Purpose: Provides practice for catching balls hit over a fielder’s head.
Equipment: Practice balls, a bat and players with gloves.
Players: Outfielders in their positions. The coach stands at the plate. A relay player positions herself between the coach and the outfielders. A back-up player, usually a pitcher, positions herself near the coach to catch the incoming throws.
Field: Use the full field.
Instruction: The coach hits a long fly ball over a fielder’s head. The fielder must turn and run to the point where she thinks the ball will land, then stop, turn around and face the ball. The fielder cannot watch the ball while running to position herself where it will land. If she does then she loses all her points. After catching the ball, the fielder throws to the relay player. The following points are awarded.
0 points: Fielder misjudges the ball either stoping too soon or running too far. The ball drops in front or behind her.
1 point: Fielder takes four steps or less after turning around to catch the ball.
2 points: Fielder takes two steps or less after turning around to catch the ball
4 points: Fielder fields the ball in the spot where she turns around to make the catch.
The players judge one another and each player keeps track of her own score. Rotate the players after each play. The player with the most points wins!
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