To make sure they understood this concept completely we decided for the fourth practice we would implement what we call the “GUTS” drill.

Before practice we explained exactly what we expected out of each player and the team as a whole.  When a team player was not giving 100% hustle and focusing on the task at hand we would stop the drills and call the entire team to the 3rd base foul line.

We have the team line up finger tips apart and one of the coaches would call out “down”. All players would do push ups, then the baseball coach would call out “over” and the kids would do sit ups and finally the coach would call out “up” and the kids would run in place.

After this drill was complete we would talk to the kids about team work how everyone has to give their best for the team to succeed.  We emphasized that it’s not about winning every game and being perfect but it’s about giving your best effort every time.

I was amazed at how quickly the players came together as one team.  They immediately started encouraging each other and communicating during practices to hustle and stay focused.  Even at the following practice I overheard a couple of the kids telling each other we have to give 100% hustle and stay focused today because I don’t want to do the “GUTS” drill again.

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Batting: Both hands should be held at the shoulder with the bat an inch above the shoulder, that way the bat is close to level/slightly raised/hits down on baseball and therefore hands and thus the bat gets to the ball quickly.

Cutoffs:  Always throw the ball to the glove side/chest high with the glove side of the player receiving the ball turned sideways to advance the ball the fastest to the next target.  This eliminates spinning, rotating the body and having to get the body in positon to throw after receiving the ball from another player.

Doing this correctly saves valuable seconds in relay throws.  Both the initial player throwing and the player receiving the first thrown must execute their responsibilities correctly in an effort to throw out runners.

Chin touching Shoulder: I’ve noticed a lot of kids from over the years pulling their heads off the ball and that takes their eyes off their target,which isn’t going to help them hit the ball. So simply have them keep the chin tucked into the shoulder; it really helps to keep the eyes on target and hits will start to pile up!

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Recently I purchased a large plastic ball ( 8-9″) that claims to bounce 75 feet at a large local sports store. My thought was I could motivate the kids a bit more for their efforts in practice and use the ball for a fifteen minute quick game (with coaches) at the end of baseball practice.

I let them touch and see the ball at the beginning, knowing what may happen after a disciplined practice. I believed the kids would gain confidence by swinging at a larger ball, hitting farther than usual, all while I make sure they are working their swing. Making sure, grip, stance, trigger and swing plane follow through. A complete success, the kids can’t wait to play again.

I frequently have problems with the players not stepping straight while we are trying to get them hit up the middle.  They always want to step out to third base.

I got a foam tube swimming float and placed it behind their feet (so if they step out and step on it they won’t trip) to teach them to step out straight towards the pitcher.

Just a small idea to help them learn to step out straight and not out towards third base.

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Before every baseball practice I make sure the kids are lined up in a row with an arms length distance between one another.  All of the kids including the three baseball coaches are performing stretching of arms, legs, back, wrists and fingers (as a team we count to five during each stretch).  After stretching we run a light jog from home plate to center field and back.  Even though the kids are 5-6 years old, they seem to enjoy the stretching and jogging.

90 percent of the kids on the t-ball team could not catch with their glove during the first practice.  Nearly all of them shy away when the ball was thrown directly at them.

In order to build their confidence and avoid injury, I decided to use tennis balls for playing catch.  I think it worked and it taught them to use both hands (tennis ball tends to bounce out of the glove compared to a t-ball).

In the beginning of this throwing/catching tee ball drill, I made the kids catch without their glove (forcing them to use both hands) and eventually we graduated to using gloves.

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One baseball drill I use for conditioning my players is with a soccer ball. This  drill works on side stepping,squatting, and keeping hands out in front of player.

I start them off at home plate have them sprint to first base, where the soccer ball is lined up with the base about 6 feet past so they run threw first base, then squat down, facing right field, using right hand, roll the ball to second base, chest and head up, while having the left hand up out in front as if catching a ball, leave ball at second base, stand up and back pedaling to third, where another soccer ball is waiting, they squat back down facing right field, using their left hand this time, with right hand right out in front of them, they roll ball to home, and repeat process until I feel they have worked there hamstrings and side stepping good enough.

