Glove Work & Footwork: Short Hops on Your Feet
Glove Work & Footwork: Short Hops on Your Feet
By Matt Redman – RBI Australia
Once our players have had some practice with short hops on their knees, it’s time to step it up — literally. The Short Hops on Your Feet drill takes those same fundamentals and challenges players to field short hops from a standing position, just like they would in a game.
It’s a simple but super important drill that helps players build confidence, improve glove control, and get comfortable using their body to work through the ball.
What This Drill?
When kids start learning to field short hops, it’s natural for them to want to scoop up or swipe at the ball. What we want instead is short, controlled stabs and proper positioning — that’s what this drill focuses on.
We reinforce:
- Staying low with knees bent
- Getting eyes behind the ball
- Using small stabs with the glove
How it Works
- Players line up behind the back cone
- One fielder steps up to the front cone
- Coach tosses 3 short hops per player:
- First set: straight-on
- Then: forehand side (with throwing leg forward)
- Then: backhand side (with throwing leg back)
Each player has a turn at each type of hop, rotating through the line while you keep the reps flowing.
Coaching Points
- Eyes behind the ball:
Encourage players to bend their knees and get their eyes as close to the ball as possible. It improves reaction time and makes it easier to track the ball into the glove. - Stay low and controlled:
We want small, compact stabs, not big swings or flails. The lower the body, the more control we have. - Don’t chase misses:
If they miss a ball, don’t let them chase it. Tell them to leave it and move on to the next rep. We’ll collect everything at the end. - Flip it back:
If they field a ball cleanly, they flip it back to the coach. If not, leave it for the next players to gather.
What This Builds
This drill improves:
- Glove discipline
- Foot placement based on stance
- Real-game fielding angles
- Confidence with tricky bounces
It’s also a great way to sneak in some movement patterns they’ll use during backhand and forehand plays in the field — without needing to explain too much technical detail up front.
Wrap Up
The Short Hops on Your Feet drill is a must for any coach working with young or beginner players. It’s easy to run, super effective, and builds confidence in one of the toughest areas of fielding. Stick to the fundamentals — eyes low, short stabs, good positioning — and the results will come.
Run it often and run it clean.
Watch the full video below to see how it’s done! 👇
