OUTFIELDER ADVICE 15 yo

[TLO03]

my son has been playing outfield recently and kinda struggles with it. which in turn makes him really not like playing the outfield. he complains about not seeing the ball off the bat." like when it's over the picthers head." he often gets bad jumps( moves left when the ball clearly is going to his right). tonight he was totally crossed up kinda got running right (back facing home plate) and the ball drop over his left shoulder. what can i do drill wise to help him take a better path?

thanks

[Jake Patterson]

my son has been playing outfield recently and kinda struggles with it. which in turn makes him really not like playing the outfield. he complains about not seeing the ball off the bat." like when it's over the picthers head." he often gets bad jumps( moves left when the ball clearly is going to his right). tonight he was totally crossed up kinda got running right (back facing home plate) and the ball drop over his left shoulder. what can i do drill wise to help him take a better path?

thanks

We use a pitching machine set up for fly balls. Start with short fly balls and have him work in then back, right then left. We teach getting to the spot and the working your way in.

[TG Coach]

Once the kid becomes accustomed to where the pitching machine is tossing the flies, he needs to have hundreds of fly balls and line drives hit to him each week. My son plays both infield and outfield in summer ball. He takes about two hundred-fifty flies and two hundred-fifty grounders per week outside practice. That one thousand of each per month. It created the ability to react to the crack of the bat. Eventually, with a lot of practice your son will often know how hard the ball is hit by the sound off the bat.

[PhilliesPhan22]

The Point Drill.

Once you instruct him on the proper foot work for tracking balls hit to his left, left back, straight back, right back, and right; stand about 20 feet from him and point in one of those directions.

His job is to turn and take a few steps as if to track a ball hit in the given direction. Do not throw the ball.

Once he has mastered the proper footwork, add a thown ball that he needs to catch. When you throw it, place it far enough away so that he needs to give a good chase to catch it.

After he has mastered the skills in this drill, move up to fungos from a distance.

[CoachHenry]

All good thoughts here. I'll give you a few of mine. First, take your son to get his eyes checked. Maybe the ball is blurry to him or something. Second, as someone else suggested, start close and move back. There is a group of drills I normally do to get outfielders and infielders used to breaking on the ball.

First have them line up with one player about 10 feet in front of you, facing you, in a good defensive stance. Throw the ball about 15 feet behind them to the left, to the right, and right over their head. You have to show them how to do a proper drop-step to either side and to make a decision on the one over their head.

Second have a player about 20-25 feet in front of you and throw the ball to the left just far enough that they have to really extend themselves to get to it. Once they catch they have to plant and make a throw to whomever is catching for you. While they are throwing you throw a ball to the right far enough that they have to extend themselves to get to it. They throw it back in. Then back to the left, etc. Usually three throws is good and the next player can step in.

And as TG Coach sez, massive amounts of fly balls by you. Get yourself a nice outfield fungo to make life easy on you.

[PhilliesPhan22]

First have them line up with one player about 10 feet in front of you, facing you, in a good defensive stance. Throw the ball about 15 feet behind them to the left, to the right, and right over their head. You have to show them how to do a proper drop-step to either side and to make a decision on the one over their head.

Second have a player about 20-25 feet in front of you and throw the ball to the left just far enough that they have to really extend themselves to get to it. Once they catch they have to plant and make a throw to whomever is catching for you. While they are throwing you throw a ball to the right far enough that they have to extend themselves to get to it. They throw it back in. Then back to the left, etc. Usually three throws is good and the next player can step in.

And as TG Coach sez, massive amounts of fly balls by you. Get yourself a nice outfield fungo to make life easy on you.

Another description of "The Point Drill". Just goes to show you how effective it is

[CoachHenry]

Another description of "The Point Drill". Just goes to show you how effective it is

Yes, I noticed that after I typed it! Maybe I should just always say "What PhilliesPhan22 said!".

[PhilliesPhan22]

Yes, I noticed that after I typed it! Maybe I should just always say "What PhilliesPhan22 said!".

[rkbenn]

Once the kid becomes accustomed to where the pitching machine is tossing the flies, he needs to have hundreds of fly balls and line drives hit to him each week. My son plays both infield and outfield in summer ball. He takes about two hundred-fifty flies and two hundred-fifty grounders per week outside practice. That one thousand of each per month. It created the ability to react to the crack of the bat. Eventually, with a lot of practice your son will often know how hard the ball is hit by the sound off the bat.

Great advice!!! Practice outside practice!

[TG Coach]

Add: Your son has to develop a smooth stride to the ball. Otherwise the ball will give the appearance of bouncing in the air and becomes hard to track and follow.

[wogdoggy]

unfortunately either the kid can read the ball or he cant.. its something thats instinctive

[TG Coach]

unfortunately either the kid can read the ball or he cant.. its something thats instinctive

Greatness may be instinctive. But a player can be better than average with hard work.

[TLO03]

All good thoughts here. I'll give you a few of mine. First, take your son to get his eyes checked. Maybe the ball is blurry to him or something.

he dose wear glasses but he sees the ball good at the plate..

[TLO03]

The Point Drill.

Once you instruct him on the proper foot work for tracking balls hit to his left, left back, straight back, right back, and right; stand about 20 feet from him and point in one of those directions.

His job is to turn and take a few steps as if to track a ball hit in the given direction. Do not throw the ball.

Once he has mastered the proper footwork, add a thown ball that he needs to catch. When you throw it, place it far enough away so that he needs to give a good chase to catch it.

After he has mastered the skills in this drill, move up to fungos from a distance.

wear can i make surew he's doing the proper foot work.

[PhilliesPhan22]

wear can i make surew he's doing the proper foot work.

If I get a chance this weekend I will try and do a short vid on it.