This detailed sequence of drills will give any team's pitching staff (from J.V. through college) all the fielding work they need on a regular basis. This 15-minute full-team drill can be run indoors or outside on the diamond. Put 3 pitchers on the mound with 3 catchers in the homeplate area. Position players are at their spots. (Outfielders should also know an infield position, so everyone can be involved.)

For our page of techniques for holding runners, click here.


The drill is divided into 3 overlapping groups:

• P-C-1 One pitcher, the firstbasemen, and one catcher work together.
• P-C-MID Second pitcher, middle infielders and second catcher work together.
• P-C-3 Third pitcher, thirdbasemen and third catcher work together.

Each catcher has a playbook sheet (see below). Situations are called out to his 'group' and they run that play. When first teaching the drill, go slowly with each group, watch for proper execution.
Once the 'playbook' roles and responsibilities are taught (one play at a time) all three groups can overlap - in quick sequence. Each battery executes one play then the next battery does one, and so on. With first base (say) getting repositioned while a play is happening at second base, then third - there's no delay while players get back in position for their next turn.

Once a battery has run through the complete playbook for one base, they hook up with the fielders at the next base and run through that playbook sequence.

As each pitcher completes his sequence, a 4th, then 5th (etc.) pitcher can join in and the first set of pitchers can move to any other defensive position they might also need to practice.


Here's the meat of this practice routine.
You need 3 playbook lists for the catchers - one for each fielding-base group shown on the diagram above. Each play is called in turn then executed once. The same approach used for fielding plays can be used for pick-off routines.