Warm Up Drill for Youth Baseball - Don't Just Throw from the Sidelines

As players arrive, there is nothing wrong with them playing catch till the entire team arrives. Which should be the practice time set by the coach. Special Note - Coaches! Make sure your parents and players know practice actually starts at the time posted. It is not a be there by time.

When the team is there we can begin a warmup and reinforce throwing, catching, turning glove side and have fun all at the same time a lot more effectively than just playing catch one on one.

1. Divide your players in two groups. Start at the right field foul line with two lines. Space the players out in an effective throwing/catching distance toward center field. Adjust the space as needed based on the players age. It should not be hard just a comfortable throwing/catching distance.

2. Start at the foul line, player throws to next player in line. That player
should turn toward his glove to make one step and make the throw to the
next player.

3. Repeat and start over from opposite end.

4. Rotate players so everyone plays in the middle to practice turning glove
side.

FUN PART - One coach I know put a twist on this drill and the kids really loved it. I will never do it any other way because the kids were so responsive. It became a contest between the two lines. the ball was placed behind the player on the foul line. Yell, Go! Player turns and runs to get the ball(as happens often in the field during gameplay) picks it up and turns, glove side of course, to make the throw. Throws are made all the way to the last player and back to the starting player as a race. First one to 3 wins(or whatever # you choose).

Advanced.. As the players improve on making good throws, catching, turning glove side, we can now introduce how to line up your body for the throw. Simply put, the player knows a throw is coming, so he should not catch it square and flatfooted. We can now introduce how to see the ball and move our feet and turn our body to catch the ball on the glove side! The race gets quicker folks!

This drill is fast paced and competitive. It reinforces hustling to get the ball after it has passed you or you drop it, turning glove side, lining up your body to make the cutoff throw, and just plain fun when you make it a contest.
As all drills they are more effective after repetition. You will see these basic skills increase over a few practices and now can remind them during live practice of the proper mechanics which will result in better gameplay as the season progresses.