Quick Hands Infield Drill

A Fun and Challenging Drill to Build Quick Reactions and Hand-Eye Coordination in Young Infielders

The Quick Hands Infield Drill is designed to improve infielders’ reaction time, hand speed, and coordination. This drill is ideal for players aged 8-9, offering a challenging yet fun way to sharpen their defensive skills.

Difficulty Rating: ★★★☆☆ (Moderate)
Time Estimate: 10-12 minutes

Setup:

  1. Equipment Needed:
  • Baseballs or tennis balls (tennis balls are safer for beginners)
  • A glove for each player
  • A flat, open space on the infield dirt or grass
  1. Player Positioning:
  • Divide players into pairs or small groups (up to three players).
  • Each player stands about 3-5 feet apart, facing each other. If in groups, they should form a small triangle.
  1. Tossing Area:
  • Ensure players have enough space to safely receive and field rapid grounders or tosses without crowding. Coaches should stand close enough to observe and provide guidance.

How to Run the Drill:

  1. Coach or Partner Tosses:
  • Begin by having the coach or a partner toss or roll the ball quickly to the player. For more variety, use short-hop grounders to keep players on their toes.
  • The coach should mix up the speed and direction slightly, aiming at the player’s glove or just outside it, to make them move their hands quickly while staying low.
  1. Receiving the Ball:
  • Players should keep their feet and bodies squared up, bending their knees and staying in an athletic stance.
  • As the ball approaches, they should work on fielding it out in front of their body with soft hands, quickly getting the ball into their glove and ready for the next toss.
  1. Repetitions and Progressions:
  • Start with 10-12 repetitions per player, ensuring everyone has a chance to react to different ball speeds and angles.
  • As players get comfortable, challenge them further by reducing the time between tosses or adding a second ball in the rotation for increased difficulty.

Why You Run This Drill:

The Quick Hands Infield Drill is essential for building reaction time, hand-eye coordination, and soft hands. Infielders, especially at this age, benefit from learning how to field short hops and develop muscle memory for quick transfers. The drill helps players understand the importance of staying low, moving their hands efficiently, and reacting quickly to unpredictable hops.

Key Skills Developed:

  • Quick Reactions: Players develop faster reaction times as they field balls tossed in rapid succession.
  • Hand-Eye Coordination: Fielding short hops and varied tosses teaches players to follow the ball closely and coordinate their glove movement.
  • Body Positioning and Balance: By staying low and balanced, players learn the proper stance and body position needed to handle grounders in game situations.

Coaching Notes & FAQs:

Coaching Tips:

  • Stay Low and Athletic: Emphasize the importance of staying low and ready. A common tendency at this age is to stand up straight when fielding. Remind players to bend their knees and stay on the balls of their feet.
  • Soft Hands and Quick Transfers: Players should learn to “give” with their glove as they field the ball, keeping their hands soft and quick. This minimizes bobbles and improves control.
  • Add Variety: Once players are comfortable, vary the type of tosses, including higher bounces or different angles, to increase the challenge and improve reaction time.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  1. What if the player struggles with the speed of the drill?
  • If a player is struggling, slow down the pace and give them time to adjust to the ball’s movement. Use softer tosses and build up to faster tosses as they improve.
  1. How can I make this drill more engaging for 8-9-year-olds?
  • Make the drill competitive by seeing how many clean catches each player can make in a row, or introduce a “points” system where players earn points for smooth fielding and lose points for missed catches. Younger players enjoy the challenge and excitement of friendly competition.
  1. How often should this drill be run?
  • This drill can be done 1-2 times per week as part of infield practice. It’s an ideal warm-up drill to get players focused and ready to field ground balls.
  1. Can this drill be adapted for different skill levels?
  • Yes, for more advanced players, increase the speed and add variations in toss angles and bounces. For beginners, keep the tosses soft and consistent to build confidence.

The Quick Hands Infield Drill is an effective and enjoyable way to build foundational skills in young players. By practicing quick reactions and soft hands, players gain confidence in fielding grounders and improve their overall defensive abilities.