Baseball is often one of the first sports introduced to kids in the United States. It is a difficult game, however, and some kids quit playing at an early age because they don’t believe they are very good. To prevent kids from dropping out, a coach should conduct drills during each practice session to teach kids the fundamentals of the game. These drills will help kids improve and keep them interested in baseball.
Catching Drill
This drill builds young players’ confidence in their ability to catch the ball when it is thrown or hit at them. Before starting, explain to your players how to catch the ball when it comes in above and below their waist. Have them form a line; you stand about five yards in front of the first player, facing him. Toss him one ball underhanded above his waist and one below his waist; after he fields both, he goes to the back of the line so you can work with the next player. Go through the line several times so each player gets multiple repetitions. Use a tennis ball for very young kids so they do not get hurt if they miss the ball.
Three-Part Throwing Drill
The three-part throwing drill teaches kids the proper footwork and arm actions to throw the ball correctly. Divide your players into pairs, and line them up 20 to 30 yards apart. Give one ball to each group. Say “step,” signaling the players with the ball to step toward their partners with their throwing-arm-side foot. Then say “separate,” directing them to turn their body and move their arms apart so their glove is pointed at the target and throwing arm away from the target. Finally, say “step and throw,” signaling them to step toward their partner with their glove-side foot and throw the ball. Repeat until each player has thrown the ball at least 20 times.
Fly Ball Drill
The fly ball drill teaches kids how to set up underneath a fly ball to catch it properly. Give each player a ball and have them spread out in the outfield. Tell them to repeatedly throw the ball high into the air above their head, move under the ball, and catch it with both hands above their chin. Have them fake a throw following the catch if desired.
Hit-By-Pitch Drill
Baseball players of all ages obviously do not like to get hit by the ball because it hurts. Kids are especially vulnerable when batting because young pitchers often throw inaccurately. This drill teaches players to turn away from a pitch moving at them so it hits them in the back. Although this will still hurt, it will not hurt as much as getting hit on the front side of the body. Have one player at a time get in his batting stance. Stand about 20 feet away from him and repeatedly throw tennis balls toward his body so he can practice turning away from the ball.
References
- "The Baseball Coaching Bible"; Jerry Kindall and John Winkin; 1999
- "The Baseball Drill Book"; Bob Bennett; 2004
- We Play: Catching Fly Balls
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