By: John Turpin

Equipment Needed: JUGS Protective Screen, JUGS Sting-Free® Baseballs or JUGS Tennis Balls

Step 1

This drill will help coaches teach kids how to keep their weight back and not be fooled by the off speed pitches. This drill is good for ages seven through college.

Set up your protective screen at the pitches mound or first base about 10 to 15 feet from the plate, it is best used in a pitching cage area with firm hard ground. If you're on dirt, use a tennis ball or JUGS Sting-Free® Baseballs. These balls have a good bounce to them. Standing behind the protective screen, start bouncing the ball, paying attention to where the ball comes across the strike zone. Then mark that spot on the ground so you know where you need to bounce the ball so it will always go across the strike zone.

Step 2

Instruct your batters that you want them to take their stride forward, keeping their hands back. Have them practice this a few times before releasing the ball to them, get them used to this motion.

Step 3

Now as you bounce the ball to them tell them if you say "fastball" you want them to swing at the ball as it is on its way up from the bounce. Remember, they have already done the stride and are in the cocked position (hands back). Tell them if you say "curveball" or "off speed," they are to wait until the ball is on its way from the bounce before starting their swing.

Step 4

As your team gets used to this drill, and becomes better at the fundamentals of waiting for it, start waiting for it to say fastball or curveball until the ball is closer to crossing the strike zone. This makes them wait longer and makes them learn to react quicker. Remember, the longer you see the ball, the better your chances are at hitting it correctly. I used this drill once a week last season on my 11and 12 year Bronco Team. The improvement on hitting the curveball raised my team's batting averaged to .411.

Hint: Keep the drills fun. The kids will try harder and enjoy the working thinking it is a game. Use your creativity in any drill you do with them. If you keep it a game, they will pick it up faster, do it correctly and have fun at the same time.