How to Understand Spring Training Drills

A player has described spring training as being like "Groundhog Day--the same thing over, and over, and over, until you get it right." While watching that sort of repetition doesn't sound like it would be any more exciting than watching paint dry, if a fan understands what's going on, it's actually fairly instructive. Read on to learn how to understand spring training drills.

Instructions

    • 1

      Realize that in the first part of spring training, before the schedule of games has begun, most of the day is spent on drills. A major league spring training facility has more than one field, and different drills are held on different fields.

    • 2

      Realize that each position has different drills. The drills are designed to teach players to perform a particular maneuver in the way the team feels it should be performed. For younger players, this sometimes means relearning a maneuver.

    • 3

      Watch pitchers practice defensive skills. They will be gathered in groups and drill moving to cover first base on a ground ball hit to first base, fielding a bunt and throwing to either first base or third base and even calling out that they will field a ground ball.

    • 4

      Watch catchers practice as they learn the best technique of throwing out runners trying to steal bases. The most common part of this skill that young players must relearn is footwork--how to move to catch a pitch thrown up, down, right or left and position themselves to throw in the fewest number of steps.

    • 5

      Watch outfielders as they practice catching fly balls and throw to different bases or to a "cut off man." Footwork is also something stressed in this drill.

    • 6

      Watch hitting drills. Players will hit against pitching machines, batting practice pitchers (usually coaches) and "live pitching," pitchers throwing as they would in a game. Sometimes, drills will consist of live pitching, but the hitters will be told what pitch is coming by the catcher.