CoachPat writes "Here's a competitive game/youth baseball drill your players will love that also serves as a great warm up or practice ending drill. "Ultimate Baseball" is modeled after "Ultimate" - a fast-moving team sport played with a Frisbee on a football field. The only difference in the baseball version is you play with a RIF 1 or safety-soft baseball and gloves. What makes it a great warm up drill is that you can start with as few as four players (2 on 2), and players can join in as they show up. Many of your kids are already familiar with Ultimate as it is a popular among PE teachers for it's simplicity and fun. As youth baseball coaches we are always looking for fun educational experiences for the kids. Click read more to see the drill from Coach pat and Coaching Youth baseball..
This game can be played anywhere you
have a large open area, ideally rectangular in shape. The area can be as
small as a basketball court (yes - this can be played inside too), up
to a football-sized field if you have enough players. Mark the corners
of the field with cones or whatever is handy. The "end zones" are five
yards deep. Divide into two evenly-matched teams, have one team turn
their hats backwards so players know which team is which, and send them
to opposite ends of the field.
The Game
Play
begins with a "kickoff", as one team throws the ball to the other - the
ball does not have to be caught in the air. The objective is to move
the ball up the field into the end zone they face. The ball is advanced
by catching throws from a teammate. Once a ball is caught, the offensive
player must immediately establish a pivot foot, from which they will
make their throw. Any "pass" that hits the ground results in a turnover
with other team assuming possession of the ball, and they immediately
begin to advance the ball the other way to their end zone. Defensively,
players typically "match up" with an offensive player, with a defensive
player guarding each offensive player. No contact is allowed on purpose
between offense and defense. One difference from Ultimate - the
defender guarding the player with the ball must give them room to throw,
to minimize any chance of injury. Defensive players can
intercept the ball in the air, which also constitutes an immediate
turnover. After the offense scores by catching a pass in the end zone,
they just drop the ball and get back on defense. The offensive team then
begins their drive from the end zone.
Offensive
Strategy
Short, accurate throws to open players have a
much greater chance for success than the "long bomb". Unless your
target is wide open, a long high pass is easy for the defense to
intercept. This won't stop young or inexperienced players from trying -
but they usually learn with time a shorter pass is bette than getting
picked off. If the defense is hanging back waiting for the long ball,
two offensive players can just run up the field by constantly tossing
back and forth (underhand) until the defense decides pick them up.
Defensive
Strategy
"Man to Man" defense works best. Good passes
are just too fast and accurate with a baseball for a Zone defense to
work well. Matching up with someone of similar abilities gives the
defense their best chance to prevent scores. Smart defenses will smother
the short game, and force the offense into longer throws.
That's
it - pretty simple as far as rules. What about "pass interference" you
ask? As with Ultimate, the "spirit of the game" calls for any offensive
player that feels they were interfered with to call the foul. There is
no arguing the call - and the ball is simply returned to the spot of the
throw for a "do over". You may be surprised to watch kids play a game
that doesn't require a referee, but it just seems to work. All you have
to do is stand back and watch them run themselves ragged, or grab a
glove and join in the fun!
"
