This drill is actually a hitting game that allows players to build skills, learn to perform under pressure, identify strikes, and develop a line drive swing.
Teams of 2 or 3 players compete against other teams. The first team to score 11 runs wins. The drill can be used indoors or outdoors. The games requires a wall, curtain, or sections of fence. The rules are outlined before competition begins. The wall or fence should have a “top line” that represents the top of the scoring zone. Any ball that hits the wall, curtain, or fence above that line is an “out”. To score, the batter must hit a line drive that hits the scoring zone without touching the ground. The batter that hits a ground ball keeps the inning alive. He does not score, but he also does not make an out. Each player gets only one swing per bat. He is either going to hit a score, hit a ground ball or make an out. Any ball that is caught by the defense before it touches the wall or ground is an out. All pop ups, foul balls, and missed swings are counted as outs. Bats are not allowed to touch the ground. Batters must stay alert and jump in to bat as soon as the other batter swings. Each team gets 3 outs per at bat. Defensive players are allowed to “knock down” balls to prevent scoring. Any ball that hits the “scoring zone” without touching the ground is a score. The defense must learn to react quickly and catch the ball or knock it down.
This drill is best done in a tournament format. Reward the winning team in some way. This is a great drill for indoor hitting. Players get to take a lot of swings. The competition becomes fierce. It will build a competitive fire in your timid players, and teach players to be aggressive. Make sure to use foam or wiffle baseballs.
Teaching young players the need to keep their eye on the ball might not always be as effective as we as coaches would like. This baseball drill for kids focuses things on a much smaller area of the ball.
What you need (set up): Set up a tee that is about waist height for the player. Put a dime size dot on the backside of the ball, just above the halfway circumference of the ball. Always place the ball with the spot facing toward the backstop.
How this drill works: Often times younger players don’t grasp the entire concept of keeping their ‘eye on the ball.’ Therefore, this drill has been designed to get them to keep their eye on a certain spot on the ball. Once they focus on a target smaller than the ball itself, they can swing at the spot using the fundamentals they have been taught to this point.
Results: Children see the ball as a target that needs to be hit. When they aim for a bigger target, they have a larger room for error. When they focus on a smaller target, they naturally assume a smaller margin for error. This helps them build confidence in hitting the ball, and also develops muscle memory when they are swinging.
Technorati Tags: baseball drill for kids, ‘eye on the ball, drill, Children
A common situation in baseball is the run down. A player caught in between two bases – either one of them being safe. Executing a proper defensive set up is important to getting the out. Pickle is a classic baseball practice drill you can add to your workouts.
What you need (set up): Set up a number of stations that is divisible by three. You will need three people per station (2 fielders, 1 runner).
All distance between bases is 30 feet (in all directions)
How this drill works: The fielders need to work the ball back and forth in an attempt to get the runner out. The runner needs to try to advance to third base or get back safely to second. You can award the fielders two points if they get the runner out. One point if they get the runner back to second, zero points if the runner gets to third base. Play the game until the fielders get 5 points. Rotate the players at this point.
Result: Both the runners and the fielders will understand what they need to do when they are in this situation – both on offense and defense. Rundowns occur often in Little League ball, and even in high school league with regularity. It is good for young players to know how to get the out.
Note: Once the players have mastered this aspect of the drill, then you should advance it to the standard tactic where players are backing each other up and rotating as the rundown advances.
