Everyone lines up a 3b with two players at 1B. Each player will take a grounder and make a throw to 1B.  After throwing the baseball to 1B they go and cover 1B.  After everyone goes through the line at 3B, the drill is repeated for SS, and 2B making throws to first.

On balls hit to 2B the player playing 1B must yell out “flip” or throw” depending on how close the 2B is to 1B when he catches the ball.  After we complete the infield, the line goes to RF and 2 players go to 2B.  The right fielder takes a pop fly or grounder; crow hops and makes a throw to 2B.  This is repeated with CF throwing to 3B and LF throwing to home.

We go through this baseball drill twice at the beginning of each baseball practice.  It is meant to be fast paced and provides conditioning as well.

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Cap Drill—use this baseball drill when infielders are showing the bad habit of fielding the baseball too deep between his legs, or not squating at the knees, thus dropping his head parallel to the ground. If you can see all the eyelets of the baseball cap when he fields the ball.

Player will put bill of cap in his mouth, holding it with his teeth.  To start, start drill with cap upside down, then as he gets better, turn cap top up, so it is facing players face.

Points of Interest:
1) Forces player to keep chin up, thus keeping eyes up.
2) Player must keep his hands out in front  of him, better form.
3) The player cannot simply bend at the waist or cheat.  He will not be able to see the ball going into his glove.
4) This is a solid drill that has helped my players at all levels.

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Start with a player on 1st, one on 2nd, and the rest of the team form a line at 3rd. The baseball coach hits the ball to 3rd who then throws to 2nd who throws to 1st who throws home.

Each fielder follows his throw and must be ready when the baseball is hit to the next player in line at 3rd. The player on 1st runs behind home plate to 3rd and gets in line.

After a few warm up rounds we then have a contest. You are eliminated by either a fielding error at 3rd or a throwing error to any base. Once you get down to three players the man on first must sprint directly to 3rd and be ready to field the ball. With 2 players left we sprint from 3rd to 2nd until the last man is standing error free.

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First there is a base hit to the outfield or slow roller in the infield that has rolled to a stop and players position themselves to be pointing to the target they are going to throw to (for example third base to get a runner), and pushing their throwing hand straight down to pick up the baseball.

Split the players into two groups and position the same number of balls at various distances. Give the players a minute to get their strategy together (who’s going for the ball the farthest away, etc.)

Next they line-up in single lines and it becomes a relay. They must each run to the ball, pick it up correctly, be positioned correctly, and make an accurate throw to a designated target (a baseball coach at a base), then run back and tag the next player in line.

We usually position coaches at 2nd and 3rd and run this baseball drill from shortstop to left field. We switch the lines each game to give the players a different throw. We usually do this for the best 2 out of 3.

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Set-up four cones in a box about 20 yards long by 10 yards wide. The  players make a single file line between the first 2 cones facing the coach. The baseball coach throws a ball over their heads and they need to turn their hips and run back to catch the ball (some over the shoulder, some set up behind the ball or some they just have to pick up the ball on a bounce).

The main idea on this one is getting back to a spot as quickly as possible.  Run with just the head turned back, arms pumping together as they run; do not put glove arm up too early since it just slows you down.

Once they all go run through this baseball drill one direction, so they are all at the cones that are 20 yards away; they run in to catch balls in front of them. In this drill they learn how to come in hard on balls in front of them, and at times they will even need to slide into make the catch.  Important they learn how to dive or slide (like into a base) properly first in order not to hurt themselves.

They really enjoy this drill, you can see how many the group can catch in a row to make a game out of it.

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Set-up:
-One baseball coach on the infield or home plate (the hitter)
-One coach at SS (the praiser)
-Set one cone in deep outfield and one in LF position
-The kids line up at the deep outfield cone
-The fielder (one at a time) lines up at the LF position cone

The Drill:
-A player moves into the LF position
-The hitter hits a tennis ball in to the air (the fly ball)
-The fielder moves from his position in LF to get under the ball and hit it with the top of his/her helmet
-The praiser gives recognition for and keeps it fun with a bunch of “OHs, YAHs, WAY to GOs!”
-The player goes to the back of the line and another player moves into the LF position.

Give this a try.  After some time, you bring the glove into the mix.  And, most importantly, it “Makes baseball fun!”

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Position 4 hitters (baseball coaches) on the foul lines, 2 between home and first, 2 between home and third, at equal distances apart from each other and the base they are closest to. Each of these hitters also have a catcher.

Position 4 rows of infielders directly across from the hitters, 2 between first and second, 2 between second and third, they should be at a depth close to the outfield grass.

The hitters hit the baseball directly to the infielder across from them, who then fires the ball to thier respective catchers. After they have fielded the ball and thrown to their catcher they peel off to the outside as to not interfere with their adjacent infielder and return to the back of thier line. Meanwhile the next infielder in each line now is prepared to recieve a ground ball and the baseball drill is repeated.

After each infielder has recieved three ground balls they rotate to the catcher position. When catching the ball the catcher should simulate a first baseman’s stretch.The drill is complete after each infielder has been at catcher.

Example, the hitter (coach) on the first base foul line between home and first who is closer to home hits to the third base infielder.
The hitter on the same first base foul line who is closer to first hits to the short stop infielder.
The hitter on the third base foul line closer to home hits to the first base infielder.
The hitter on the same third base foul line closer to third hits to the second base infielder.

This drill gets in alot of ground ball action with a good throw being required.

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Using 3 cones, place one cone at the infield position where you want them to start.  I usually start at SS and will move to 3B and 2B. The second cone is about 3-5 feet in front of that cone and the third cone is about 3-5 in front of that one.

With a player starting at the far cone, assuming a good fielding position, hit a ground ball to them. They are to charge the baseball and field it at the middle cone (using fundamentals). Then they continue on and make a throw to first (where a baseball coach is stationed) and must get to or move past the third cone on the throw.

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Fielders: 1 at 3rd, 1 at 1st, 1 at home.
Base Runners: 1st, 3rd, Home.
Pitcher on the mound: Could be any player, does not have to be your actual pitcher.

Drill: Pitcher goes through pitching motion (but does not pitch)
Runners get normal lead off.
Coach at home hits ball (mix up grounders, line drives) to 3rd. 3rd must hold runner at 3rd, but still get out at 1st. 1st must get out then look to go home to make that play. Catcher must make play without causing obstruction, then get up in time to see runner going to 3rd from 1st and someone has to be covering 3rd.

Lots of action going on in this baseball drill–getting to work on base running, fielding, making more than one play, speed of action, etc. This drill takes a few times to get working properly, but you’ll find it invaluable in your season.

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