Coaching youth baseball is a big responsibility. While you are there to help players improve their skills and become better players, your main job is to help the youngsters enjoy themselves as they play and practice. Part of this is learning how to play the game and another part is ensuring that all players stay safe during games and practice.
Batting Skills
Teach players the proper way to hit. One of the best things to help foster hitting is to have players hit the ball where it is pitched. They need to learn to hit outside pitches to the opposite field, hit pitches over the middle to center field and pull inside pitches. Teach them to recognize where the pitch is located and then attack. Trying to pull outside pitches is almost always a mistake and will result in soft ground balls.
Base Running Skills
Teach players the proper way to run the bases, which is one of the most overlooked areas of the game. Players need to be taught to hit the inner corner of the base when they run the bases. Encourage proper base running by lining half your team up at second base and the other half at home plate. On your signal, the players will begin to run around the bases. When each player gets back to the starting point, the next player in line will take off. The first team to finish while touching each base wins the drill.
Infield Drills
Players have to get used to fielding the ball. The process of picking up grounders and then throwing to first is vital to playing the game. Hit a ground ball to each infielder. Have him pick it up and throw it to first. When the catcher gets the ball from the first baseman, she rolls the ball back to the infielder who comes in and picks the ball up on the run and throws it home. This helps with dexterity and quick decision making.
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