This drill focuses on the separation movement of the hands after fielding a ground ball, and can be run on any clean, ground ball surface.  While it would be ideal to run at the SS or 2B area, consider using any dirt foul territory which could leave the diamond open for more infield work.  Separation Drills train the thumb down movement of separation (both glove and hand). Executing this cleanly and quickly helps to get the ball into the hand quickly, so that the hands/arms can move in rhythm with the feet.

EXECUTION – Separation Drills are executed within the Infield Cone Triangle and utilize a catch net for a possible points competition. Two cones are placed 5 yards apart on the infield dirt, a third cone is placed 2 yards behind those to form a triangle. One athlete (live) starts in between the cones, one athlete takes knee at each cone (for ball piles), and the line forms behind the back cone. Seated approximately five yards from the athlete, roll athlete five successive ground balls for each movement:

• Glove Hand – Throwing hand behind back (sets of 5 GB’s)
• Top Hand – Add top hand, glove can stay down in fielding position (sets of 5 GB’s)
• Both Hands – Add the feet and separate with both hand (sets of 5 GB’s)

DC KEYS

1. Control Pace – Start slow to allow for proper execution.
2. Get up to speed! Kids LOVE it when you get going here. Grab five baseballs in your two hands and be prepared to let it rip. Best athletes will challenge YOUR hand speed 😉
3. To Pushup or Not Pushup – Pushups can be viewed as ‘negative.’  However, I’ve coached young kids for 15 years and every single kid LOVES the competition and challenge associated with the push-up police. So long as you, as coach, are positive, happy, and have fun with them… they will enjoy it.

EQUIPMENT LIST