Baseball Throwing drills for accuracy? (1 Viewer)

[Gianni Verscotchie]

I'm coaching 15u baseball and see a number of kids making wild throws still.

Anyone have some drills to improve accuracy that I can work into a practice?

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

I am assuming you are already making them use a 4 seam grip even when warming up, let alone making a throw in a drill or a game. If not, that is your first ruel - always grip 4 seam whenever possible.

Other than that - I still insist on throwing warm ups beginning with wrist flicks then progressing to form throws where the must be perpendicular to target and pull glove to hip from about 15-20 feet before I let them stretch it out to 60-90-120-150. If they are still wild I drop them for burpees. It really isn't hard to hit a target using correct form which tells me they are either complacent or not using correct form. Whn my guys get too complacent we may spend 60 minutes doing nothing but throwing and running until they do it right.

I am dealing with 14U so it is about the same as what you are dealing with.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Thanks. We're teaching the 4 seam and we're also having them focus on location during warmups.

-5 throws head high, simulating a throw to a cutoff man.

-5 throws to the chest

-5 throws low, simulating a tag situation

then repeat

It goes well during warmups and most of practice, but they fall apart in a game situation. Last night was their first game and the throwing mistakes were out of control. Pitchers couldn't throw strikes (less than 50%) fielders couldn't throw to first base (less than 50%). I saw kids rushing throws, trying to throw too hard. Heck, we couldn't even complete a "throw around" after a strikeout.

I haven't resorted to discipline, but I may have to start making them do pushups.

 

[Charlie Steiner]

**Disclaimer** I only coached once at coach pitch, but my son's travel coach from 8U until this year (14U) was very good with this kind of stuff, and this is one of the drills he had them do for the last 2 years...

Lay out 5 spots in a star pattern, with a set distance between points with at least 2 kids at each point. The drill begins when a player throws the ball to the player at the spot across from them and then follows the throw, the ball should work its way around the points in the same kind of alternating pattern as tightening lug nuts. The distance shouldn't be so long that they can't run to the spot they just threw to and be ready to receive the throw back when the pattern returns to their spot, but long enough that they have to make good throws and still have to run to get to the spot.

The coach used to run that drill with them until they completed a set number of throws and catches without a drop.

One of the things that seemed like a problem at the time was that they would spend 80-90% of their practices doing throwing and situational fielding drills, but if nothing else they were able to keep games close with their defense, even when facing superior teams. I don't know how you split your practice time between fielding and hitting, but baseball is so much about repetition that maybe it will take a few practices of only fielding and throwing to bring them around.

 

[Timmay]

Make the kid run a lap each time he throws a wild ball that will teach him. If he does it in a game, he runs 3 laps. Coaches are too soft on kids these days.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Make the kid run a lap each time he throws a wild ball that will teach him. If he does it in a game, he runs 3 laps. Coaches are too soft on kids these days.

Good point. I was thinking about punching them instead though. That way we could resume practice quicker.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

**Disclaimer** I only coached once at coach pitch, but my son's travel coach from 8U until this year (14U) was very good with this kind of stuff, and this is one of the drills he had them do for the last 2 years...

Lay out 5 spots in a star pattern, with a set distance between points with at least 2 kids at each point. The drill begins when a player throws the ball to the player at the spot across from them and then follows the throw, the ball should work its way around the points in the same kind of alternating pattern as tightening lug nuts. The distance shouldn't be so long that they can't run to the spot they just threw to and be ready to receive the throw back when the pattern returns to their spot, but long enough that they have to make good throws and still have to run to get to the spot.

The coach used to run that drill with them until they completed a set number of throws and catches without a drop.

One of the things that seemed like a problem at the time was that they would spend 80-90% of their practices doing throwing and situational fielding drills, but if nothing else they were able to keep games close with their defense, even when facing superior teams. I don't know how you split your practice time between fielding and hitting, but baseball is so much about repetition that maybe it will take a few practices of only fielding and throwing to bring them around.

Thanks, but I'm having trouble visualizing this. What's the difference between a star and a circle here?

