By: Glen Orsburn
Equipment: Batting Cage, Pitching Machine, Protective Screen, Balls, Helments
This drill is useful for the following:
- Leading off (with the pitch.)
- Base running.
- Conditioning (focus on doing everything quickly.)
- Base running based upon situation.
- Listening skills (coach giving instructions.)
Place
bases around the outside of the batting cage to simulating the ball
field. Place runners on bases setting up situations. When the person
feeding the balls into the pitching machine releases the ball into the
machine, the runners take their lead. If the ball hits on the ground
before pitching machine, runners advance - otherwise return for the
next pitch (speed is everything.)
Many options
could be used with this drill. Line drives – the runners go based upon
coach's instructions, or runners dives back to the base the runner was
occupying, then the runners quickly gets ready for the next pitch.
*Key points -
- All players in the batting cage and all base runners must wear batting helmets.
- A protective screen should be used to protect the pitcher and the pitching machine.
- Close supervision is necessary when using a pitching machine near children.
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