Little League baseball can be a memorable experience for all youngsters. By playing on an organized team, they can learn how to play the game, understand the value of teamwork, know what it takes to compete and participate in an athletic activity that can help them get in good condition. Proper exercise is one key element.
Throwing Relay
Players can learn to improve their throwing and catching from the throwing relay. Divide your team up into two groups of six players. The first player should stand at home plate, the next at third base, the third 50 feet down the foul line, the fourth 50 feet past him and the other two should go 50 feet beyond the closes player. Station the second group in a similar manner along the first base foul line. On the coach's signal, the two players standing at home plate throw the ball to the first player down the line. The players continue to make throws to the next inline until the last player catches the ball. That player begins a relay back to the catcher. The first team to negotiate all of the throws successfully--no dropped balls or poor throws--wins the relay.
Running Relay
Divide your team into two groups of six. One group starts at home plate and the other starts at second base. Give the first player in line a baseball. On the coach's signal, the first player from each group starts running around the bases. When that player completes the cycle, he hands the ball to the next member of the team. The race continues until all players have gotten the ball and run around the bases. The team that completes the run first without dropping the baseball, and by hitting every base, wins the race.
Hitting Exercise
Learning how to hit the ball to all fields is vital in baseball. A good right-handed hitter, for example, knows how to guide outside pitches to right field, hit the pitch over the middle to center field and knock inside pitches to left field. In this drill, each player gets 10 swings, and the object is to hit the ball in the required direction. The player who can master the practice of directional hitting will become a more successful batter and help his team improve.
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