Baseball Canada Coaching Drill: Work Up

Work up is a simple game that is very easy to set up and allows all players to experience different positions.

Assign 7 players to fill all positions (except pitcher and catcher) and sit the rest on the bench or behind a protective screen.
Assign 1 or 2 players to stand just outside the foul line in right field.
Assign 1 or 2 players to track down and retrieve foul balls.
Description:
Rules are easy: Each player has three strikes to put the ball in play. Once the ball has been hit, the defense plays it as a game-type situation. If the player reaches safely, he/she continues to run the bases while the others hit then returns to the hitting rotation after crossing home safely. If the hitter gets put out, he/she grabs their glove and runs down to the 1 or 2 players standing just outside the foul line in right field (if the hitter reaches safely but the runner gets put out, the runner must then grab their glove and run down towards right field).
Players in the field rotate after every put out as follows: right field, center, left field, third, short, second, and finally first base. Once a player reaches first base and a put out is made, he/she then moves to tracking down foul balls for 1 or 2 outs (depending on how many players are designated for that area).
After a player has tracked down foul balls for 1 or 2 outs, he/she gets into the hitting rotation. From the hitting rotation (after the hitter gets put out), players rotate to the area just outside right field. When another out is made, player takes over the right field duty.

Players take turns tracking down foul balls and waiting just outside the foul line in right field for two reasons. The first is that it makes the game run much smoother because there are fewer hold ups (lack of baseballs to throw as well as hitters trying to get their glove and jog out to right field after being put out). The second reason is that there are fewer hitters standing around waiting for a turn.
It may be easiest to simply have a coach pitch from 3/4 distance (use an L-Screen).
Take the time to sit your team down and explain the game before attempting it. It will be extremely hard to gets kids to do this if they don't know where they are supposed to go after every put out. It may help to make a miniature version of the field and go through a short game simulation.
Depending on the age group and whether or not you choose to utilize catchers, you may not want to allow stealing (just play station to station baseball).
Catchers are not necessary. Finding a screen to throw into behind home plate is ideal for quickly gathering baseballs back up.
So the game flows at a steady pace, have players set their gloves in a place that is easily accessible. This way when a player gets out, he/she is ready to fill the right field position.

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