Charging the ball

[goblue89]

We are working with our infielders, trying to get them to charge grounders more aggressively. It has proven to be a big challenge. These are good players too (11U level), but we just cannot make them charge the ball as much as they should. And those that charge it stop charging as soon as they get to it, instead of charging through the ball.

Any suggested drills folks have used with success?

 

[sluggers]

There isn't any magic--it is a matter of repetitions, good instruction, and feedback.

Get about 100 softballs, line them up, and hit (don't roll) soft ground balls. Critique each player as she fields the ball. If she doesn't do it right, make her repeat immediately--don't have her go to the back of the line. Do it right then, right there.

Then, you have to reward the proper conduct during the game.

 

[starsnuffer]

Agree with Sluggers.

One thing that I find helps is when you have base runners. They need to learn that it's a race, get the ball and make that throw to 1st before the runner gets there. Have two teams, one fielding, one running, and award each team a point for an out or a point for beating the throw to first.

They'll quickly learn WHY they have to charge the ball. If you just tell them to charge, they don't really have incentive to do so. Once they understand why they're doing it, they'll be more likely to do it. Offer candy to the winner, that always helps.

-W

 

[quincy]

Not a perfect drill but:

We place a bucket on the mound and break the girls into 2 Teams. 1 line at 2nd, 1 line at SS.

2 people hitting the ball, the goal is for the girl to catch the ball, drop it in the bucket, then run and step on 2nd. Hit another another ball to the next girl in line for that Team.

Whichever Team loses, usually 2 out of 3 have a small punishment. Goes pretty fast when they understand what they are suppose to be doing.

One of the goals of the drill is to charge thru the ball, other goal is once you do not have the ball anymore go somewhere, do not stand around.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

With my own kid, out in the yard, I am about 20 feet from her. I have the bat in my right hand and the glove on my left. I hit her a ground ball. She fields it and fires to me. I toss it up out of my glove and hit her another ground ball. This will go really fast and you will have to stop once in a while to get her to back up.

 

[Ken Krause]

One thing I've seen over the years when players don't charge the ball, especially younger players, is often the coach (usually a big, burly male) has been hitting hard ground balls at them in an effort to teach them quick hands. The problem is, what it really teaches them is to sit back on their heels and defend themselves from balls hit much harder than a kid their age can hit.

I prefer hitting softer ground balls on a regular basis and getting them in the mindset of charging everything. If I want to work on quick hands, we do it at a short distance, with their butts up against a backstop or net, hitting balls that require fast reactions. At full distance, though, get them charging.

One way to do it is create a competition. Put a stopwatch on them, with a prize for whoever is the quickest, or for anyone who gets below a certain time. It doesn't have to be much of a prize either. My players will generally kill themselves and run over their teammates to win a $1 McDonalds gift certificate.

 

[justwannaplay]

in order to get players to field the ball faster and out front , have them count the hops and challenge them to try and field the balls on the move and not flat footed. My high school baseball coach actually taught us how to concentrate better and eliminate fear of the ball by counting hops in our heads. Start by counting outloud to all. Then as they get better at that try and ask them after the ball was fielded? did you catch a short hop, in between hop or long hop.

Also for the kids who may be afraid of the ball . Do an experiment put face masks on and you will see a few kids react differently than before.

thats my two cents let me kno what you think?

JWP

 

[CoachC]

I have used stop watch timing to great effect. I specifically time from bat hit to first base glove. This can easily be put into context because we all know a good run time from home to first.

I also put them in two lines with two "first basemen" behind me. I roll two balls out of the same hand and make a contest of quickest to the glove. (Can't take credit, saw this on a Howard Kobata DVD)

 

[sluggers]

One thing I've seen over the years when players don't charge the ball, especially younger players, is often the coach (usually a big, burly male) has been hitting hard ground balls at them in an effort to teach them quick hands.

About a month ago, my wife and I watched this coach at home plate hitting rockets to his 10U players. The players had backed up behind 3B just to have a chance to catch the ball. I looked at my wife and said something like, "That coach is clueless. He has no clue what he is trying to teach." My wife said sarcastically, "Well, no one ever is as good as you..."

No sooner had she spoken, the coach miss hit the ball and hit a little dribbler that didn't go by the pitcher's mound. He started screaming at the top of his lungs at the player to "charge the ball". We cracked up and couldn't stop laughing.

 

[softballphreak]

Have the player start charging BEFORE you hit the ball and tell them not to stop but run through it and make the throw.

We do a similar drill where we have them run full speed and throw the ball pretty fast at them chest high and they have to run through the ball, align the shoulders and make a hard throw to first without slowing down.

It's pretty surprising how quickly they overcome some awkwardness and fear of the ball.