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

I am assuming you are already making them use a 4 seam grip even when warming up, let alone making a throw in a drill or a game. If not, that is your first ruel - always grip 4 seam whenever possible.

Other than that - I still insist on throwing warm ups beginning with wrist flicks then progressing to form throws where the must be perpendicular to target and pull glove to hip from about 15-20 feet before I let them stretch it out to 60-90-120-150. If they are still wild I drop them for burpees. It really isn't hard to hit a target using correct form which tells me they are either complacent or not using correct form. Whn my guys get too complacent we may spend 60 minutes doing nothing but throwing and running until they do it right.

I am dealing with 14U so it is about the same as what you are dealing with.

This imo. We also did the form throws from one knee and caught the ball with glove closed using the bare hand to trap to the glove. Teaches catching with two hands and proper throwing form.

 

[Timmay]

Make the kid run a lap each time he throws a wild ball that will teach him. If he does it in a game, he runs 3 laps. Coaches are too soft on kids these days.

Good point. I was thinking about punching them instead though. That way we could resume practice quicker.

A little running never hurt anybody. Hell it might even make the kids get in shape a little.

 

[Treynwreck3]

By the time they are 15, if they can't throw accurately, maybe they just aren't very good.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

By the time they are 15, if they can't throw accurately, maybe they just aren't very good.

This is true. It is a rec league though, mostly made up of kids who got cut from HS

 

[Charlie Steiner]

**Disclaimer** I only coached once at coach pitch, but my son's travel coach from 8U until this year (14U) was very good with this kind of stuff, and this is one of the drills he had them do for the last 2 years...

Lay out 5 spots in a star pattern, with a set distance between points with at least 2 kids at each point. The drill begins when a player throws the ball to the player at the spot across from them and then follows the throw, the ball should work its way around the points in the same kind of alternating pattern as tightening lug nuts. The distance shouldn't be so long that they can't run to the spot they just threw to and be ready to receive the throw back when the pattern returns to their spot, but long enough that they have to make good throws and still have to run to get to the spot.

The coach used to run that drill with them until they completed a set number of throws and catches without a drop.

One of the things that seemed like a problem at the time was that they would spend 80-90% of their practices doing throwing and situational fielding drills, but if nothing else they were able to keep games close with their defense, even when facing superior teams. I don't know how you split your practice time between fielding and hitting, but baseball is so much about repetition that maybe it will take a few practices of only fielding and throwing to bring them around.

Thanks, but I'm having trouble visualizing this. What's the difference between a star and a circle here?

The difference is the pattern the ball travels. Instead of in a circle, it's a star pattern:

A

B C

D E

A throws to D, D to C, C to B, B to E, E to A, with the thrower following the ball each time. With at least 10 players, there is always someone at each point to receive the throw.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

Just reread one of your replies and you are seing this with pitchers as well. I am a pitching coach. Have you taught the 5 eyes approach?

When delivering to the plate you want all 5 eyes on the target.

What are the 5 eyes?

1. Your eyes.

2. glove hand shoulder.

3. hip

4. knee

5. ankle

Picture an eye in each of those locations and all 5 of those eyes need to be facing the target when preparing to deliver the ball. Often times for a righty when the ball is wild left it is because their shoulder eye is lined up way left of target. Sometimes it is the hip that opens too early. In any case break it down very slowly and show them all 5 eyes need to be on target. It sound ridiculous, it sounds tedious, it sounds slow. But you need to establish the muscle memory to keep all 5 eyes on target.

A second major wildness issue comes from glove arm pulling you off target. Build it into their head that glove hand needs to pull to hip. Be strict in enforcing glove pull to hip. That should keep your shoulder eye on target.

Thirdly - once a player throws have them follow their throw. Ball is released - chase after it (even just a few steps). Enforces momentum to target.

Finally - check release point. If they are throwing high they are likely releasing at a point above the shoulder. You want relaese point near even and in front of throwing shoulder.

 

[Treynwreck3]

Seriously, one thing I would suggest is repetition. On the best teams I have been around in my son's career, the one constant in practice has always been repetition. Rapid fire infield/outfield. Field the ball, throw the ball, over and over and over. Rinse, repeat. Have your team make all the throws, again and again. Repetition not only builds accuracy and arm strength, but if they are making all the throws in practice, they will know where to throw the ball once it's fielded in games. A lot of mistakes are made when kids are confused about where to make the throw and they panic, rush the throw and make an error.