I also use a soccer ball for throwing purposes. I will have them stand about five feet apart at first and throw to a partner and have them move back three steps at a time until they are about 20 feet, it shows them how at close range you don’t have to use as much arm strength or hip motion or your legs to throw, where the farther you have to throw all arm hip legs come into play.

It’s not an accuracy drill, but more of a what you need to use of your body to make a long hard throw.

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Coach #1 pitches from the front of the mound.
Coach #2 manages the hitters
Coach #3 manages the transition of hitters and fielders.

• With a 12 to 14 man roster, put a full defensive team in the field (minus a pitcher)
• Create a lineup of your remaining 4 to 6 players
• Coach #2’s job is to manage the dugout and lineup which without leadership can become chaotic
• With Coach #1 pulling balls from a bucket, pitch to the first batter.

• o   All batters start with 2 strikes on them
• o   A strikeout ends the batters term as a “hitter”
• o   Every hit is live and the defense is trying to end each batter’s term as a “hitter” by getting them out
• o   If the batter hits safely, he remains in the lineup at the end of the line
• o   Batters can stay in the lineup as long as they continue to hit safely

• If the hitter is out in any way (strikeout or in the field), he rotates back to the field (sprinting at all times)
• Coach #3 walks the field and upon any “hitter” getting out, he taps the next field on the head and they spring in to the dugout to get a helmet and a bat.  They then take their place in the end of the lineup.  They are replaced in the field by the baseball player that last got out.

This baseball drill re-creates “game like” intensity for both fielders and batters.  It also promotes a very aggressive mentality in your hitters while promoting a good eye and dramatically reduces your called third strikes throughout the year.

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Keep a full bucket of balls on the pitchers mound, and throw every ball in the dirt in front of the catcher. Vary the pitches – some to the glove side, some right at the catcher, and some to the backhand side. After throwing all the balls from the bucket into the dirt (to practice keeping the ball in front of you) there are usually many balls behind the catcher, against the fence or whatever backstop exists. When the last ball is about to be thrown the pitcher must warn the catcher.

Once this ball gets by the catcher, they have to get every single baseball as fast as they can. When the last ball gets by the catcher, the pitcher (usually the baseball coach) must grab the empty bucket and run to home plate. The catcher must make accurate throws to home so the pitcher can refill the bucket. Any wild throws (throws past the pitcher covering home with the bucket) must be retrieved by the catcher.

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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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Start by putting two players on the pitchers mound (#1 & #2).  Evenly distribute the remaining players at each of the 4 bases.  Have them form a line behind the first player at the base who is getting ready to receive a ball from the mound.

Start the ball with player #1 on the mound.  Have player #1 on the mound throw the baseball to the first person in line at any base.  Player #1 from the mound immediately runs to the end of the line at that base to which they just threw the ball.  The person who received the ball then immediately throws the ball back to the second player standing at the mound (now #1).  The player who just threw the ball back to the mound now races to the mound and gets ready to receive a ball next.

The now first player at the mound quickly throws the ball to a different base and runs to get in line at the base they just threw it to…..the cycle continues quickly with throwing, catching & running.

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Purpose: To learn to hit in all areas of the strike zone.
Procedure:

• From a plywood board or cardboard box, cut out the size of the strike zone and secure it  to a fence or wall.
• Draw nine balls in the rectangle of the strike zone – three across the top of the zone, three across the middle, and three across the bottom.
• Number the balls 1 through 9.  1,2, 3 across the top, 4, 5, 6 in the middle , and 7, 8, 9 on the bottom.
• The player stands in front of the strike zone and practices all parts of his swing on each ball in the zone.

Coaching points–The hitter should remember the entire sequence: stance, load, stride, pivot, and swing.

The baseball coach can stand behind the hitter and call out the number of the baseball at which the hitter should swing.

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