I pick two “team Captains” and put half the boys on first, and half on third. Then we run a relay race where the two teams compete to see who can get around the bases (touching all four) quickest.

If anyone misses a base, interferes with the opposing runner or if your team loses the race, that team dose 10 push-ups. I then let the captain of the losing team pick one boy from the winning team and the wining captain pick one boy from the losing team (can’t pick the captain) and do it again.

Once a boy has been “traded” he cant be traded again.

**Make sure they use proper base running technique of course.

I  also like to increase the boys speed by putting them on the bases and have them race around, first one back to the base wins. I coach little league baseball so this is a simple way to get them use to running the bases.

Technorati Tags: baseball base running, baseball drill, base running, baseball

Speed Kills–a Base Stealing Drill
1) Foot is outside the base along the side nearest the outfield at 1st base and 2nd base and on the foul line at 3rd base–not placed on the bag or pushing against it or resting in front of the bag toward the next advancing base.
2) The outside bag take off gives a couple of milli-seconds head start toward a safe steal.

It is nearly impossible to be called for leaving early because your entire foot is resting against the bag as you take off and come forward.  Your foot at some point is still in contact with the bag and with proper technique you are 3 feet closer to being safe and still have contact with the bag.

With break away bases or softy bags and the best cleat designs ever the push off to steal is as old as wood bats–way out dated and even leads to frequent injury and season ending ankle damage or worse.

Give this new idea a try and you and your baseball team will  be amazed  and proud at the results.

Technorati Tags: baseball practice plans, base stealing, baseball drill, baseball

Players caught dogging it are given extra laps around the complex.  The things to focus on in doing the drill:  proper rounding of bases, especially first to second;  proper primary and secondary leads, and no crossing over steps; reaction time returning to base or breaking for the next; speed and endurance.

Players form 2 equal lines, facing first base.
Line ‘A’ beginning in the right batters box.
Line ‘B’ about 15′ up and to the right of the first base line.

On my ‘Go’ command, the first runner in each line runs, ‘A’ to first, and ‘B’ through first and on to second.  Once the first two runners are on base, my commands become, “Primary”, “Secondary”, and then either “Go” or “Back”.  On “Go”, the runner on second scores, the runner on first ends up at third, B ends up on second and A on first.  As a runner scores, they go to the rear of the opposite line from where they started the lap.   I end 95% of baseball practices with this drill.

Technorati Tags: baseball conditioning, baseball drill, baseball practices

I have them run the first turn around 3rd and note how far out the rounded 3rd coming into the base, then how far they traveled outside the foul line on the way home.  Then, I give them this tip:

When you head into the turn, think less about making a “loop” and more about leaning in with the left shoulder toward the ground as you approach 3rd base (a little like a water skiing turn to make a rooster tail), the gravity of running full speed at that angle combined with hitting the bag on the inside corner with your right foot propel you nearly right down the line toward home.

EVERY player improved his time going from 2nd to home in the FIRST try!!

This one helps to reinforce this baseball drill:
Load the bases with runners and hit the baseball to each fielder. Each time I hit the ball I yell out how many outs there are. Than I see what the runners and fielders do on their own as if we were in real game situations . We discuss after the play if they made the right decision. This drill makes them think on their own and react much quicker during a game.

Technorati Tags: baseball baserunning drills, baseball practice, baseball drill, baseball

Make sure to get the players who are not running at the moment to stand back; this will help to avoid accidental collisions during the race.

As the teams come around second and home plate they will touch hands as in a relay and off goes the teammate until all runners have completed their turns.

Of course try to keep the teams even as far as team speed.

Start the relay and just watch the competition begin. I like to stand in the middle and make sure the players touch the bases.

I’ve noticed when they want to get faster they start to round the bases properly and they learn their strides. This is helpful in stretching a double into a triple and so on.

This relay is a baseball drill you will want to use frequently; results are immediate!

