Glove Work & Footwork: Full Cage Long Roll with Footwork
Full Cage Long Roll with Footwork: Putting it All Together
By Matt Redman – RBI Australia
After working through our Footwork Around the Cones drill, it’s time to take off the training wheels. This next step — removes the cones but keeps the same essential movements. It’s where players start to tie together clean glove work, quick foot replacement, and an accurate throw… all at once.
Why We Run This Drill
By now, we’ve drilled the footwork. We’ve drilled the fielding technique. Now we want to see if players can apply those fundamentals without the guide of cones.
This drill helps players
- Reinforce their footwork under more realistic conditions
- Work on body control and positioning
- Make accurate throws while staying balanced
- Understand why following the throw matters
It’s still basic – but it’s a crucial bridge before we get into faster-paced, reactive drills.
The Setup
Split your group in half. If we’ve got 12 players, we go two groups of six, using two full cages.
You’ll need:
- A glove (for the coach)
- Two cones (one at the back, one at the front)
How It Works
- All players line up behind the back cone
- The active player steps up to the front cone
- Coach rolls a controlled ground ball
- Player uses “one, two, field”, replaces their feet, and throws
- Player follows their throw all the way in
Repeating the Movement
This drill is all about repetition with purpose.
- One, two, field
- Replace your feet (just like in the cones drill)
- Throw to the coach
- Follow the ball
That last part is key — follow the ball into the throw. We’re getting kids used to using their body to drive momentum toward the target. Like I always say:
Where your body goes, the ball will go.
If you’re running this drill outdoors, feel free to mix it up:
- Roll the ball to one side or the other
- Have players run behind the ball and beat it to the spot
- Make sure they still hit that strong fielding and throwing position
Keep It Simple, Keep It Clean
This drill may feel like a step up, but it’s still focused on mastering the basics. We’re just giving kids the opportunity to apply those skills without the crutch of cones — which is exactly what they’ll need to do in games.
Run it smooth, keep the line moving, and watch those fundamentals take hold.
Watch the full video below to see how it’s done! 👇
