Slow ground balls die before they reach a stationary fielder. The fielder has to run forward, meet the ball, and throw on the run. Kids who wait for the ball get beat by the runner every time.
What you need: A glove, 8 baseballs, a flat field, a target (parent with a glove or a fence).
Setup: Kid stands 20 feet from you. Target 30 feet behind them.
How to run it:
- Cue: Drop, Show, Funnel, Send. On a charge, all four happen while moving forward.
- Roll a slow ground ball that won’t reach them if they wait.
- They charge forward, drop into fielding position at the ball, funnel it up, and throw to the target.
- Do 5 reps slow.
- Last 5: roll faster but still in front of them. They charge whatever is rolling.
What to watch: Are they slowing down before the catch? Most kids decelerate too early. Charge through the ball, then field. The body should still be moving forward at the moment of catch.
If they’re struggling: Drop the throw. Just have them charge and field cleanly.
If they’ve got it: Add a runner from home plate. The fielder has to charge, catch, throw, and beat the runner to first.