Following the scoop drill, the next step in this outfield do-or-die progression is the ladder drill. The purpose of this drill is to practice correct body and glove position when fielding a do-or-die.
How it works: Set up a ladder in the outfield. The coach stands/kneels about 10 ft. away with a tennis ball. When the player is ready, she steps in the first box of the ladder with her throwing foot, then fields the tennis ball off of her glove foot with her bare hand. Your players should stay tight to their body and low to the ground by bending with the knees, not at the hips. Continue this process until your player makes it through the whole ladder.
Variations: Once your players have done this several times with a tennis ball, repeat the process with a real ball and glove. If this drill is being done with more than one player, each player receives 3-5 rolls from the coach, then continues through the ladder with no ball as the coach moves on to the next player.
Requirements: A ladder, tennis ball, softballs, gloves, and 1-5 players.