Little League baseball can be an enjoyable and satisfying experience for any young person who participates. Youngsters can make friends, learn the value of teamwork and improve their skills. Coaches can help facilitate all of these goals, but it doesn't happen by osmosis. To help your players improve their skills, use simple drills during practice.
Soft Toss
Soft toss is one of the best drills to help Little League baseball players improve their hitting skills. Stand about 3 or 4 feet to the right of a right-handed batter or to the left of a left-handed batter, and toss balls to him at the level of his right thigh. This simple drill helps a batter develop timing, quickness and an effective swing. Toss 10 balls to the batter, take a one-minute break, and then repeat the drill.
Baserunning Relay
Little Leaguers benefit from drills that move quickly and also have some competitive aspect. One such drill is the baserunning relay. Line up half your team at home plate and the other half at second base. Give the first player in line a baseball. On your signal, both players take off on a race around the bases.They must run as fast as they can, and they must hit the inside corner of each base. When they get back to the starting point, they hand the ball to the next person in line. Do this until all players have completed the run around the bases. The first team to finish the drill--while hitting all bases--wins the drill. If a player misses a base, he must go back and hit the base a second time. This drill helps players learn how to run the bases quickly and effectively.
Pitching Practice
Teaching young players how to pitch is one of the most challenging aspects of Little League baseball. One of the issues with pitching off of a mound is finishing the pitch. If a pitcher does not follow through correctly, the pitch will be too high and the pitcher won't control the baseball. Tell your pitchers to imagine that there is a dollar bill on the ground in front of them. As they release the pitch, tell them to continue their motion until their hand is close to the ground, as if they could pick up the imaginary dollar. This will help them learn to follow through and deliver the ball between the batter's shoulders and knees.
Member Comments