Baseball practice routines are designed to help improve players' fielding, hitting and throwing skills. Maintain a good structure during practice, build on your players' interest in learning new skills and try to keep the drills fun to avoid monotony, recommends Don Edlin of QCBaseball.com.
All Locations Routine
This drill should be performed at each practice in an effort to improve your player's swings and ability to hit balls to all parts of the field. Place a batting tee directly over home plate. Adjust the tee so that the ball will be thigh high and down the middle of the plate. Have a player step up to bat and take a swing at the ball. Have him take several swings, trying to hit the ball up the middle each time. From here, move the tee inside and have your hitter pull the ball to the left side of the field three times. Place the tee to the outside part of the plate and have the batter hit the ball to opposite field several times. Repeat with every player on your team.
Ground Ball Routine
This baseball practice routine can be performed during practice or before a game to help your outfielders warm up and improve their fielding skills. Have all of your outfielders get in a straight line in the outfield. Stand 15 to 20 feet away from the first player in line and throw him a hard ground ball. Have him charge the ball, field it cleanl, and throw it back to you on the fly. Have every player in line repeat this exercise three times before stopping.
The Strike Zone Routine
Perform this practice as needed to improve your hitters' ability to identify balls and strikes. Stand in front of the pitcher's mound with a glove and ball. Have a player on your team step up to the plate. As you throw the ball towards home plate, have the batter cock back as if to hit the ball. Instead of following through, have the hitter watch the pitch, calling out "ball" or "strike" as soon as it crosses the plate. Throw several pitches to each player on your team before stopping.
Round the Horn
This routine gets your infielders warmed up and improves their throwing accuracy. Have your infielders take their normal positions and get into defensive stances. Have your catcher throw a ball down to third base, simulating a steal throw-down. Have the third baseman roll a ground ball to the second baseman, who should field the ball cleanly and toss it to the shortstop, who is standing on second base. The shortstop should catch the ball and throw it to the first baseman, who will then throw it back to home. Repeat several times.
Member Comments