Baseball practice may be more important than games when it comes to teaching players the skills needed to play the game. During a game, players want to perform well and help their team win. As a result, they may not have as many opportunities to learn the game. However, in practice a coach can set aside time for hitting, fielding and base-running drills.
Batting Tee and Soft Toss
Young players usually don't want anything to do with a batting tee when they practice the game because they think it is for younger players who play Tee-Ball. Nothing could be further from the truth. High school, college and professional players use a tee to hone their swing. It can help hitters with weight shift, understand the correct contact point of the ball and learn an efficient swing. Give each batter 10 swings on the tee prior to facing live pitching.
When soft tossing to the batter, stand to his right--if he is right-handed--and make an underhand toss with the ball toward the batter's front thigh. This will help the batter develop a smooth, crisp swing and a sense of timing. Don't make the batter lunge for the ball. It needs to be at his front thigh for him to have a chance to build a productive swing.
Base Running Relay
This is a fun drill that will also help players learn how to run the bases the correct way. Line up half your team at second base and the other half at home plate. Give the first player in each line a baseball. On your signal, each runner will take off around the bases. When the player gets back to the base he started from, he will hand the ball to the next teammate in line. The team that has all its runners complete the circuit first wins the drill. All runners must touch all bases. If a runner misses the base, he must go back and touch the base he missed. Prior to the drill, emphasize that the runner must touch the inside corner of the base in order to have the quickest path around the bases.
Bunt, Ground Ball, Pop-Up
This drill is for infielders so they can get used to fielding several different types of batted balls. Line up players at all the infield positions, including pitcher. Start off with the third baseman. Hit him a bunt that he must come in and charge, pick up and throw to first base. Then hit him a ground ball that he must field cleanly and throw to first base. Then give him a pop-up. Do this with all the fielders. For the shortstop and the second baseman, hit weak ground balls that the fielder must charge rather than bunts. This will get the infielders used to all the balls that they will field during a game.
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