"Center Field Recognition " Drill

This drill comes from Chris Scarlata our October 2003 Drill of the Month Winner.

Equipment: Bucket of Balls, Fungo Bat

Start with a line of players at each outfield position. Two coaches stand on either side of the mound with a bucket of balls and a fungo bat.

One player steps up and is ready to go at each position. Both coaches hit a fly ball into their respective outfield gaps. Both balls need to be caught and the center fielder is responsible for one on every play. This forces him to decide which ball is less likely to be caught by the outfielder, and to go after it. The outfielder on the side the center fielder chooses should get to a proper position to back up.

Buckets should be put near the fence in both the gaps so the players can lay the balls in, and rotate to the next outfield position. I find it best if they move from left to right with the right fielder going all the way around home plate back to left.

For younger children the coaches can throw the ball from either side of the mound. As players get more skilled you have one, or all of them face the fence and turn to look when they hear “contact.”