Game version
Fielding game: a partner rolls ground balls and you field and throw to a cone. The pair counts clean plays, then swaps.
Barehand Roll and Field
Field slow rollers with bare hands to learn soft hands and getting low.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Your partner rolls the ball slowly from 15 feet.
Core: Medium. Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Ball, partner
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Fielding
The steps
How it works
- Your partner rolls the ball slowly from 15 feet.
- Get low and field it out in front with two bare hands.
- Bring it to your belly, then toss it back.
- Do 25 rolls.
Coaching point
Hands out front, give with the ball.
Safety: Use a soft training ball for barehand work.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (slow rolls), Core (medium), More (to your sides). Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10.
Story
You are the shortstop in the big game, and every clean play is a big play.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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