Tracking fly balls over the shoulder

Setup

1. The coach stands with a bucket of balls. Fielders line up about 4 m to one side of the coach.
2. Mark a starting cone about 10 m in front of the coach, and two cones far out to the left and right to show where balls will land.
3. Check the running area: no holes, sprinkler heads, fences or other groups in the path.
4. Start with reduced-injury balls if fielders are new to catching on the run.

How it runs

1. The first fielder jogs to the starting cone and faces the coach in a ready stance.
2. The coach points left or right. The fielder drop steps that way (the foot on that side opens back), and sprints on a deep angle.
3. The coach throws the ball high over the fielder's shoulder, leading them. The fielder runs to the spot, then turns the head to find the ball.
4. The fielder catches it on the run with the glove reaching out, then jogs back and drops the ball in the bucket.
5. Each fielder takes 3 balls to each side. Next round: the coach points late, after the fielder has started moving.

Coaching points

• Drop step first: open the hips and turn and run. Don't backpedal for a ball over the head.
• Run on the balls of the feet so the eyes don't bounce.
• Run to where the ball will land with the glove down, then reach out at the last moment.
• Turn the head, not the shoulders, to find the ball, so the run stays straight.
• If the ball goes over the other shoulder, turn the head back through the middle and keep running.

Common mistakes

• Backpedalling, then falling over or misjudging the depth.
• Running with the glove held up in the air the whole way, which slows the run.
• Turning the whole body to look back, so the route curves away from the ball.
• Drifting under the ball and stopping, then reaching back for it.