"Everyone Gets to Pitch" Drill

Contributed By: Douglas Vanbecelaere, edited by Jugs

Equipment: Balls, Gloves, and Helmets

Many players at young ages are dying for an opportunity to pitch. Successful pitchers are often over looked at first, because they may not be as athletic at other positions.

The pitching drill will not only identify those often over looked candidates for pitching, but develop their fundamental fielding skills by teaching them the proper way to throw, catch, and field ground balls.

Commence the drill by demonstrating the proper way to pitch off the pitcher’s mound and then get into a defensive stance after the pitch, showing the player how to react and field the ground ball.

Instructions:

• One player on first base;
• A coach or parent catching;
• Line up the remainder of the players behind the pitcher’s mound (each player should have a ball.)

1. Have the first player in line get ready to pitch.
2. When the player (pitcher) pitches the ball to the catcher, the catcher will throw a ground ball back to pitcher.
3. The pitcher will field the ground ball using the demonstrated proper technique and then throw the ball to first base.
4. The first baseman will use the proper technique to catch the throw.
5. The pitcher then will sprint to play first base and the first baseman will sprint with the ball to the back of the pitcher’s line.
6. Each player in line will have an opportunity to repeat the above process.

One option is to expand the drill by rotating the first baseman to base runner and defending against an attempted steal of second base.

This primary goal of this drill is to develop improved fundamentals while providing everyone with the opportunity to pitch. The drill provides secondary benefits including improved fielding techniques, throwing abilities, and first baseman skills. The drill will help coaches identify prospective pitchers and first basemen based on their aptitude for the drill.