Now the throw gets power. A step toward the target gives the kid momentum and teaches hip rotation. Without stepping, kids rely on arm strength alone.
What you need: 10 soft baseballs (11”), a partner at 20 feet, open grass.
Setup: Stand 20 feet apart. Kid stands with feet together, ready to step.
How to run it:
- Cue: Turn, Shuffle, Point, Fire.
- They turn their shoulders (Turn), step toward you with the glove-side foot (Shuffle), point the glove (Point), and throw (Fire).
- Do 5 throws. Check that the step lands in front of the back foot.
- Add distance: move back to 25 feet. Do 5 more.
- Move back to 30 feet. Do 5 more. If accuracy drops, back up to 25 feet.
What to watch: Does the step happen before the arm fires? If the arm goes first, the body has no power behind it.
If they’re struggling: Stand closer at 15 feet. Have them step without throwing first, just to feel the motion.
If they’ve got it: Add targets. Throw to different spots (high, low, left, right) and adjust the step direction.