Baseball is a difficult game to play well.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Just reread one of your replies and you are seing this with pitchers as well. I am a pitching coach. Have you taught the 5 eyes approach?

When delivering to the plate you want all 5 eyes on the target.

What are the 5 eyes?

1. Your eyes.

2. glove hand shoulder.

3. hip

4. knee

5. ankle

Picture an eye in each of those locations and all 5 of those eyes need to be facing the target when preparing to deliver the ball. Often times for a righty when the ball is wild left it is because their shoulder eye is lined up way left of target. Sometimes it is the hip that opens too early. In any case break it down very slowly and show them all 5 eyes need to be on target. It sound ridiculous, it sounds tedious, it sounds slow. But you need to establish the muscle memory to keep all 5 eyes on target.

A second major wildness issue comes from glove arm pulling you off target. Build it into their head that glove hand needs to pull to hip. Be strict in enforcing glove pull to hip. That should keep your shoulder eye on target.

Thirdly - once a player throws have them follow their throw. Ball is released - chase after it (even just a few steps). Enforces momentum to target.

Finally - check release point. If they are throwing high they are likely releasing at a point above the shoulder. You want relaese point near even and in front of throwing shoulder.

Good stuff here. Thanks

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

**Disclaimer** I only coached once at coach pitch, but my son's travel coach from 8U until this year (14U) was very good with this kind of stuff, and this is one of the drills he had them do for the last 2 years...

Lay out 5 spots in a star pattern, with a set distance between points with at least 2 kids at each point. The drill begins when a player throws the ball to the player at the spot across from them and then follows the throw, the ball should work its way around the points in the same kind of alternating pattern as tightening lug nuts. The distance shouldn't be so long that they can't run to the spot they just threw to and be ready to receive the throw back when the pattern returns to their spot, but long enough that they have to make good throws and still have to run to get to the spot.

The coach used to run that drill with them until they completed a set number of throws and catches without a drop.

One of the things that seemed like a problem at the time was that they would spend 80-90% of their practices doing throwing and situational fielding drills, but if nothing else they were able to keep games close with their defense, even when facing superior teams. I don't know how you split your practice time between fielding and hitting, but baseball is so much about repetition that maybe it will take a few practices of only fielding and throwing to bring them around.

Thanks, but I'm having trouble visualizing this. What's the difference between a star and a circle here?

The difference is the pattern the ball travels. Instead of in a circle, it's a star pattern:

A

B C

D E

A throws to D, D to C, C to B, B to E, E to A, with the thrower following the ball each time. With at least 10 players, there is always someone at each point to receive the throw.

Got it

 

[Charlie Steiner]

Best of luck to you and your team. It's great to see kids who aren't as advanced as others but still want to play get that opportunity.

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Best of luck to you and your team. It's great to see kids who aren't as advanced as others but still want to play get that opportunity.

Thanks. I enjoyed your years as the Yankees radio announcer

 

[Judge Smails]

The great majority of poor throws are caused by poor footwork. Concentrate more on where there lower bodies are when they throw. Are they stepping squarely, or are they opening up or throwing across their bodies? That's how throws are wild horizontally. Then check on release point. If the ball is sailing high they are leading with the elbow or not getting on top. If the ball is low it's easier to fix -- usually that's footwork too - stride is too short.

They also need to follow through. Some good comments in the thread. Have them start 10 feet apart in pairs. On one knee. Slowly go through a proper release. Drop the ball in the bucket, put it up on the shelf with ball facing away at the top, then release the ball out front with the throwing hand finishing at the opposite knee. Then repeat. Then space out.

Poor throws are just due to sloppiness. I used to run infield drills where the expectation was "we must play catch". Meaning, the ball doesn't touch the ground. If we made a bad throw or catch we would start the whole infield drill over. Amazing the improvement a player and team can make. Pretty soon we'd go 20 minutes without an error. Teach them the fundamentals then stay on them to execute.