OutfieldTeam Concept

Outfield Communication Drill

Fly balls hit between two outfielders get dropped far more often from confusion than from poor catching — this drill teaches the call that prevents it.

Age RangeAges 9+
Duration10 minutes
Group Size3+ players
SportBaseball

Equipment Needed

  • Balls

Keep practice balls on hand

A bucket of practice baseballs means every fly ball rep is ready to go without a pause to retrieve one.

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Setup

  • Two or three outfielders spread out in their normal positions.
  • A coach hits or throws fly balls into the gaps between them.
Outfield Communication DrillL"I got it!"R"Take it!"Fly ball into the gap between two outfielders

Instructions

  1. Coach sends a fly ball into the space between two outfielders.
  2. The player with the better angle and momentum calls "I got it, I got it" loudly, early, and repeatedly.
  3. The other outfielder calls "take it, take it" to confirm and peels off to back up.
  4. Repeat with balls hit to different gaps and depths so every player practices both calling and backing up.
Coaching Points
  • The call has to happen EARLY, well before the ball arrives, not as a last-second decision.
  • Once a call is made and confirmed, the other player fully commits to backing up rather than second-guessing.
  • A loud, repeated call cuts through game noise better than a single quiet one.
  • This is a team habit that has to be drilled specifically — it doesn't develop just from playing games.

Variation

Add a third outfielder for more complex gap calls, or hit balls over the infielders' heads to practice the same communication with them included.