TPFP is a great defensive drill and essential when it comes to teaching pitchers how to hop off the mound and throw a baserunner out. The problem I see with the way it is done by some coaches is that a lot of times they have a huge line of guys behind the mound and just hit grounders to one pitcher at a time. That drill is important and needs to be done, so the pitcher can react right, left or in front, but its not the only way to do it.
I don’t like players standing around for a long time so listed below is a way to involve your entire defense. Give this a try at your next practice and let me know how it goes. This article acts as a blog so you can leave your responses below and I will publish them, minus any profanities it it turns into a circus!
Team PFP
1.) Catchers are at home plate area. One is behind the plate and the other 2 are on either side of him about 7 feet apart.
2.) Pitchers are at the mound area. One is on the mound and the other 2 are on either side of him about 7 feet apart.
3.) One player is at each base: 1st, 2nd & 3rd. The rest of the players are lined up single file against the 3rd base dugout.
4.) Each pitcher throws a pitch simultaneously & the catcher rolls the ball to them. They turn & throw to the base closest to them when they started. Therefore the pitcher to the right of the mound throws to 1st, the pitcher on the mound throws to 2nd, and the pitcher to the left of the mound throws to 3rd. (After the first few rounds have the catcher to the right of home plate roll a hard grounder to the 1st baseman and have the pitcher to the right of the mound cover 1st. Make sure to emphasize staying inside the baseline. The other pitchers still throw to 2nd & 3rd. You can also have the catchers roll themselves a bunt towards the end of this drill and have them throw to the base in front of them.)
5.) Once the pitcher makes the throw to the base he follows his throw and the baseman runs to the back of the line over by the 3rd base dugout. As this is happening the first 3 players who have been waiting in line run out to a spot on the mound. Make sure players don’t always go to the same position when they run out there.
Please note that this requires a lot of hustle by the players. They don’t take more than one repetition at a time. They always follow their throw and run to the base. Those who were at a base run to the back of the line. Those at the front of the line run to the mound. Catchers always stay by home plate and do not rotate in with the pitchers. They are working mostly on their receiving and directing the pitcher where to throw during this drill.
