A Wise Athlete Sport and education. Both.
Get the app

Baseball and softball · Basic · b1

Grip and throw at a target

At home 6 min 1 to 2 players Yard or lane, park

Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.

Start a session

What you are learning

The overhand throw: the ball held in the fingers, side-on, a step with the opposite foot, the elbow high, and a follow-through to the target. Every fielder throws this way to get runners out.

Words on this card Fielder, Side-on, Follow-through
Fielder
A player on the team in the field, trying to get batters and runners out.
Side-on
Standing with a shoulder, not the chest, toward where you aim.
Follow-through
The arm or bat keeps moving toward the target after the throw or the hit.

Set up

A soft ball, a wall or fence with a chalk box at chest height, a throwing line 3 m away (6 big steps).

Weather: dry ground

The base setup for baseball and softball

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Hold the ball in the fingers, not the palm: fingers on top, thumb underneath.
  2. Stand side-on, the shoulder of your other arm pointing at the box.
  3. Step toward the box with the opposite foot and swing the arm from behind your body, elbow high.
  4. Let go and follow through, the hand finishing toward the target.

Your part while they practise

Stand beside the child, never in front of them; do not throw at them. Collect the balls.

Step by step

  1. Hold the ball in the fingers.
  2. Stand side-on at the line, eyes on the box.
  3. Step with the opposite foot and throw, elbow high.
  4. Follow through to the box.
  5. 10 throws, then collect.

How much: 3 rounds of 10 throws 6 min a session 3 days a week On your own: at a wall

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Box points

A point for each throw inside the chalk box.

Who plays: the child against you, or two children, taking turns.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. Take turns from the throwing line, one throw each
  2. Watch where each throw hits the wall
  3. Collect the balls when they run out. 15 throws each
Fair play
The grown-up throws from 2 m farther back.
Points
1 point for each throw that hits inside the box.
Fouls
No point for that throw
  • Stepping over the line
  • An underarm or side-arm throw
  • Throwing while someone is in front of the thrower
Winning
More points after 15 throws each.
Stars
  1. 5 points for 1 star
  2. 8 points for 2 stars
  3. 11 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

Stand 2 m away, a bigger box or a beanbag.

Harder

Step back one pace after each success while the form stays good.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the ball flies high and wide Point your front foot at the targetThe front foot steps straight toward the box.
  • the arm swings from the side Elbow up, then throwThe elbow comes up to shoulder height before the throw.
  • the arm stops at release Follow through to the targetThe hand keeps going toward the box after letting go.

Self-check

6of 10

6 of 10 throws hit the box from 3 m.

Stop and get a coach when

Pain in the shoulder or elbow; stop and rest, do not throw through it.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains overhand throw, accuracy.

awiseathlete.com/sports/baseball-softball/baseball-softball-b1