Title
Outfielders shuffle laterally while tracking fly balls, then move under the ball with proper footwork and positioning.
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: Fly ball tracking, first-step quickness, lateral agility, and proper overhead catching mechanics.
Builds toward Consistently making clean overhead catches on routine fly balls and pop-ups, enabling efficient coverage in the outfield and infield.
What it is
A coach tosses fly balls to an outfielder who starts in a lateral shuffle position. The player tracks the ball in the air while shuffling sideways, then breaks under the ball to set up for the catch. Cones mark the shuffle lane and target positioning.
What it practices
Develops lateral footwork and body control while maintaining visual tracking of airborne balls. Trains the drop-step and route-running mechanics needed to get the glove-side foot under incoming fly balls.
Focuses on improving
Builds first-step reads and lateral mobility for outfielders who drift on fly balls or lose positioning while tracking. Improves the transition from movement to proper catch setup.
How to run it
Perform 5-8 catches per player, then switch starting directions or rotate players.Setup
- 1Place two cones 3-5 feet apart, representing the player's initial lateral movement zone.
- 2Player stands in the middle of the cones, facing the coach, wearing a glove.
- 3Coach stands 10-15 feet in front of the player with a bucket of soft toss balls (tennis balls or wiffle balls).
Run the drill
- 1Coach gives a verbal cue like "Go" to signal the start of the rep.
- 2Player shuffles laterally to touch one of the cones with their foot.
- 3As the player shuffles, the coach tosses a soft fly ball, varying its height and direction (left, right, or straight up).
- 4Player reacts to the ball, moving their feet quickly to get directly underneath it.
- 5Player catches the ball overhead, using two hands to secure it if possible.
- 6Player returns to the starting position between the cones, ready for the next rep.
Coaching cues
- "Find it!"
- "Get under it!"
- "Soft hands!"
- "See it all the way in!"
- "Move your feet!"
Common mistakes
- Standing flat-footed and reaching for the ball instead of moving feet.
- Running backward with eyes off the ball instead of turning and getting under it.
- Catching with one hand or letting the ball drop into the glove rather than catching with soft hands.
- Failing to get directly under the ball, leading to off-balance catches or drops.
Progressions
- Increase the distance between the cones to demand more lateral movement.
- Increase the distance the coach is throwing from to challenge tracking skills.
- Use real baseballs once players are consistently catching soft toss balls.
- Add a verbal command from the coach to tell the player which cone to touch before the toss.
- After the catch, have the player turn and throw the ball back to the coach.
Coach notes
transcript
[00:02] Go. Find it. Find it. Get under. [00:07] Find it. Find it. Get under. Find it. Get under. There you go. Touch [00:10] Find it. Get under. There you go. Touch the cone. Find it. Get under it.