Technorati Tags: baseball, baserunning drill, baseball team, baseball drill

Setup for this baseball drill:
4 fielders, 1 baserunner, two bases, two targets (anywhere from 30 to 60 feet from the base path), and a changing indicator. We like to put a target (maybe a bucket) on the ground (throwing for a tag) and another about 4 or 5 feet in the air (throwing to a player on a base). You can be creative for the changing indicator using hands, fingers, location within the basepath where the tag may occur.

Running the drill:
It all starts with a hot-box (or pickle) drill, where fielders are running down a baserunner caught between bases. Once the tag occurs, the tagger immediately looks at the indicator (with a sign for the lower target and another indicating the upper target). Determine the target and throw the baseball to hit the target. Sometimes we use which side of the halfway mark between bases where the tag occurs as an indicator.

The purpose of the indicator is to get the tagger to see the signal quickly (in a game its another base runner) and make the correct throw to the correct target.  Award a point for a tag and a point for hitting the correct target with the ball. you can split into teams and make it a contest.

This has been a great way to put mental pressure on our players as they make plays in the infield.

Technorati Tags: mental baseball drills, baseball drill, baserunner, baseball

I like to start at first but you can start at any base with all players on base. The 5th player, starting in front of first base, throws to the player at home and runs hard and stops at home. The player at home has caught the ball and has thrown to third and is running to third and this continues all the way around.

The object is to catch, turn & throw, run.  You try to get faster the more you do this baseball drill.

You should alternate a new player as soon as the first person started makes it back to first. With 11 players this takes about 5 to 8 minutes with good throws.

Technorati Tags: baserunning drills, baseball, baseball drill

You will need an empty 5-gallon bucket (either an old paint bucket or an orange bucket purchased at Home Depot) and enough baseballs (or tennis balls) for each player to have one.  Set the bucket beyond first base, on the outside of the foul line near the grass.  Line up the kids at home plate with ball in hand.

In order for the baseball drill to work and make it fun for them, they must:
(1) Run hard to first (no hesitation as you approach the bag);
(2) Step on the bag; and
(3) continue running until they get next to the bucket to drop the ball in it.
CAREFUL: They can’t throw the ball at the bucket, they must “drop it” at the bucket.

The purpose of this baserunning drill is for them to understand that they should run hard to first, step on the bag and continue running past the base and into the foul territory.

Technorati Tags: youth baseball fun drills, baseball, baseball drill, baserunning drill

Either set up two sets of home and first base pairs with temporary bases about 10 feet apart, or use the infield home to first and third to second pairs (it is easier to judge who gets to first base quicker if they are closer together).  Have the players form two lines, one behind each home plate (or one behind home plate and one behind third base) for this baseball drill.  Simulate hitting the ball by having a baseball coach standing between the runners hit a ball to the ground.  The first pair of runners takes off from home to first (and second to third).  The first person to touch first (or second) is the winner and goes back and gets in line.  The second place finisher sits down and watches the rest of the competition.  If there is a tie, then have both players go back and get in line.  The runners will have a tendency to look at each other.  Coach them to look at the base or base coach only.  Repeat this until there is one winner and name him the fastest player on the team.

This teaches them to run hard to first base without looking at the baseball!

Technorati Tags: baseball practice, baseball drill, baseball coach, baseball

One of the best baseball base running drills we have done comes from Kennesaw State so we call them Kennesaws.

Split your runners up into equal amounts at each base and double the number for home, i.e., 3 runners at each base and 6 runners at home.

The baseball drill starts with the baseball coach going through a wind up and throwing an imaginary pitch.  The runner in the left hand batter’s box runs through 1st base.  The batter in the right hand box rounds first and goes to second.  At the same time, the runner on 1st goes 1st to 3rd.  The runner on 2nd goes 2nd to home and the runner on third tags and goes home.  Once everyone has gone in the first group a new set of runners goes. Run until the runners have returned to their starting position.

You will have five players running at a time and they will be practicing all aspects of base running as they progress through the baseball drill.

Technorati Tags: baseball training, baseball base running drills, baseball drill, baseball coach, baseball