Title
Players perform lateral shuffles between cones, maintaining an athletic fielding stance to improve agility and footwork.
Compilation
If this video stacks several distinct drills back-to-back, split it into individual, draggable drills — each with its own clip, steps, and tags.
Coach's take
Great for building: Quick lateral agility and maintaining a low athletic fielding stance.
Builds toward Fielding ground balls cleanly to both sides and covering more ground at their position.
What it is
Players line up at one end of a cone grid. On command, they shuffle laterally between cones, staying low in an athletic position. They reverse direction at each cone, moving through the entire grid.
What it practices
This drill practices quick lateral footwork, maintaining a low athletic base, and developing agility for fielding ground balls and covering ground.
Focuses on improving
This drill targets deficiencies in fielding footwork, body control, and lateral quickness, preparing players for dynamic movements on the field.
How to run it
Perform 2-3 sets, with each player completing 4-6 full passes through the cone grid.Setup
- 1Place 3-5 cones in a straight line, approximately 3-5 feet apart, creating a grid.
- 2Have players line up single file to the side of the first cone, facing perpendicular to the line of cones.
- 3Players should start in an athletic fielding stance with knees bent and glove ready, if applicable.
Run the drill
- 1On the coach's command, the first player shuffles laterally to the outside of the first cone.
- 2Without crossing their feet, the player shuffles to the next cone, staying low in an athletic stance.
- 3At each cone, the player quickly changes direction, shuffling to the next cone in the opposite direction.
- 4Continue shuffling laterally between all cones, maintaining the athletic stance.
- 5Once the player reaches the last cone, they sprint back to the starting line.
Coaching cues
- Stay low!
- Quick feet, soft knees.
- Eyes up.
- Shuffle, don't cross.
- Butt down.
Common mistakes
- Standing too tall, losing the athletic fielding position.
- Crossing feet instead of shuffling, which slows down lateral movement.
- Failing to change direction quickly at the cones.
- Looking down at the cones instead of maintaining a game-ready head position.
Progressions
- Add a ball toss at the end for a scoop or catch after the shuffle.
- Vary cone spacing to change the intensity of lateral movement.
- Require players to touch each cone with their gloved hand while staying low.
- Introduce a verbal cue for direction changes (e.g., 'right', 'left').
Coach notes