Preparing Infielders for the Speed of the Game

with Bo Durkac,
University of South Florida Associate Head Coach;
Illinois State Head Coach from 2015 to 2018;
was also an Assistant Coach at Illinois State, Miami and University of North Carolina-Charlotte;
played collegiately and professionally from 1992 through 2001

Every time players move up to a new level, the speed of the game increases. Former professional infielder Bo Durkac gives you a series of drills in this video that will help your players adapt to the speed of the game at your level. Coach Durkac's drills and ideas are shown on the field with his players, but are readily adaptable to any level of play.

Philosophy and Terminology

Durkac explains his philosophy of maximizing practice time in order to get more done in less time. He also explains why daily long toss is essential for the health of your infielders' arms - a practice based on both his professional playing experience and his coaching experience. Terminology is explained in detail so that you and your players can be on the same page at all times, improving efficiency and communication.

Ball Handling Drills

Infielders need to have good hands, and a series of three simple drills are demonstrated to help your players develop soft hands. The Funnel drill is especially beneficial at teaching your players the correct way to use their hands. Coach Durkac emphasizes that early pocket presentation and funneling the ball is how professional infielders field the baseball.

Fungo Drills

The Left/Right Fungos drill and 4.0 Drill are shown live on the field with Coach Durkac and his players in a practice setting. These drills can be easily adapted to multiple levels of play. You'll see Durkac show you how to use the terminology he taught earlier in the video at practice. There are also multiple opportunities to observe the teaching style and points of emphasis Coach Durkac uses with his players, allowing you to see how high level players and coaches interact.

This video is a fantastic resource for any coach that wants their infielders to cut down on errors and make tough plays seem routine. Coach Durkac is a master of his craft and you'll get a lot out of seeing how he trains his players!

55 minutes. 2021.