Baseball Catching Drill
This is the max distance throw I now want the kids working on during their catch practice.  At times we go for 30 feet.  The ropes help keep the kids from drifting too far apart which was happening all the time.

Given I am working with tee ball players I really do not expect even one of the better players to throw from short or third to first and get the runner.

Using this has helped organize and gives us something to work on that is very close to the throwing distance they will have in the game.

We work on seeing what our high water mark for throws without it touching the ground will be.

Coaching Tip
We have started using stations during our fielding drills. We run through the 1st time having each boy “teach” us the fundamentals while walking through, then at 1/2 speed, then full speed several times. We then move them to another station to do the same.

This keeps their attention & soldifies their fundamentals and they are becoming a TEAM.

Three in One Drill

1. Wet a spot in outfield so it is easy for sliding.
2. Put down a temporary base.
3. Every player Keeps their glove on.
4. 1 player is at base and rest of team is in line to slide.
5. Coach throws to base as runner approaches to slide.
6. Base player tries to catch and tag the runner.
7. The runner gets up and runs for an over the shoulder catch that another coach throws.
8. Then they get back in line.
9. Swap tagging player every couple of minutes.

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We usually only run about 30 feet to base and we can go through the whole team many times in a matter of minutes.

Sliding Practice
If you do have younger players who are afraid of sliding try this first.  We do sliding drills using a large tarp and keep it wet so it acts like a slip and slide. The younger kids aren’t as afraid of the getting hurt and the older kids love to demonstrate.

The Swing
This drill is for getting the turn into the swing.Use a “T” for this batting drill.

• Take proper stance at home plate with “T” in front of plate.
• Place bat end on belly button and angle or point bat back at appx 45 degree angle.
• Freeze that position of the bat.
• Then small step toward pitcher, squash the bug hard and fast, turn those hips and hit the ball.
• Do not move that bat from the belly or change the angle.
• Do not use hands except to hold the bat in the original position.

Repeat 10 to 15 full hard twists. Take a break then step back up and use the same body turn but add a full swing this time for 10 to 15 reps.

Catch Above the Waist Drill
Young or inexperienced ball players have a lot of trouble catching balls above the waist.

I teach them the “HI” method. Take the glove off and wave and say “Hi”.  Put the glove back on and say “Hi” to the ball as it comes to you.

It is an almost instant fix to glove position for balls above the waist.

Bucket Drill
I line up my players on third base and I am between 3rd and home.
I put one of the players on first then I roll the ball to the player on third who then charges the ball and throws to first base where he has a bucket and put the ball in the bucket.

Next go side to side and then throw at their feet.
Then I throw droopers to both sides.
Then they move to shortstop and repeat the drill.

That’s one day and the next day I put a player on second with bucket and repeat the drill. I start off slow and by the end of the year it gets harder.

The bucket is to bring the balls back to me. Using this drill one year we scored over 250 runs and gave up 25 in 20 games.

Easy Coaching Tips
I know some coaches use the flat glove, but with my minor league players I have them bring one of their mother’s oven mitts for grounders.

For hitting drills I split them into two teams. I set up 2 cones in left field, center field and right field. I have them practice hitting to all fields. Winning team gets a treat.

How to Make a Bunting Bat
Take the old wooden bat to the bandsaw and saw off one third of the barrel.
Start at the end of the bat and work towards the handle.  Find a grain line and follow that as a guide.  The length of the bat will not be shortened.  Do not cut any wood off the handle area of the bat.  When you are done the length of the barrel will have flat surface.  Use athletic tape and wrap the entire barrel of the bat to prevent splinters or slivers to the batter.

Now you have a terrific bunting training bat.

The bunter uses the bunting technique  that their coach prefers, but the bat’s flat surface is pointing to the sky. The batter’s pointer finger is along the edge of the flat surface. The bottom three fingers are  curled, and the thumb is on the flat surface.  Remember the flat surface is pointing to the sky or up.

The pitcher or tosser now throws pitches to the batter and the batter is forced to use the bat’s “still round BOTTOM two thirds portion” of the bat to successfully to bunt the ball DOWN.

