Master the Basics: Fielding to Throw Transition
Field to Throw Transition: Stay Low, Follow the Ball
One of the key lessons we focus on early with beginner players is this: what happens after you field the ball? Too often, players freeze up — they field it cleanly, then hesitate on what to do next. That’s why the Field to Throw Transition drill is so important. It helps young players string the whole movement together — from clean fielding to a confident, accurate throw.
This drill is a progression from the first two we cover in the early weeks of our Academy:
✅ Step and Stop Drill (establishing throwing position)
✅ Two Steps to Field, Two Steps to Throw (building basic rhythm)
Now we put it all together — in a way that actually gets kids moving with purpose and building momentum through the play.
Setting Up the Drill
You’ll need a long cage or open area — more space than the last two drills. The coach will be rolling grounders and receiving throws, so grab your glove. I like to use two cones for crowd control:
One cone at the back for the group to line up behind
One up front for the active player
This keeps things neat and safe, especially if you’re running this drill with T-ballers or younger kids.
How it Works
- The player steps us to the front cone.
- Coach rolls the ground ball.
- Player performs the “one, two, field” we taught earlier.
- Then transitions smoothly into “one, two, throw” and aims for the coach’s chest.
Simple as that — but it teaches so much.
This is also a great time to introduce the idea of following the ball. I always say:
“Where your eyes go, your body will go. And where your body goes, the ball will go.”
Getting players to move their body in the direction of the throw helps create natural momentum and cleaner mechanics.
Ways to Progress
Once your players are nailing the basics, you can increase the difficulty:
- Roll the ball a little wider and have them work on getting behind the ball
- Increase the pace of the grounders
- Introduce attacking the ball before fielding
But again — only once the foundation is locked in. This drill works best when it’s focused, clean, and repeated enough to build confidence.
Wrap Up
The Field to Throw Transition drill is one of our go-tos at RBI Academy because it connects everything we’ve worked on up to this point. It’s simple, repeatable, and incredibly effective — especially for beginners. Run it clean, keep it moving, and you’ll see massive gains in your players’ game awareness and mechanics.
Watch the full video below to see how it’s done! 👇
