Enhance Outfield Reaction Time With Blind Ball Drills

Enhance Outfield Reaction Time With 

Blind Ball Drills

by Zac Clark

Originally Published On: www.Stack.com

To develop outfield fundamentals such as footwork, range and ability to judge balls on the run, try the Blind Ball Drill. The drill calls for a coach or partner to throw the ball from a short distance to a player who has her back turned. The player must turn, locate the ball and catch it quicker than a standard fly ball.

“Once they get used to judging balls and trying to pick up balls at that distance, we start hitting live balls to them,” Rittman says. “It’s a little bit longer distance, so they feel like they have more time to judge and to react.”

Before setting your sights on the Blind Ball Drill, first have a look at Rittman’s Cardinal rules for playing the outfield:

• On a fly ball or line drive, your first step is a drop step
• If the ball is hit over your right shoulder, execute a drop step with your right foot into a crossover [vice versa if the ball is hit over your left shoulder]
• Once you’ve made up ground and caught up with the ball, do not turn and backpedal; instead, open up your body in the direction of the ball
• Catch the ball on the throwing-arm side of your body; this will enable you to get rid of it in one fluid motion
• When catching the ball, move through it with your shoulders turned toward targeted base
• If chasing a ball at full speed, pump both arms and run on the balls of your feet

Blind Ball Drill

• Take position in outfield facing away from home plate
• Partner standing approximately 30 yards away throws fly ball while simultaneously shouting “ball” command
• Upon command, turn around, locate ball and catch it

Coaching Point: React quickly to where ball is thrown

Variation 1: Blind Foul Ball Drill

• Perform drill with partner throwing fly balls into foul territory
• Upon command, turn around and sprint toward foul territory to catch ball

Coaching Points: Run on balls of feet // Pump both arms while running

Variation 2: Blind Fence Drill

• Perform drill standing five to 10 yards away from fence
• Upon command, turn around, locate ball and catch it in front of fence

Coaching Points: Use warning track to judge distance to fence // For deep balls, get to fence first and then track ball

Variation 3: Blind Ball With Runners on Base

• Perform any variation of Blind Ball drill
• Upon command, turn around and locate ball
• Catch ball on throwing arm side of body and throw ball to third base

Coaching Point: When catching ball, move through ball with shoulders turned toward targeted base