Rounders: Short catching relay

Two players per team, stood about 4-5 metres apart between two cones (the goal). Both teams must try to protect their goals by stopping the opposition from throwing the ball through their goal. Using only underarm throws players must try and score in their opponent's goal. A goal is awarded every time their opponent either drops the ball or fails to prevent it passing between their cones.

Pairs stand 3 to 4 metres apart between a pair of cones (their goal). By throwing the ball underarm, below waist height, players must try to get the ball through their opponent's cones. Players score a point every time their opponent either drops the ball or fails to prevent it passing between their cones.

Set Up: 1 feeder, 1 worker, 6 rounders balls, cones, mat. The Drill: Players work in twos and start with the feeder kneeling on the mat facing the 6 balls in front of them. The worker is 3 metres away to the side of mat. The feeder feeds the 6 balls out of the side of their hand for the worker to catch and then drop as many as possible.

This is a relay for players to learn to react to balls that don't come directly towards them. In Groups of 4, with one feeder and 3 players stood in a line players take it in turns to run out and react to the ball that's been thrown wide of them. Once the ball's been thrown fielders must run out and gather the ball, before then throwing it back to the feeder and running to the back of the line, waiting for their next turn.

Organisation: Divide the group into pairs. Organise the practice as shown in the diagram. Aim is to beat partner, using underarm throw. One point is given for every time the ball passes between the markers. Equipment: 1 ball per pair, 4 marker cones per pair.

hands on thighs. Ball come into players peripheral vision. Feeder drops both balls and calls

In 4s, feeder rolls the ball in to worker who picks up and releases out of the side of the hand to the post player. Meanwhile the batter is running as soon as the ball is released to put pressure on the fielder and post player. worker works for 30 seconds then changes

1) runs out and picks up the stationary ball and throws over top to 2). 2) rolls the ball back out to 1), 1) gathers with barrier and replaces it and joins the back of the queue. When 1) tags 2), 2) then goes, 3) takes up position by post. This can be done in a race against another group.

Pick up on turn and throw to run out station Batter (carrying bat) (1) calls YES and tries to run 2 lengths whilst fielder (1) runs out to stationary ball, picks it up and throws it to the player at the post , thus trying to run out B(1). Player at post throws ball back to F(1) who replaces ball on the ground for next fielder. 1 replaces the fielder by the post

In 3’s. 2 feeders and one worker. Feeder one feeds the ball by rolling it along the ground to land in-between the cones where the worker starts from. Worker picks up the ball and gives it in one movement back to the feeder. They then turn and receive the ball from feeder 2 who does the same. This drill can be used with a short pick up or an underarm catch and release. 19b Slow motion of 19 

Pick up a static ball and running posts Slow motion then full speed to illustrate coaching points

Set up: 6 players, rounders balls, posts. The drill: The bowler bowls the ball to the batter who catches the ball, and rolls it to fielder 1. Fielder 1 throws the ball into the 2nd post, which should now be occupied by the runner from post 1, who only runs to second once the batter has caught the ball. Fielders 2 and 3 form a triangle with the post to back up the throw. The triangle should be in line with wherever the ball is coming from. The batter could run to put pressure on the fielders

The minimum players required for this practice is 5 4 cones or posts and 1 ball. The player start ting of with the ball (white 1) has to throw the ball to the red 1. Red one has to then throw via red 3 to the white 3 who has to touch the post with the ball. the aim for whit player 1 is to try and get to the post on the other side before the ball does. After each race the practice reverse and starts again going to opposite way

In 2's or 3's drop the reaction ball catch it after 1st bounce then catch after 2nd bounce

Feeder holds 2 different colour balls (calls out a 1 colour or both) for player to react and catch a ball after just one bounce

Organisation: Each player has a ball which is thrown at a target on the wall. As the ball rebounds, the ball is fielded using long barrie. In restricted space players may operate in pairs. Equipment: 1 ball per player. Firm wall surface. This can be done in teams who can race eachother.

In 2’s or 3’s one worker faces the opposite direction to the feeder. Feeder rolls the ball away for the worker to collect and send back to feeder or to post person.

3 players 1 ball. Player A and player C stand side by side, with player C facing the opposite way to where the ball is being fed. Player A rolls the ball along the ground and shouts "go". Player C turns around chases the ball, sets, and then throws to player B on the post.

Players stand in teams behind their cone, with a ball each. When the coach says 'Go' each player rolls their ball out diagonally, through the cones nearest their starting position. After rolling out their own ball (along the ground) players must sprint out and collect the ball thrown by the other side. As soon as they have collected the ball they must sprint back with the ball in hand past the starting cone. The coach decides which player makes it back first and awards their team one point.

This is a hit throw and follow exercise. One player by each post and one deep fielder. The rest of the players stand behind the line waiting their turn to bat. One player starts the practice by hitting the ball towards the deep fielder. The deep fielder has to catch or gather the ball and throw the ball to the nearest post player who has to touch the post with the ball after which the post player throws the ball back to the next player in the batting square. Rotation the player that hit the ball runs anywhere into the field to be the next target. the previous fielder has to run to the post they threw the ball to and the post player goes to the back of the line of waiting players.