Baseball Footwork Drills

Baseball highlight reels are full of blazing fastballs, diving catches and spectacular throws, but the fundamentals underlying these great plays are often overlooked. Regardless of their position, baseball players need to use proper footwork to have success consistently. As a coach, conduct position-specific drills during each practice session to help your players improve their footwork. They may find the drills boring and tedious in the moment, but they will understand their value as the footwork becomes natural during game situations.

Drop Step Drill

When a ball is hit deep over an outfielder's head, he should turn and sprint to where he thinks the ball will land, starting with a drop step, rather than backpedal. If the ball is hit over his left shoulder, he should drop step with his left foot and vice-versa. The drop step is executed by stepping backward and opening the hip and body about 90 degrees.

To perform the drop step drill, have your outfielders line up and the first player step away from the line. Stand about 10 yards in front of the first player and point over either of his shoulders, indicating which way you want him to drop step. After he executes the drop step correctly and begins running away from you, throw a fly ball over his shoulder. Make him start over if he doesn't perform the drop step correctly. Cycle through the line several times.

Side-to-Side Ground Ball Drill

Infielders usually have to move laterally to field ground balls. If the ball is hit to an infielder's left, she needs to cross her right foot over her left and turn her body simultaneously, run behind the ball and then field it off to the side of her body or by squaring her chest to the ball if she has time. She should use the same technique to field balls hit to her right, but cross her left foot over her right. The side-to-side ground ball drill teaches infielders how to perform this footwork correctly and consistently. Have your infielders line up and the first player in line step forward. Alternately roll the ball to his left and right so she can practice the proper footwork in both directions. Give each player five repetitions to each side during each turn.

Catcher's Throwing Footwork Drill

When baserunners try to steal second or third base, catchers need to throw the ball as quickly as possible to get them out. This requires extremely fast footwork. Assuming the catcher is a right-handed thrower, he needs to step toward the base with his right foot immediately after he catches the ball or just before, followed by his left foot as he prepares his arms to throw. Have your catchers practice this by moving from their crouch through the two-step footwork pattern and back as many times as possible for 30 seconds. Have them perform three to five sets with brief rest periods in between.