Home Drills for Shortstops: Help Your Player Own the Infield
The shortstop is often the leader of the infield—fast, focused, and fearless. It’s a position that requires athleticism, quick decision-making, and serious glove skills. At the youth level, it’s also a great spot to develop all-around baseball instincts.
If your player wants to improve at shortstop, they don’t need a full-size field or team practice every day. With just a glove, a ball, and a little space, they can sharpen key skills right at home—with your help!
⚾ What Makes a Strong Shortstop?
For 10U and 12U players, shortstop is more than just fielding grounders. They need to:
- React quickly to hard-hit balls
- Move side-to-side with control
- Make strong, accurate throws across the diamond
- Lead double plays
- Communicate with teammates
- Understand game situations
It’s a lot—but with focused reps at home, your player can master the building blocks.
🏡 Shortstop Drills to Do at Home (Parent + Player Friendly)
No fancy equipment needed—just a glove, ball, open space (driveway, garage, yard), and a willing partner (you!).
1. Lateral Shuffle + Ground Ball Drill
Goal: Train quick side-to-side movement and clean fielding.
How to do it:
- Set up two cones about 6–8 feet apart.
- Have your player shuffle between cones, staying low and athletic.
- Roll a ground ball midway through their shuffle and have them field it cleanly, funnel to their body, and simulate a throw.
Emphasize: Glove out front, quick feet, and keeping the butt down.
2. Quick Transfer Drill
Goal: Improve glove-to-hand speed for fast throws or double plays.
How to do it:
- Stand a few feet away and toss short grounders or soft hops.
- Have your player field the ball and immediately transfer it to their throwing hand.
- Use light tosses or tennis balls if inside.
Variation: Add a “fake throw” at the end to simulate in-game movement.
3. Shortstop Throwing Footwork Drill
Goal: Practice proper footwork for strong throws to first base.
How to do it:
- After fielding a ball, have your player take two quick shuffle steps and simulate a throw across the body.
- Focus on staying balanced and finishing toward the target.
- Reinforce stepping toward the target with the front foot—not throwing off the back foot.
Tip: You can even lay out a tape “throwing lane” on the driveway to help them visualize direction.
4. Triangle Reaction Drill
Goal: Build reaction time and change-of-direction skills.
How to do it:
- Set up three cones in a triangle around the player (front, left, and right).
- Randomly roll grounders toward any cone.
- Your player reacts quickly, gets into fielding position, and works on footwork and glove control.
Bonus: Have them call out where they would throw the ball (e.g., “first!”, “second!”) for situational awareness.
5. Backhand + Glove Side Drill
Goal: Get comfortable fielding balls on both sides.
How to do it:
- Toss grounders slightly outside the player’s glove and backhand side.
- Teach them to angle their body and use the proper glove angle.
- Mix in regular grounders to keep it unpredictable.
Pro Tip: Use a tennis ball indoors for safety. Outside, you can roll real baseballs on grass or dirt.
🧢 Tips for Parents
- Start slow. Break down movements before speeding up. Fundamentals come first.
- Praise effort, not perfection. Shortstop is fast-paced—mistakes happen. Focus on attitude and hustle.
- Keep it short. 15–20 minute sessions 2–3 times per week are ideal for building muscle memory.
- Add fun. Turn it into a challenge (“How many clean backhands in a row?”) or simulate game scenarios.
Final Word
The shortstop position is a huge responsibility—but also a ton of fun. With a few reps at home each week, your player can build better instincts, cleaner glove work, and stronger throws.
And best of all, these drills are a great way to spend time together while helping your athlete grow—on and off the field.
Let’s build a shortstop who’s ready for anything!