Practice Plans for Developing Infielders

with Karl Nonemaker,
Auburn University Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator;
former Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator at Old Dominion University; helped lead Auburn to top 20 finishes in the country in runs, home runs, scoring, hits, walks, and doubles in his first season as assistant coach (2018); four-year starter at Vanderbilt as a player and freshman All-American in 1999

The infield is the first line of defense against an opponent's offense. Preparation is everything, as infielders will be asked to convert many types of batted balls into outs.

In this video, Auburn's Karl Nonemaker explains four types of infield drills (basic fundamentals, throwing drills, machine work and game-like reads) and offers numerous exercises that fall into each category.

Fundamental Drills

Fielding skills must be built on a solid foundation; having good fundamentals allows a fielder to be consistent. Coach Nonemaker offers several drills for footwork and glovework mechanics. These drills will help your players become fielders that teammates and coaches will have confidence in in pressure situations.

Throwing Drills

Prevent costly throwing errors with Coach Nonemaker's throwing drills. Learn how to turn quicker double plays by getting a good transfer, and discover how to turn to either side efficiently. These drills will get your infielders throwing the ball around the diamond quickly and crisply!

Machine Work

If baseball is a game of repetition, nothing gets a fielder better reps than setting up the machine to throw ground balls. The same exact ball can be replicated over and over, which is difficult to do with a bat hitting fungo.

In one particular lob drill, the machine is set up to lob a ball with an arc to it. The fielder must move their feet to let the ball bounce before picking it and fielding it on the move. This drill helps the fielder learn to pick the ball and keep their feet moving.

Game-Like Reads and Drills

Make practice more game-like to increase carry-over and transfer to a game. Coach Nonemaker offers drills that are the next closest thing you can get to actual game reps. Your players will be more prepared for the games ahead!

Coach Nonemaker presents 26 challenging drills in total that will prepare your infielders to defend anything hit at them. This is a fantastic instructional video for a baseball coach at any level.

48 minutes. 2019.