Post Strikeout or Infield Out Routine

[johnlanza]

We're still in a coach-pitch league, and the only thing that we may do that other teams in our league don't is to get the ball back to our pitcher after the play is dead. Our pitcher then gives the ball to the coach who is pitching for the other team.

So it just had me wondering: At what age do you start throwing the ball around the infield after a strikeout or infield out? Obviously not in coach-pitch, but I also help with an 11/12 year-old team that does not throw it around (though other teams in that league do).

[Richmond Coach]

I would say once you get on the big field. My son plays 11U Travel. Last year at the 10U Level, we had a coach that would spend practice time on throwing the ball around. As we were losing a game 17-4, we executed a perfect late-game around the horn after an out. One of the parents yelled out "maybe you should spend more time practicing making outs..." They never threw the ball around again after that.

With that said - unless you can do it perfectly. There is no place for it in a time-limit game.

[Kings over Queens]

As soon as possible.

We started doing it at 8/9. If they dropped the ball the excercise was over and they had to run after it and get it back to the pitcher. To some it may seem silly but the practice really forces them to focus on chest high accurate throws and gets them working as a team. They don't want to be the one who threw it away or didn't make the catch.

The other thing to reinforce is sportsmanship. They aren't throwing the ball around to show up the opposing player or team who struck out.

[Kings over Queens]

One of the parents yelled out "maybe you should spend more time practicing making outs..."

Yeah, I love that. It's almost always the coaches fault when the kids can't make plays. :headbeat:

Throwing the ball around after achieving an out (K or fielding out) is something the team should practice and become proficient at. They earned it, but I do agree, they shouldn't do it UNTIL they are proficient at it.

I remember the first time we got it right. I looked over at the other coach and laughed "It's like baby's first steps." He got a chuckle out of that too.

[skipper5]

As soon as possible.

We started doing it at 8/9. If they dropped the ball the excercise was over and they had to run after it and get it back to the pitcher. To some it may seem silly but the practice really forces them to focus on chest high accurate throws and gets them working as a team. They don't want to be the one who threw it away or didn't make the catch.

The other thing to reinforce is sportsmanship. They aren't throwing the ball around to show up the opposing player or team who struck out.

Agree. Start early. Walk the flubbed ones back to the pitcher.
Round the horn adds to team chemistry, and to the kind of spirit that helps fielders field better.

With younger kids, insist that the infielders sprint way in on the grass, resulting in very short throws.

Some umpires resent the round-the-horn miscues that add a minute or two to the length of a game.

I'm guessing they had miserable childhoods and hate their day-jobs.

[TexAg]

9u travel team does. Minor LL team does not.

I spent about 30mins with the 9u team one practice for them to get it down. We didn't spend anymore practice on it than that initial 30mins. I've found it's helped to keep all the infield players, including the catcher, in the game mentally...number of outs, strikes, runner locations, etc.

As we were losing a game 17-4, we executed a perfect late-game around the horn after an out. One of the parents yelled out "maybe you should spend more time practicing making outs..." They never threw the ball around again after that.

With that said - unless you can do it perfectly. There is no place for it in a time-limit game.

Agree. If we're down by a good margin, or trying to get through a game quickly, we won't do it.

[Roothog66]

I taught it at nine for the simple reason that we were, for the first time, dealing with dropped third strikes. I ran it backwards, having the catcher throw down to first. It was really just a sneaky way of getting my catcher to throw to first on every strike three so he didn't freak out when there was a dropped third. My kids still do it now, but I don't really encourage it or care one way or the other.

[Roothog66]

I would say once you get on the big field. My son plays 11U Travel. Last year at the 10U Level, we had a coach that would spend practice time on throwing the ball around. As we were losing a game 17-4, we executed a perfect late-game around the horn after an out. One of the parents yelled out "maybe you should spend more time practicing making outs..." They never threw the ball around again after that.

With that said - unless you can do it perfectly. There is no place for it in a time-limit game.

I think I would have had to laugh at that one even if it were my team, though I'm sure coach didn't find it that funny at the time.

[Kings over Queens]

Round the horn adds to team chemistry, and to the kind of spirit that helps fielders field better.

I spent a good half hour during our final practice before our first game of the season with each kid in an infiled position working on this. These are 12/13U rec kids, some who have never played on the big diamond before. I explained to them why we were doing it and that it was part of playing baseball. To see them execute it in a game was terrific. It may seem silly, but it may be the only time (this spring season) where they can act, even in the smallest part, like big leagers. And by that I mean doing something good, not the other behaviors that we see and cringe at. lol

[TexAg]

I taught it at nine for the simple reason that we were, for the first time, dealing with dropped third strikes. I ran it backwards, having the catcher throw down to first. It was really just a sneaky way of getting my catcher to throw to first on every strike three so he didn't freak out when there was a dropped third. My kids still do it now, but I don't really encourage it or care one way or the other.

never thought of that.

[flyingmachine3]

‘Around the horn’ tradition continues, even as baseball evolves

Was thinking about this today and just curious at what age/level teams execute this. Our 9U team didn't do any around the horn this season, but did start instituting the traditional sequence of tossing ball around after throw down from catcher to second at the end of pitcher warming up before inning.

I like the mental challenge of keeping the kids engaged during the inning and will probably try to add some more of this at 10U next season.

[AdamInNY]

We started it at 9U. Good idea about getting the catcher to throw to first. We generally throw to 1B or 3B depending on if the batter is righty or lefty.

[raptor]

We started at nine. Wish I'd thought of the throw to first. We went traditional though, to 3rd-ss-2b-3rd. It looks crisp when they get it right and throw and transfer sharply. Another little thing to get your team in the habit of is in infield warmups, have them field their rollers from their deepest throws. 2b is back behind the base, and the ss and 3b are deep. And get away from practicing double plays during infield warmups. For some reason that one looks really bad, imo.

[AdamInNY]

We started at nine. Wish I'd thought of the throw to first. We went traditional though, to 3rd-ss-2b-3rd. It looks crisp when they get it right and throw and transfer sharply. Another little thing to get your team in the habit of is in infield warmups, have them field their rollers from their deepest throws. 2b is back behind the base, and the ss and 3b are deep. And get away from practicing double plays during infield warmups. For some reason that one looks really bad, imo.

I hate this. If left on their own the kids will each take one grounder than practice double plays until balls in.

[flyingmachine3]

I hate this. If left on their own the kids will each take one grounder than practice double plays until balls in.

Really? I can't recall seeing any team do this all year.