Baseball Drills & Coaching Tips

If you’re looking for baseball skills and drills try the drills below.  They are quick, easy and the results are worth the effort.  You’ll keep your players busy and their attention focused.

One of the baseball drills I run is a quad toss.  You take four players and set them into a cube formation roughly 10 feet apart.  One of the guys rolls a grounder to the guy on his left who picks it up and flips it to the next guy like you are practicing for a double play.

Works on pulling the glove back and good food work.  Then I will have them go to the right where they practice backhanded flips.  Same thin–practicing on foot work and the back hand as they go.  Now, if they get to feeling good about themselves add another ball which causes the pace on it’s own to quicken up.

Another drill- I have my players do soft-toss with TWO balls.  They toss both baseballs at the same time and say “top” or “bottom”.  The hitter then has to react quickly and hit the ball called.

This is a good easy transition from plain soft-toss.  Easy to learn, as it doesn’t really change drills from soft-toss, and it works on quick reflexes and great hand-eye coordination.

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If you’re looking for baseball batting drills for your younger players, here is one that works well and provides instant feedback!  You’ll be pleased with the quick improvements.

This baseball drill will show kids if they have a short compact swing/ or a long, slow, sweeping swing.

To encourage kids to utilize a short, compact, quick swing have them stand in their normal batting stance with their back foot(right foot for right handed batters, etc) up against a fence, wall, dugout etc.

Have them take a normal swing and if their hands drop the bat in a horizontal position before swinging (as most youth hitters do) they will drag the bat across the fence.

If they keep the bat more upright(near 45degrees), dissecting the back of their helmet and swing the hands quickly down through the zone then they will not hit the fence/wall etc.  Great instant feedback for the kids!!!

They’ll be on their way to catching up with that fastball!

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Here are two youth baseball fielding drills that are favorites.  The focus of both drills is meant to help outfielders practice getting rid of the ball quicker.

You will need a stopwatch for the first drill and four cones.
Set the four cones in a square shape about 15 feet apart.  Put the outfielder in the middle of the four cones.
Place a fielder about 20 to 40 yards away from the cones (depending on age level you’re coaching).
The coach throws a “fly ball” to the outfielder (it needs to be accurately done to land within the artificial square).

Start the stopwatch when the baseball hits the glove of the outfielder.  Stop the time when the ball hits the glove of the cut-off man.  Outfielders will enjoy trying to beat their own time as well as those of others.

You can coach curl hop, catching position, off-hand position, etc….

Another baseball drill that is good for outfield is this one for fielding ground balls.

Have your players charge all ground balls at full speed until about 15 feet from the ball, then slow charge so that they will have full control of their body and can release the ball in 1 ½ steps.

They need to keep their seat down when fielding ground balls. Keep their glove close to the ground. It is easier to bring the glove up than to get it down.  Play all ground balls in front of the body and make sure the ball does not get past you.

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This is one of our favorite baseball  drills. It is called: Overhead Wall Ball. This baseball drill is used to teach how to catch a ball that goes overhead and past you.  It can also be used by experienced players to perfect this skill.

* All you need is a wall (preferably a tall one), indoors or outdoors, and a rubber ball and glove.
* The player is positioned a few feet from the the wall facing it.
* The player throws the baseball up against the wall.
* The player must do the drop step and run to catch the ball that has gone over his/her head.
* The distance of the bounce off the wall is determined by the strength of the throw.

This baseball drill can also be done with a partner where the partner throws the ball for the other player.  This works well as the receiver doesn’t know how hard the ball will be thrown.

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For young hitters (8-10yr old boys) many are hitting against their peers for the first time. For starters, my baseball batting drills are really based on a catching baseball drill.

Some are scared of the baseball, some are working on timing, some are learning what is in the strike zone, some swing just to swing, etc. This baseball drill helps them feel more comfortable at the plate.

The first time I use this baseball drill with a team I do it without telling them my purpose until I can prove my point later to them in the drill.

Start by playing normal catch and try to aim the ball at their partners chest.  Then they move down to aiming for the belt buckle area and then finally the knees.To catch the ball they should be banding down.

Once they are thinking about the catching portion and aim of the throwing, I have them turn as though they are standing in a near batting stance when it is their turn to catch the ball.  They put their glove hand across their chest and their throwing hand behind their back.  They try to catch the ball thrown across the plate.  They are only allowed to move their front foot AND the only direction they can move it is toward the thrower or forward (towards the plate). I still have not used language to them to show them this is actually a batting drill.

Once they are doing well with that I replace the glove with the bat and ask them what is the difference between a bat and a glove.  They still need to see it, time it, and adjust to make the play whether it is a catch or a hit.

This baseball drill seems to remedy many of those problems and if a recurring problem occurs it stands out and helps narrow down what they more specific issue might be.

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