baseball softball drills

Baseball & Softball Skill Building Games

baseball drills, little league coaching, t-ball

... let's not forget that.

Baseball and Softball are very skill oriented games. The correct techniques used for throwing, hitting and
catching are critical for a child to develop over time if they have aspirations of playing at a higher level. The
younger children (5-7), however, need to be allowed to experience the joy of the game and not get frustrated
with practicing skills that are beyond their level of physical development. As players advance in age, interest
and physical development they will be ready to learn the nuances that create great hitters and fielders.

The drills below are designed to get players involved in the game, learning basic skills and enjoying early
success. In order to facilitate as many touches as possible with the ball, it is best if you can have 2-3
additional coaches or parents at a practice and break the players into smaller groups for station games. For
different ages and skill levels simply adjust ball speed, throwing distance and your expectations.

Having trouble moving the
kids from one skill game
to the next?

Use what you have:
balls, kid's gloves, bases,
plastic disks, etc. Place
the balls or other item
where ever you want the
kids to go next. When you
are ready, tell the kids find
a ball and go stand next to
it or get in a single file line
behind the base.

Need ideas to help teach
the kids to really see the
ball?

Get rid of the ball. Let
them try to hit something
else. My favorites: water
balloons, or plastic golf
balls.
Remember- remind the
players to see the ball hit
the bat.

Extra Innings

Baseball Fundamentals
that all players should learn
from the start.

Teach young players how to:
throw a baseball
hit a baseball

Line Throw Relay (throwing/catching)
Skills taught: This is just a simple way to practice throwing and catching that introduces speed, precision and
pressure.

How the game works:

Divide the players into 2 or more equal groups.
Have the players line up evenly spaced in parallel lines. The distance between the players can be
varied depending on the age of the players and which type of throw you want to practice - soft toss (4-5
ft), standard throws (20-30 ft) or outfield relays (30+ft).
On your signal, the first players throw the ball to the second, on to the third, etc. When they reach the
end of the line, start the ball back the other way until it is in the hands of the first player again. First
team back to the start wins.

Tip: This game can also be played where the ball gets thrown back to the first player in line every time. So
player 1 throws to 2, back to 1, player 1 throws over 2 to 3, back to 1, player 1 throws over 2 and 3 to 4, back to
1. When playing this way after the first game, rotate the players so everyone throws from each position.

Hot Potato (throwing/catching/speed)
Skills taught: This game helps develop catching, tossing on target, speed in getting the ball out of the glove.

How the game works:

Have the 5 players get in a circle with about 5 feet between them.
The player who starts with the ball flips it to the player that is two players to his left. This next player
receives the ball and quickly moves it to the player 2 to his left. This continues until the ball reaches
the first player, at which point the ball will have traveled in a star pattern.
The game can be 5 stars in a row without a miss, or how many stars in 2 minutes, or race another
team of 5 set up next to them.

Tip: This game is also referred to as the Star Drill in many books. Depending on what you want the kids to
practice you can throw soft tosses, grounders or spread out and use longer throws with a tag to the ground
required with each catch. Be creative.

Throw out the Trash (fielding/throwing on the run)
Skills Taught: This is a great game to get players running full speed to a ball, picking it up and then throwing
as quickly as they can at a target.

How the game works:

Put all the available balls on the ground around the short stop area.
Place a large trash can (or some other large target) on its side on the spot where first base would be.
Have 2 (or more) teams line up about 10 ft behind the scattered balls.
On your whistle, the first player in each line runs to pick up a ball and tries to throw it into the trash can.
The player then runs to the back of the line and the next player in line goes.
Play until all the balls have been thrown and each team counts their “makes” to determine the winner.
If you have more than 10 kids playing, either add a third line or make this a station game with 6 total
players to reduce the time of players standing in lines.

Tip: This game can be played from many different spots. Pick the spot that your team needs help on. For
older players, move the target to home and place balls in shallow outfield.

Throw It In! (fielding/throwing/relay)
Skills taught: This a relay race simulating a ball thrown in to home from the outfield.

How the game works:

Divide your players into 3-player teams (add a fourth for players under 9).
Set up infielder #1, infielder #2, in the infield area and an outfielder in the outfield.
Place several balls by the outfield fence, spreading them out as much as possible.
On your whistle, the outfielders sprint to pick up a ball. Infielder #1 runs to the position just on the
grass behind the infield, lifts his or her hands and yells for the ball. Infielder #2 runs to cover the area
around home.
First ball thrown in to infielder #2 near home plate wins.
Do it again with the players switching positions. With more than three teams competing, have your
home infielders keep 5 feet between them when they set up around home plate for safety.

Tip: Don't worry that you are not throwing into a catcher and just let all the players practice the teamwork
needed to get a ball back into the infield as efficiently as possible.

Flick It! (correct wrist and arm action when throwing)
Skills taught: In teaching kids to throw the ball, it is helpful to break down the action of the arm, wrist and
hand. This game isolates the wrist action so the players can feel how the wrist should flick, putting backspin
on the ball as it is released. Use this game to also teach how to hold the ball correctly in the thumb and first 2
fingers, not with all fingers and down in the palm.

