BVSA Teaches: Do or Die Drill

On this episode of BVSA Teaches, Mike Abate talks about the do or die drill. Hey guys, this next drill is called a do or die drill. As an outfielder, we need to understand where we should go before the ball is hit, whether it’s in the air or on the ground. If the ball is hit on the ground, we need to come up firing to get the runner at home. This is a do or die play, and the outfielder needs to get into a good athletic position. This helps with fielding the ground ball and working through it to make a good throw. The idea is to get the ball out as quick as possible while staying in control of your body.

Ideally, we want to be in a good athletic position with the glove on the outside of the front foot. Obviously, when you get the ball, the next step is up and throw. Notice what he did, he was fielding the ground ball out front, front foot glove side. Meanwhile his next step, he was up, and the ball was out. The faster we can understand this movement in control, the faster we get the ball out. Obviously, that’s how we throw people out. Every step that we take as an outfielder, if a runner is full speed on the bases, takes about two and a half to three seconds. I’d rather have a guy have great footwork and an average arm because that ball is going out and getting to the base on time.