Bunting Drill
Lay down 2 pieces of 2ft x 2ft plastic garbage bag about  6 ft down the baseline, 1 on the third baseline and 1 on the 1st baseline.  Have the kids bunt like 6 pitches. If they can land 1 on the plastic they get a soda after practice and they also laid down a great bunt.

Fear of the Baseball
When a teammate or a coach throws the ball to them they will either step to their left or right and then they will make a stab at the ball with their glove to try and catch the ball.

Rag Ball Dodge Ball
Needless to say the vast majority of the balls wind up sailing past their glove and we spend most of the time chasing balls.  To try and get them to move to a position in front of the ball and to catch the ball in front of their body I’ve resorted to using rag balls.

I raided my sock drawer and rolled up all of those old socks that don’t have a match anymore.  I roll them up loosely and wrap them loosely with duct tape.  At the first practice of the season, I split the team up and we play a game of dodge ball using the rag balls.  This lets them know that the rag balls are not going to hurt if they get hit by it and it starts the season off on a fun note.

After that we will use these balls to teach them how to get in front of the ball and use the “pinky’s” (ball below the waist) “thumbs” (ball above the waist) method of catching the ball.

Glove has an Eye
We also try and emphasize that the glove has an “eye” and that you have to point the “eye” of the glove at the ball so that the glove can see the ball.

The younger players tend to twist their wrist right before the ball gets to the pocket of the glove and the ball usually hits the side of their glove and drops to the ground.

I purchase a large sheet of yellow felt and draw circular eyes on the felt.  I cut those out and spray the back of the felt with contact glue and put them inside their glove in the pocket.  I then have them go home and practice in front of the mirror showing the “eye” of the glove to the mirror.

I have them slowly make large circles in front of the mirror having them manipulate their wrists and elbows so that can always see the yellow “eye”.

Have two players face one another at a easily manageable throwing distance.
Have them place their ball bags in front of them on the ground directly in front of their feet (sideways, not bat length way).  As a player receives a throw with glove foot forward they immediately crow hop up & over the bag & complete the jab step, stride & throw to their partner.  They then hop backward over the bag & return to glove foot forward, ten to the sky receiving position.

This can also be run with ground balls to force the receiver to get the receiving hands out front of the bag away from their feet.

To add to that, another idea is to add a prize.  Everyone likes to win stuff, and by the end of practice all the players end up winning something, but it seems to add the extra competitive edge and makes them push that much harder.

I usually do a grab bag of stuff, but this year to encourage more speed training and cardio work out; one of my prizes is going to be jump ropes.  Each player will end up winning one but they will work like crazy during baseball practice to do it.

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For example–we might work on picking a runner off of third base.  We will have a line for catcher, a line for third base, and a line for left fielders.

The baseball coach will toss a ball to the catcher who would come up throwing to third.  Meanwhile the left fielder is immediately moving to back up the throw.

After the play is completed we rotate.  The catcher hustles to left field, left field hustles to the back of the third base line, and the third baseman hustles to the back of the catching line.  Each player keeps moving and the idea of backing up is heavily emphasized.

The basic idea of working in lines of three or more and emphasizing backing up has helped us a lot and can be used to teach/drill many situations.

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Outfield Turn Drill
Have player line up 10 to 15 yards in front of you. Show the player the ball; have him or her right left creep toward you to be in the ready position. Next have player drop step with there right or left foot straight back, let them run back for about 10 to 15 yards, keeping their eye on the baseball, yell “turn” and have them turn in the opposite direction. Coach throws pop fly and player has to get under baseball and catch it.

Avoiding the Bad Pitch
We also try to teach hand and eye coordination coupled with knowing when to get out of the way of a bad pitch. We use the following drill with much success in teaching this.

The coach has a bucket of balls at the pitcher’s mound that he will use to pitch to the batters. In this bucket are a couple of tennis balls. The batter does not know when the coach will throw the baseball or the tennis ball. The idea is to throw the tennis ball at the batter, so that he will be able to identify a ‘bad pitch’ and move out of the way, by turning his back toward the pitcher. The tennis ball will not injure the batter, if it should hit him.

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