Star Drill Question

[Rajun Cajun]

When the coach starts the star drill and throws to SS is the SS supposed to throw to the 2B at the bag, or is he supposed to just throw it to the second baseman whereever he is and then the 2B throws to 3b and then the 3b throws to 1 B?

Can you give me your thoughts behind the star drill and player setup and the benefits of the star drill?

Thanks,

[cartersball]

The way we run the star drill is as follows. C1 hits grounder to SS who throws to 1B. 1B throws across the diamond to 3B on the bag. 3B throws to 2B on the bag. 2B throws to C on the plate. We do this to warm up before games. In practices we add runners to the mix and the star must be completed before runner reaches plate. R1 starts from plate on LL diamond and on 50/70 diamond the R1 starts at 1st. R1 rotates into fielding around the diamond after running starting at 3B moving left with each star completion C.

[Jake Patterson]

It's the second baseman's responsibility to get to where he needs to be.... Now with that said we always taught how to lead the 2B such that the ball and 2B arrives where they need to be at the same time.

[Jake Patterson]

There are many variations of the drill.

We started with teaching everyone the different elements of a double play so that everyone had a basic understanding of the requirements. This included the different ways to tag the bags, throw the ball, cover the bags, etc. We taught how to shuffle pass, side arm, back hand toss, etc. Once we completed teaching every skill we ran drills to practice what was taught.

From there we went to a full field and ran everyone through each position. Once they get real good at turning the DP we had two players per position and was able to get as many as three balls going at the same time. This is wild to watch and teaches the players to think.

We hit our fungoes in front of home plate.

Once you get good at this you can elevate to back hand, fore hand, etc...

Hope this helps.

[Rajun Cajun]

yes. thanks. Now that I know there are different variations I understand it.

I found a few videos on the internet that were helpful

[Ursa Major]

When the coach starts the star drill and throws to SS is the SS supposed to throw to the 2B at the bag, or is he supposed to just throw it to the second baseman whereever he is and then the 2B throws to 3b and then the 3b throws to 1 B?

By and large, I would have the kids take throws on the bag for every 'drill' except for a 'throwaround' after a strikeout or other infield out. One of the big problems with many kids is that -- during a frenetic play -- they lose sight of the fact that they have a primary (and usually a seconday) "house" that they have to protect. Most common examples:

(a) Runner on second who breaks on a grounder into the 3B/SS hole, and the SS backhands it and watches helplessly as the runner jogs into third because the 3B didn't get back to his base, and

(b) in a force situation, the batter hits a bloop into the outfield that forces the runners to wait to see if the ball will be caught, and the ball falls but the neither middle infielder thinks to go cover second to get what should have been an easy force.

Drills that remind infielders to cover their bags are important at just about every level up through HS, IMHO.

[Rajun Cajun]

I ran it duirng practice. This is now my favorite defensive drill. It reinforces:
A. Good hands, showing a target, ball transfer skills
B. Good foot work and good use of hips, having to always re-set and turn back to a fielding position after each catch and throw
C. Promotes "smoothness" due to the repititions
D. re-inforces trust in the thrower and the receiver that they can deliver the ball on time, and on target


What a great drill. I love it.