1 Fielding a Ground Ball
- Get ready (pre-step). Little "step-step-hop" so he lands on his toes right as the ball is hit. Ready to move, not flat on his heels.
- Charge it. Small quick steps toward a slow roller. Don't stand and wait. "Be early, not late."
- Glove on the ground FIRST. Lay the glove flat in the dirt before the ball gets there. Easier to lift up to a hop than to stab down at it.
- Field out front. Catch it in front of his feet where he can see it. Not underneath him, not off to the side.
- Two hands = "alligator." Glove down low, throwing hand on top like an alligator's mouth. Chomp it shut and bring the ball to his belly. "Alligator, to your belly."
- Eyes on it. Watch the ball all the way into the glove. Most misses at this age are from looking up too early.
What a miss looks like → the one fix
Goes under the glove / through the legs→"Glove in the dirt" (started too high)
Ball gets past him to the side→"Get in front" (move feet so it's between his eyes)
Bobbles / slaps at it→"Two hands, soft, to your belly"
Short and exactly on topic (pre-step, charge, alligator, throw to first). No skipping needed.
2 Throwing for Accuracy
- Turn sideways. Glove-side shoulder points at the target. The turn is where power comes from, not the arm.
- Ball out on top, "down-back-up." Fingers on top of the ball, thumb under. Swing the arm down, back behind him, then up by his ear.
- Pull the glove in. Bring the glove up in front, then pull it back into his chest as the throwing arm comes through. That pull is what snaps the ball to the target. Don't reach the glove out and hold it there.
- Step AT the target. Step with the glove-side foot straight at who he's throwing to. "Where the foot points, the ball goes."
- Finish across. Throwing hand finishes down past the opposite hip. "Reach into your back pocket."
- Accuracy first. Hit the chest. Speed comes later.
What a miss looks like → the one fix
Throw sails high→"Finish down, hand to your pocket" (letting go too early)
Throw one-hops short→"Step at him, throw to the chest"
Throw pulls left or right→"Turn your side to him, step at him" (shoulders were off line)
Watch only these parts (16 min video, skip the rest)
Sideways / open vs closed + field-then-throw1:36–4:14 Glove-arm pull (this is the accuracy piece)5:42–6:58 Target practice + game-like throws10:18–12:39Coach Dan Blewett, "How to Teach Young Kids to Throw." Skip the intro, "why drills don't work," Dominican players, and teaching-girls sections. Not needed for these drills.
3 Put It Together
Field it → bring it to the belly → shuffle feet toward the target → throw to the chest.
Slow and correct first, then add speed. Every rep is field AND throw. Don't let a kid field 20 in a row without making a throw, that's the whole skill.