Archive for November 2008
Baseball Drill – Crack of the Bat
This is one of those drills for baseball that everyone should include in their practices. Having the right lead off and then taking off to the next base when the ball is hit can give a runner the extra they need to make it safely to the next base.
What you need (set up): A runner on first base, a pitcher, batter and a full infield.
How this drill works: Although not stealing, the player on first wants to get a good jump, without it seeming like a hit and run. This baseball drill helps the explosiveness of a player from the base they are on by help to anticipate and then react to the ball being hit.
The runner should lead off, and be ready to spring into action when the ball is hit. The runner will get one point for leaving right at the crack of the bat, zero points for leaving early and the hitter making contact, minus one point if they are caught leaving too late after the ball is struck, and minus two points if they leave too early and the batter misses the ball, and they are left running to second. That should be an easy out for the defense.
Result: Your players will soon be able to react instantly to when the ball is hit, giving them a great jump on the defense trying to put them out.
Baseball Drill For Baserunning – Tag Up
Getting caught not tagging up is a major frustration for coaches. Players often leave a bag too early or they don’t even stay on the bag at all. Getting players prepared to tag up on fly balls can be an advantage when it’s time to score runs. Try these baseball agility drills to enhance these skills.
What you need (set up): You will need runners on all four bases, with the rest of the players lining up at home plate waiting for their turn to run the drill. The coach will stand in the middle of the infield, on the mound.
How this drill works: With all of the runners at their bases, they start by leading off. The baseball coach will toss themselves a high fly ball and while the players are waiting for the ball to come down, they plan their tag up for when the coach catches the ball.
Once the coach catches the ball, the players are prepared to advance to the next base. Other coaches or players can sit and be the judge to see if players leave bases too early, or if they are not tagged up when the ball is caught.
Results: Players will learn to anticipate the ball being caught when it is a fly ball. They will be able to make a quick break on the ball after it has been caught. This is going to be very valuable when the time comes to advance runners on a fly ball.
Baseball Drill For Little League – Follow Through
This is one of the best youth baseball hitting drills. It teaches that the follow through is important to get the most fluid and powerful swing. If you are trying to stop the bat, the swing loses momentum as you slow the bat down.
What you need (set up): You need a tee for the batter to hit from, and you need a ball set up (either on a tee or other apparatus) that will be along the proper follow through plane of the batter.
How this drill works: When a batter swings through the ball, they will maintain their swing plane through the drill and first hit the ball on the tee in front of them, and then on the tee in their proper follow through plane.
If a player is not hitting the second ball then the coach must help them achieve the appropriate swing plane.
This is also a great baseball drill to experiment with different swing planes and swing directions when teaching opposite field hitting.
Results: Having the appropriate swing plane will help the batter achieve more consistency in their battings, and ultimately help them achieve a fuller swing, which assists in increasing overall power.
Baseball Drill – Baserunning Relay
Running hard around the bases is important for the players to learn. This online baseball drill will keep them on their toes and have them compete against their teammates to stay ahead.
What you need (set up): Two lines – one at home plate, the other at second base.
How this drill works: One the coaches’ signal for players to take off, the players on second sprint towards third, and then home, first, and back to second to tag their next teammate. The runners from home do the same thing, only they round the bases in the correct order.
The teams will continue to do this, tagging the next baseball player in line when they reach their team bag, until one team overtakes the other rounding the bases.
Results: Aside from getting into shape with this great conditioning drill, the players will understand the value of running the bases as fast as they can. The competition aspect of it makes them try a little bit harder, too.
