How to Learn Baseball Drills

The game of baseball is one America's favorite pastimes. The skills required to play the game are maintained only by consistent practice. Baseball drills are the best and most effective ways of staying on top of all elements of the game. Typically, baseball drills fit into 4 basic categories: hitting, fielding, pitching and base running. Effective coaches look hard at the needs of their team and choose baseball drills that will improve their strengths and pare down their weaknesses.

Instructions

  1. Hitting

    • 1

      Perform baseball as a hitting game to promote quick thinking and precision when it comes to swinging and hitting. Players choose a bat they can handle.

    • 2

      Approach the plate with a plan in mind.

    • 3

      Focus on making solid contact and try to hit the ball up the middle.

    Pitching

    • 4

      Conduct a specific set of pitching improvement drills designed to train pitchers to be successful and sharp with their throws. Take four different colored dots about the size of a quarter and place one dot on each of the catcher's knee and shoulder guards.

    • 5

      Instruct the catcher to make a call out and the pitcher must throw the ball to the corresponding spot. The pitcher must hit all 4 dots with 6 balls.

    • 6

      Repeat the drill in a different order after the pitcher has completed the drill.

    Fielding

    • 7

      Conduct baseball fielding drills which must include tactical fielding drills that teach players how to handle bunts, attempt stolen bases, throwing runners out at home plate, double plays, force outs and run-down situations. Start the drill by instructing the pitcher to throw a pitch to the catcher at home.

    • 8

      Receive the pitch and make a strong throw to the short stop at second base. The short stop makes a strong throw to third base. The third baseman makes a strong throw to the catcher at home plate.

    • 9

      Continue the drill as the catcher hands the ball to the coach at home who hits a ground ball to third base. The third baseman fields and makes a strong throw to first base.

    • 10

      Repeat the drill after the first baseman returns the ball to the coach on the mound.

    Base Running

    • 11

      Introduce the relay race as a great base running drill to help improve player's agility and conditioning when making turns on the bases. The team is split into 2 squads. Half the team at home plate, and half at second base.

    • 12

      Start the race at home plate with the first player on each team holding the ball. On the coach's signal the first player from each team will start running around the bases.

    • 13

      Maintain a quick pace as each player runs around the bases, handing the ball to the next player. First team to get all players completely around the bases wins.