How the game works:

Line the players up a foot apart and facing the same direction.
Instruct the players to kneel down on one knee, with that knee being on the same side as their
throwing arm. (Right-handers would take a knee with the right knee down, left knee up.)
Place a bucket or other target about 3-6 feet away depending on age and arm strength of the players.
Have the players use their non-throwing hand to hold just below the wrist of the throwing hand.
The players will use their wrist and hand only, to flick the ball into the bucket. Give each player 5 balls
and see who can throw in 5 in a row first.

After you have isolated the hand and wrist, have the players move the non-throwing hand from the wrist to the
elbow. Repeat the game adding the movement of the forearm.

Tip: This is best done as a station drill with 4-6 players so the coach can give clear feedback and assistance
where needed. Give younger players a little time to figure out the correct motion themselves without over
instruction.

Over Run Relay (base running)
Skills taught: This game helps teach the concept of running through first and home.

How the game works:

Make two even lines of players, one at home and one at third. About 3 feet past and a little to the right
of first base and home plate, set up a cone.
On your whistle, the first players take off. They must touch the base and then tag the cone before the
next player goes.

Tip: Move your starting lines to home and second and have the players practice turning first (or third) and
sliding into second (or home).

Call the Color (batting/vision)
Skills taught: This game teaches the player to really focus on the ball and is best done as a station drill with 3-
4 players at a time.

How the game works:

Take 4 balls and add a large colored dot to each using 4 different colors. (For younger players add 2-3
dots.)
Have one player WITHOUT a bat set up at home as if he or she is a batter.
Have a player be the catcher and have the others watch from behind the catcher so they can be
practicing too.
The coach will pitch the ball and the batter will swing without a bat and try to call out the color of the dot
on the pitched ball.
Catcher verifies the answer and keeps score of the number right. Pitch 6 balls and then rotate
players.

Tip: This game can grow with your players' skills. After doing this drill a few times, add a bat and have the
players make contact using a checked swing. After more practice, have the players take full swings at the
balls and set the extra players up as infielders.

Cover the Square (catching)
Skills taught: For some players thinking gets in the way of catching. This drill gets the adrenaline going and
has them simply reacting to the ball. It will increase confidence in many of your players.

How the game works:

Set up a square area 10' X 10' using cones to mark the corners.
One player will go at a time while the remaining 3 watch and retrieve wayward balls.
Have one player stand in the middle of the square. The player tries to cover the square by not letting
any balls thrown by the coach fall within the square area.
Have the coach throw from about 10 feet out. Throw low to either side, lob to the back corners, mix it
up, pick up speed to get the player catching with instinct and gaining confidence in diving. Each player
gets 10 throws and then swaps out.

Tip: This is best set up as a station drill played with 4 or less players at a time. With older players, let another
player throw the ball instead of the coach.

Pop Flies to 10 (catching pop ups)
Skills taught: In this game players will get practice catching pop flies, calling for the ball and understanding
who has priority. This is a station drill involving 4 players.

How the game works:

Have the players make a square in the field with roughly 15 ft between them.
Using a tennis racket and a tennis ball, hit the ball high in the area of the square. You are teaching not
just the catching of pop flies, but the concept of calling for the ball ("got it”) and answering (“you take it”)
and the understanding of priority.
The player in the back has priority on any ball over the head of the front player and the players on the
right (first base side) have priority on balls they can reach in the middle (right hander’s glove side).
Play until they catch 10 (or 15, 20, etc.) and count how many it takes to catch 10.

Tip: Spread the spaces with older players and play with 6 simulating infielders and outfielders. Change to
baseballs with more skilled players, although tennis balls are still good as you can really get them in the air
and the wind plays more tricks with them.

Clear the Table (level swing)
Skills Taught: This is a great way to help young players that are hacking and chopping at the ball.

How the game works:

Get a cardboard box that is roughly 3x3x4 and an assortment of various heights of cans, cartons and
plastic bottles.
Set the box up with a plastic bottle like you would a tee with a ball.
Get the players attention by describing the set up as your grandmother's favorite glass table.
Have each child one by one come up to the box and with their bat, clear the table of the item without
breaking the table.

Tip: Start with taller items and work towards batting off smaller items. Put the item to be hit in the correct
place on the box in relationship to the batter (near front foot not center of body.)

Everyone Touches (throwing/catching/base running/teamwork)
Skills taught: Players get to practice catching and throwing the ball quickly and on target as well as base
running. They will also be working on teamwork and leadership skills as the players in the field must decide
how to work together to achieve the goal.

How the game works:

The coach sends all players into the field except for one that stands near home.
The coach hits the ball into the field, and the player at home starts to run the bases. The runner's goal
is to go around the bases as many times as possible before every player in the field touches the ball
with the last throw being to the catcher.
This game is fun and works to develop teamwork, leadership, and conditioning for the runner, but at
some point the kids may come up with a plan that limits the use of true baseball skills in the field.
Once this happens (and you’ll know) change the game so that no one can move from their position
once the ball is retrieved.

Tip: You can also divide the team into 2 teams to play this. After the first runner has gone around the bases
once, the next player on the running team takes off. This continues until all field players have touched the ball
or all members of the running team have “scored.” Another variation is to have the runners only running to
first base (or to second, etc.) and see how many times they can cross that base. (If you have more than 12
players, consider 3 teams with 2 in the field at a time and one “at bat.”)