Baseball Drills & Coaching Tips

Here’s one of our favorite baseball drills that we use regularly. This baseball drill works on proper fielding, throwing and baserunning all at once.  We call it the “Star Game”.

Set-up:
One runner (with helmet) starting at home.
One fielder standing at each of the four bases.
The remainder of the baseball team lines up at the SS position.

Drill:
The baseball coach hits a ground ball to the first player in line at SS.  The runner breaks for first on contact and circles the bases as fast as he can without stopping.  The SS fields the grounder and throws to first.  The player at first throw across the infield to third.  The player at third throws to second.  The player at second throws home.

The point is for the fielders to make solid throws to each base and get the ball to the catcher in time to make a play on the runner at the plate.  After the player fields a grounder at SS, he sprints to first, the player at first sprints to second and so on down the line.  The catcher then becomes the runner.  The runner grabs his glove and goes to the end of the line at SS.

We go through the drill long enough for each player to cycle through the drill twice.

Short form path of the ball — SS to 1B to 3B to 2B to C

While players are running the bases, an emphasis is placed on properly rounding off each base and making it around the diamond as quickly as they can.  If there is a close play at the plate, runners must slide to avoid a collision.

This baseball drill becomes ultra-competitive at our practices and acts as a great team builder as all five infielders must execute their portion of the drill properly in order to beat the runner at home.

Adaptations:  As your fielders improve and their throws become more accurate, they will have no problems getting the runner out at the plate.  Once this begins to happen, allow the runner to start from first giving your fielders 25% less time to get their throws in.  For exceptional fielders, allow your runner to take three to four step lead-off from first in order to put a little extra pressure on your fielders.

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If you need a good start with your tee ball coaching season try these first day practice tips. When coaching T-Ballers for the first time, many of the parents were worried that their kids didn’t even know the positions.

First–I printed off a baseball field diagram and gave it to all the parents to go over with their kids at home. Hopefully it makes more sense to them visually and translates to the field.

This is how I set up our baseball hitting drill–Dual station T’s set up against the sideline fences, with two small groups to keep it fast paced and designed not to lose their attention.

I take the third small group (about 4) and start our “Field Tour” at home plate.  Since most of these players have zero knowledge and experience, I explain what home plate is and that the ball will be hit from this location.

I then teach them a basic fielders “Ready Position” and ask them to run to the pitcher’s mound and get in their ready position. Most of the time you will have to show them where it is. I then briefly explain the pitcher’s mound and ask “where does the baseball come from” to which they all say “home plate”.

I then say again “what position are we at?” to which they yell “pitcher’s mound.” This process continues until we have stood in our “ready position” at all the positions on the field.

It is extremely important that they say the positions they are standing in and the location the ball will come from so they know which way to face. The first day was a much slower process, but as the practices went by they all began to understand how the field was set up, the positions, and where they can expect to see a batted ball coming from. I can now tell them to go play short stop and at their very young age have no problems finding it.

This will also help as you start teaching fielder territory!

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It can be difficult coming up with fresh ideas when coaching youth baseball.  Try these youth baseball fun drills with your teams.  These are fast paced, effective and they will become team favorites.

Quickness drill–
This baseball drill start off with 3rd baseman & 1st baseman. Hit a grounder to 3rd who throws to 1st, 3rd then moves to short. Grounder hit there & throws to 1st, move 2nd grounder, hit & thrown to 1st, move to 1st & original 1st baseman moves to end of line and original 3rd base moves to 1st.  The kids enjoy this baseball drill because it moves quickly.

Fielding-
Player stands in front of the baseball coach with eyes closed. Coach then calls out left or right and then throws a pop fly just out of player’s reach or “with lots of hustle” barely within players reach. Player then opens his eyes and runs to the baseball—with mitt tucked until he reaches or almost reaches the ball. This seems to develop hand-eye coordination again as well as teaches player to run with mitt tucked until getting to the ball.

Wobble balls—
These are rubber balls that are NOT round. I like to throw ground balls to my players using these. They never know where the ball is going to bounce and it forces them to stay in a good athletic position on the balls of their feet. It also forces them to watch the ground ball entirely into their mitt.

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If you’re looking for baseball practice drills to vary your practices try this one.  This baseball drill focuses players to field the ball and make an accurate throw to first under pressure. We call if King of the Diamond.

All players start at second base and field a fungo from their baseball coach and throw to first (usually another coach).

If the field and throw are clean that player will advance to shortstop, then third base. If the player misses the grounder or misfires to first, the player will return to the previous position (or stay at second if an error was made at the start). The first player(s) to complete a clean field and throw from third is “King of the Diamond”.

Once everyone has had a chance to field a baseball, the coach will start at second again for any kids remaining in that position and work your way to third. That way, the kids who need the work will get more reps, while the stronger players stay motivated to “win”.

Depending on the skill of the team, I vary what is considered a clean field and throw but keep it consistent for the entire team for that day. As the players get more comfortable with the game, I will increase the difficulty throughout the season – e.g. throws to first that require the first baseman to stretch significantly may count at the beginning of the season, but not later in the season.

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This is one of our favorite baseball hitting drills called Suicide. It is a bunting baseball drill that we use to promote both offense and defense when trying to get a base runner from 1st base to 3rd base.

Defense is comprised of entire infield (1st, 2nd, SS, 3rd, Pitcher, Catcher).  Offense has a base runner on first and a batter at home plate.  Third base coach gives signal to batter to bunt down third base line.  Third base coach also gives signal to first base coach for full speed run from 1st base to 2nd base to 3rd base without hesitation.  First base coach instructs base runner at 1st base to make full speed run round 2nd base to 3rd base but still be looking for third base coach’s signal to slide and hold up at 2nd base.  If third base coach does not give hold up signal, base runner runs at full speed rounding 2nd base and slides into 3rd base.

This baseball drill is designed first of all to keep the infield on their toes at all times while runners are on base even after a throw-out is made at first base.  Also, good offensive strategy to develop for aggressive base running should another team be scouted that relaxes too quickly after a throw-out at first base.

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