The ready position is where fielding starts. Kids who know how to stand, wait, and react will track balls better. This drill makes the stance into something they can practice.

Equipment needed: None. Just open space.

Setup: Line the kids up facing you, about 15 feet away.

How to run it:

  1. Demonstrate the ready position: feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands in front of the chest, ball of the feet ready to move.
  2. Have them mirror you. Adjust their stance: toes out, chest forward, weight on the balls of their feet.
  3. Now call out directions: “Go right,” “Go left,” “Go back.” They take two quick shuffle steps in that direction and return to ready position.
  4. Do 10 reps per direction (10 left, 10 right, 10 back). Thirty total. They’ll be tired and engaged.
  5. On the last five of each direction, add a clap. They react to the clap and move. That trains the trigger.

What to look for: Kids who stay balanced on every rep. Some will lean forward and tip onto their toes; others will lock their knees and stand straight up between calls. You want a low chest, soft knees, and feet that move first. If the head bobs up before the feet move, the stance is wasted.

If they’re struggling: Cut to one direction at a time and walk through it slow. Tap their knee and tell them “soft” so they remember to bend.

If they’ve got it: Replace your voice with a tossed ball. Roll a tennis ball left or right and have them shuffle to it instead of reacting to a clap.