Baseball · Ground balls

Funnel fielding ground balls

Young infielders learn the basic ground-ball pattern: move in, get wide and low with the glove out front, funnel the ball to the belly, then step and throw to a target.

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Start / 5
Time
15 min
Players
3–8
Age
U6+
Area
20 × 20 m
Equipment
12 soft baseballs (reduced-injury) or tennis balls8 gloves, one per player4 cones1 bucket

Setup

  1. Put a cone for the fielding spot about 8 m in front of the coach. The waiting line forms off to the side, not behind the fielder.
  2. A receiver (a helper or a player) stands 10–12 m to the fielder's throwing side with an empty bucket.
  3. The coach kneels or crouches with a bucket of soft balls and rolls them along the ground.
  4. Warm the arms up before the first throw.

How it runs

  1. The fielder starts in a ready position: feet wide, knees bent, glove open and low, hands out in front.
  2. The coach rolls a ground ball straight at the fielder. The fielder takes a few steps in to meet it.
  3. The fielder gets wide and low, glove on the ground out in front, bare hand above it like an open alligator mouth.
  4. As the ball goes in, the bare hand covers it and both hands funnel the ball up to the belly button.
  5. The fielder steps towards the receiver with the glove-side foot and throws to the chest, then jogs to the back of the line. Three balls each, then rotate the receiver.

Coaching points

  • Move in to the ball; don't wait for it to arrive.
  • Feet wider than the shoulders, bottom down, back flat, eyes on the ball.
  • Glove out in front of the eyes and on the ground: it's easier to come up than to go down.
  • Watch the ball all the way into the glove, then cover it.
  • Funnel to the belly, then step and throw. Fielding first, throwing second.
  • Receiver: give a target at the chest and call for the ball.

Common mistakes

  • Standing straight-legged and bending only at the waist.
  • Glove too close to the feet or between the legs.
  • Lifting the head before the ball is in the glove.
  • Trying to throw before the ball is secured.
  • Waiting in line too close to the fielder.

Say it: “Wide, low, out front, funnel.”

Make it harder

  • Roll the ball a few steps to the left or right so the fielder shuffles across first.
  • Hit soft ground balls with a fungo bat instead of rolling them.
  • Time from roll to throw; beat the best time with a clean field.

Make it easier

  • Kneel and field rolled balls without a glove first, using two hands.
  • Roll slowly and straight at the fielder.
  • Field and funnel only; hand the ball to the coach instead of throwing.

Pairs well with

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.