Practice time is sacred to most baseball coaches, particularly when they are coaching at the youth level---it's when you can teach players the skills of the game and get them to hone those skills with drills. Baseball practice drills can get repetitious if you don't mix them up from time to time. By turning the drills into games and competitions that include rules, the young players will be more interested and work harder to develop their skills.
Inside-Outside
This game will help a hitter develop his ability to hit the ball where it's pitched and give his team a better chance to win. During batting practice, the coach will call out inside or outside as the pitcher delivers the pitch. If the coach calls inside and the hitter can pull a line drive to left field (right-handed batter), the hitter gets 50 points. If he pulls a ground ball, he gets 25 points, but if he pops the ball up or hits the ball to the right side, he gets no points. Each hitter gets 10 swings with the coach calling the pitches. The hitter with the most points wins the drill.
Make the Play
This is an important drill for infielders. Have the infielder line up a second base, third base or shortstop. The coach will hit several grounders to the infielders. On the first ground ball, the infielder throws to first. On the next ground ball he throws to second. On the final ground ball, he throws home to the catcher. For each ball the fielder catches cleanly, he gets five points. For each ball he bobbles or misses, he loses five points. For each good throw, he gets five points. For each poor throw, he loses five points. The player with the most points at the end of the competition wins the event.
Base Running
Running the bases well is one of the most underrated skills in baseball. While being a fast runner helps, running the bases well is more about understanding your opponents' defensive skills and your own instincts than flat-out speed. Have the runner start out at home. He has to run to first and continue to second where he must slide. The runner has to get up as quickly as possible and continue on to third and home. An outfielder will throw the ball to second and an infielder will throw to home. The baserunner must evade both tag plays. A runner who is safe at second gets 10 points and then safe at home gets another 10 points. Time the event and give the fastest player 10 points, the second-fastest nine points, the third-fastest eight points and continue in that manner. The player with the most points wins the drill.
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