The “Stuffy Drill”: How to Teach Kids to Throw by Focusing on the Target (Not the Mechanics)

T-ball throwing drills don’t have to be complicated—this simple “Stuffy Drill” helps kids learn to throw by focusing on a target, not mechanics.

One of the biggest mistakes we make when teaching young kids how to throw is focusing too much on mechanics too early.

“Step, point, throw.”

“Turn your shoulders.”

“Follow through.”

For a 4–6 year old, that’s a lot.

Instead, what if we flipped it?

What if we gave them a clear, fun objective… and let the mechanics develop naturally?

That’s exactly what the “Stuffy Drill” does.

The Real Goal: Hit the Target

Instead of telling kids how to throw, we give them something they want to hit.

A stuffed animal sitting on top of a bucket.

Now the focus shifts:

• Not mechanics

• Not overthinking

• Just: “Knock it over.”

And when kids have a clear objective, they naturally start to organize their movement to achieve it.

Why This Works Better

1. External focus beats internal focus

   
   

   Kids perform better when they focus on the result (hit the target), not their body movements.

2. Competition creates engagement

   
   

   The second you say “Let’s see who can knock it over first…” everything changes.

3. Reps without pressure

   
   

   They’ll throw again and again without even realizing they’re practicing.

How We Run It at Coyote Kids

Option 1: Group Competition (High Energy)

• Set up a bucket with a stuffy on top

• Kids form a semi-circle around it

• Everyone throws at the same time

• First one to knock it off wins

This gets loud, competitive, and fun fast—and kids love it.

Option 2: Turn-Based Challenge (Controlled Reps)

• One player at a time

• Give them 5–10 throws

• Goal: knock the stuffy off the bucket

• Then rotate to the next player

This is great for building focus and giving each player intentional reps.

Yes… We Still Use This With 8–9 Year Olds

This isn’t just a beginner drill.

We still use the Stuffy Drill with our 8 and 9-year-olds—and they love it just as much.

Why? Because the goal never changes:

Hit the target.

It keeps things competitive, keeps players engaged, and reinforces accuracy in a way that never really gets old.

What You’ll Start to Notice

Without saying a word about mechanics, kids will begin to:

• Step toward the target

• Throw with more intent

• Improve accuracy naturally

Because now, they have a reason to.

The Coyote Kids Approach

At Coyote Kids Baseball Club, we focus on objective-based learning.

Give kids a clear goal, let them explore, and guide as needed.

The result:

• Better engagement

• Faster improvement

• More confident players

Try It Yourself

Try this at your next practice or even in the backyard.

Set up a bucket. Put a stuffy on top.

And let the kids go to work.

Then sit back and watch how quickly things start to click.