The ready position is where fielding starts. Kids who know how to stand, wait, and react will track balls better. This drill makes the stance into something they can practice.
Equipment needed: None. Just open space.
Setup: Line the kids up facing you, about 15 feet away.
How to run it:
- Demonstrate the ready position: feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands in front of the chest, ball of the feet ready to move.
- Have them mirror you. Adjust their stance: toes out, chest forward, weight on the balls of their feet.
- Now call out directions: “Go right,” “Go left,” “Go back.” They take two quick shuffle steps in that direction and return to ready position.
- Do 10 reps per direction (10 left, 10 right, 10 back). Thirty total. They’ll be tired and engaged.
- On the last five of each direction, add a clap. They react to the clap and move. That trains the trigger.
What to look for: Kids who stay balanced on every rep. Some will lean forward or backward. That’s slow.
Variation: For kids who are consistent, make the movements faster or add a jump before the direction call. For younger kids, do 5 reps per direction instead of 10.