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"Lead Off" Drill
This drill comes from Coach Glen Orsburn our June 2003 Drill of the Month Winner.
Equipment: Batting Cage, Pitching Machine, Protective Screen, Balls, Helments
This drill is useful for the following:
- Leading off (with the pitch.)
- Base running.
- Conditioning (focus on doing everything quickly.)
- Base running based upon situation.
- Listening skills (coach giving instructions.)
Place bases around the outside of the batting cage to simulating the ball field. Place runners on bases setting up situations. When the person feeding the balls into the pitching machine releases the ball into the machine, the runners take their lead. If the ball hits on the ground before pitching machine, runners advance - otherwise return for the next pitch (speed is everything.)
Many options could be used with this drill. Line drives – the runners go based upon coach's instructions, or runners dives back to the base the runner was occupying, then the runners quickly gets ready for the next pitch.
*Key points -
- All players in the batting cage and all base runners must wear batting helmets.
- A protective screen should be used to protect the pitcher and the pitching machine.
- Close supervision is necessary when using a pitching machine near children.
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