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Diamond Nine

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Living-Room Vision Tracking

HittingLiving room6 minAges 6-8, 9-12, 13-151-2 playersIntensity: lightPitch Smart OK

Eye-tracking drill with a tossed ball of yarn — no equipment that can break things.

Your job today

Mom or dad tosses a soft yarn ball. You don’t swing — you just call 'yes, strike' or 'no, ball' before it lands.

What good looks like: Get 15 of 20 right. Decide early; don’t wait until the ball is past you.

Why it matters: Hitting is mostly choosing the right pitch. Eyes train first; the swing follows.

How it works

Parent or sibling tosses a yarn ball or sock-ball underhand from 6 feet. Player calls 'yes' or 'no' based on whether the ball would have been a strike crossing their imaginary plate. 20 reps.

Reps / rounds
20 calls
Rest between sets
0s
Space needed
10ft hallway
Coaches
0

Equipment

  • yarn ball or sock

Setup

  1. Stand 6ft apart
  2. Imagine plate at player's feet

Run the drill

  1. Tosser flips yarn ball
  2. Player calls 'yes/no' before ball lands

Coaching cues

  • Track from release
  • Decide early

Common mistakes

  • Calling after the ball passes
  • Watching the tosser's eyes not the ball

Scoring

Track % correct (percent). On-track when at or above 75.

Adjust it

Make it easier

  • easier: Slower tosses, 10 reps

Make it harder

  • advanced: Tosser disguises arm slot

Variations

  • Number ball: Tosser writes 1/2/3 on yarn; player calls number after deciding

Safety

  • STOP_ON_PAIN: Distinguish acceptable muscle soreness from joint pain or severe muscle ache. Any pain, pop, or possible injury must be reported to a parent, coach, or trusted adult, and the activity stopped immediately. Any sign of illness or injury must be evaluated before returning.

Source

Author: platform · Status: Published · Last reviewed 2026-05-26