Long Toss Competition is a fun throwing competition to run at the end of a throwing segment.  Teach, then throw, finish by competing.  This helps to bring a performance-under-pressure into practice and also communicates that accuracy matters in baseball.  We must work to play a solid game of catch.

As soon as you have a winner, blow a whistle and send the kids back to the Warm Up Cones for Quick Defense.  Some sort of prize may be in order or simply have them bat lead-off for drills.  If prize is edible snack (i.e. candy), don’t give to them until water break.

EXECUTION – Run the competition after players have extended out to the max distance and played long toss.  Finish that portion of throwing by walking the extended throwers back to their partners and reset all baseballs to the foul line.  Then, let the competition begin!

• Start Close – Begin with partners approximately one yard apart.  Any throw is fine, as long as ball is airborne – we want all to experience at least a couple throws of “success.”
• Increase Distance Each Throw – Throw only on your coaching verbal, and extend the distance after each throw.  
• Ball Touches Grass = Judge – Anytime ball touches grass, those athletes become fellow judges – there are no “losers” 😉

DC KEYS

• Receiver “Foul Line” – If needbe, mark the line that receiving athlete can NOT move in front of.  Many “rabbits” will run down short throws.
• Anchors – Assign the two ends of the extended catch line as ‘anchors’.  Ensure that they move carefully with you each time you step back to extend the competition distance.  
• Distance Increments – Use common sense as to how many steps to increase after each throw.

EQUIPMENT LIST