeat the hit to them this spring. So in FallBall on my fielding drill where I want them to work on Alligator and quick hands. This drill allows me to keep them moving and interested. Another great video.

[@randypuaatuua8104]

This is the reason why I suck at hitting fungo to players. Watching other training video and working with a fielding coach (I know right? A fielding coach...?) everything was tossed or a pitching machine using soft foam balls at slow speed was used to place the ball in the same place each and every time. The amount of work you get in vs hitting fungo is doubled, almost tripled because hitting to the players just takes longer. There's a time and place for hitting to the players, but it's not the one and only tool nor is it the best teaching tool, it's more of a finisher down the line of progression imo.

[@matthewfriske438]

How difficult is it to hit with a fungo? I've been coaching middle school baseball for a little less than 2 months and am able to hit any were I want on the field

[@mikegomez2872]

Good drills. Nice field you should see our shitty field in tucson az.

[@Hooshur]

Ive never had this happen lol. ALWAYS been hitting to me.

[@buffalobaseballkid]

or you could buy an accubat. amazing tool

[@joshmoore777]

Not sure what age group you are aiming toward but this can only work for small kids 8U and down and that's pushing it. Nothing can simulate a ball off a bat, and it just takes practice to not miss with a fungo or any other bat. I hit 200-400 4 days a week and I'm on target when I need to be. You need the spin, the speed and deception of ball off bat to practice and train properly. Not knocking you but if you want your kids to improve then exit their comfort zone.

[@baseballpositive2476]

FEM - Balls are rolled tossed and thrown in (quality) HS and D-I practices every day. These suggestions are for all ages of youth baseball and softball as well as HS and College practices. MLB veteran Jimmy Piersall tossed us fly balls in OF drills every day in spring training when I was in the Cubs organization. We tossed and rolled balls to players in drills every day when i coached at Wichita State and at the U. of South Carolina. The reality is the vast majority of youth level coaches do not have the skills (or time to develop the skills) you have. Kids (12 year olds are kids) need massive repetition and need this in an fast paced environment with minimal to zero standing around in order to fully develop their skills. Delivering balls by rolling, throwing, tossing is quicker and more accurate....these are among the reasons HS, college and pro coaches use these technique. Seeing balls off the bat is important. This is addressed in the video. Kids will see balls off the bat each day during Batting Practice and Scrimmage, activities that make up close to half of each day's practice ...see www.baseballpositive.com - Coaching Guide tab, then 'practice plans'. FEM - thanks for commenting!

[@baseballpositive2476]

FEM,The final comment, "...exit their comfort zone" is one I, respectfully, must disagree with. An important factor in developing physical skills is to Not 'trick' the learner and make them uncomfortable. We want to give them the opportunity to successfully repeat the same movement over and over in order to train their muscles in the proper movements leading to later success.Next, and again I say this respectfully, the concept of "...exit their comfort zone" is one I will categorize as an 'old school' fallacy in the approach to training an athlete in fundamental skill development.One of the primary goals in the Baseball Positive video series is to dispel ineffective ideas, cliches and approaches so prevelent in amateur coaching (volunteer moms and dads) of kids playing youth baseball and softball and replace them with effective techniques.

[@baseballpositive2476]

FEM, Finally tracked down this video of pro players (Texas Rangers, presumably at spring training) working on a wide variety of drills with the coaches rolling and tossing balls to the players - pro players. Extreme Baseball Infield Drills-Major League Fundamentals ...the first sets of drills are good; go to the one minute mark (1:00) and see drills with coaches rolling balls (again, this is a common and daily approach to working with defensive players, at high levels of the game, world wide. I am sharing this with you not to debunk you post...nothing of the sort. Rather this provides a perspective that many youth coaches are not aware of. Again, some of the primary benefits of delivering the ball by rolling or tossing are: 1. accuracy - so players can better repeat the same action over and over leading to better skill development. 2. increased repetitions - more reps means quicker development - Mark

[@baseballpositive2476]

Baseball Positive ...also see the (3:00) mark for 'hitting' fly balls. Coaches, this is being put out there do demonstrate that, at the highest levels of baseball, the ball is rolled or tossed in many drills. By incorporating these techniques in our practices/drills with our young players we can help them develop their skills faster and make practice/drills more active, efficient and FUN.

[@asmertcov]

Go to SkyBat.com And then we talk.

[@My3Es]

Uhhh - what

[@patrickfoulis1714]

ok if you are a youth coach don't do this as a player getting a rolled groundball isn't the same as getting it hit to you. There are funny hops different bounces and if you practice then you can be accurate and not every ball will be hit right to you.

[@louielongo3]

Are you coaching kids or buckets? Be a better coach and work on your fungo skills!!!