2-Ball Intense Team Defense

by Coach Rich Hamilton

Here, at Red Mountain, we needed to find a way to keep the interest up in our defensive sessions. We would get good intense individual work, but, the team sessions would lack the same intensity; it just did not keep their interest.

2-Ball, keeps everyone, starters, back-ups and coaches, engaged in the drill at ALL times. The concentration needed to do the drill is extremely important. Each player needs to know where each coach is hitting to and what job they have on that hit.

2-Ball is a concentration intensive, defensive drill that utilizes two coaches hitting balls to two different defensive positions at the same time. One coach always hits to the infielders and the other coach always hits to the outfielders. The outfield coach hits a fly ball or a ground ball to the left fielder, the play is made and the throw goes to 2nd base, the 2nd baseman ( or SS), who received the throw, throws the ball to the 3rd base bag; the 3rd baseman inside pivots and throws to a catcher on the 3rd base side of the bag, 15 feet from up the line from home plate. The outfield coach continues hitting balls to the center fielder and right fielder, in that order, one ball to each outfield position. While this is going on, the infield coach hits a ground ball to each infield position, beginning at 3rd base. The throw is made to the 1st baseman and she throws to a catcher to the 1st base side, 15 feet up the line from home plate. These two drills go on at the same time. The concentration needed by each player is important so no one gets hit. Each coach needs to be in control of the ball they hit with players ready. Players are responsible for being ready for each ball hit in their direction, as well as errant balls hit in other directions. We do this for a period of time that is somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes.

The next session, the outfield ball will now be thrown to 3rd base with a short-stop cutoff, if necessary, from right field (right field needs to be played more to right center). The infield coach will now hit double play balls to each infielder. Again, both coaches need to maintain a consistent order from the left side of the field to the right side of the field. This will be done for approximately 5-10 minutes.

In the last session, all balls will be thrown home. Infielders need to play up, while outfielders play in the desperate area. Coaches now must alternate hitting the balls to their fielders. By splitting the field in half, all left side players (3B, SS, and LF), will throw the ball to the left side catcher at home plate. The right side players (1B, 2B, CF, and RF) will throw the ball to the 1st base catcher at home plate. This session slows down just a bit because all the balls are being thrown to the plate.

Some keys for success with this drill are:
~ It is best to utilize two players at each position
~ Coaches need to be careful when they are hitting the ball
~ Outfield coach always hits to the outfield
~ Infield coach always hits to the infield
~ Concentrate on good catching and throwing mechanics
~ Communication and encouragement from players is a must
~ Last, but not least
~ The coaches control the tempo and speed of the drill.
This will be important in the beginning or the season to establish the expectations of the drill.

This drill has become a staple at Red Mountain. It gives us the concentration and intensity that we were looking for to play routine fly balls and ground balls. 2-Ball is the perfect bridge between our individual period and our team defensive period. If the expectation is high from the coaching staff, the determination of the players to be successful will undoubtedly get the drill done.

Coach Rich Hamilton
Red Mtn HS. Mesa, AZ
rjhamilt@mpsaz.org

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