Little League Baseball Practice Tips

Little league baseball is a great way for young kids to learn the basic fundamentals of the game. Little league coaches can help improve the kids' baseball abilities by providing them with a handful of practice tips, or drills, to repeat on a daily basis. If they continue to put forth the effort, children can improve their skills and prepare themselves for competition at the next level.

  1. Ground Balls Drill

    • Line up your players in the positions they would play in an actual game and hit ground balls to them at various speeds. This drill will help players learn the various hops and adjust to how they should position their bodies while defending ground balls. Make sure to have the players finish the play by throwing to the appropriate base so they can practice the glove-to-hand transition.

    Pop-Up Drill

    • Again, line up your players in the positions they would play in an actual game and hit pop-ups to each player. This will help players adjust to how to track pop-ups and teach them how to call off their teammates when they are in a position to make the catch. Make sure to continually point out the need to communicate with their teammates.

    Garbage Can Drill

    • Place a circular garbage can on the ground at home plate, facing the outfield, to simulate the catcher's mitt. Arrange the players in the outfield at various points. Hit them either pop-ups or ground balls, and have players field the balls and throw them toward the garbage can. This will help them work on the accuracy of their throws. Move the garbage so players can practice throws to various bases.

    Quick Toss Drill

    • Practice batting skills by lining the players up either across from a hitting net or across from a fence. Grab a bucket of balls and gently toss them in front of the batter. Batters should hit the balls into the fence or net. Give players the chance to hit a large number of balls. This will help improve hand-eye coordination while help players work on their arm strength.

    Running Bases Drill

    • Split your team in half, and send half to one base and half to another. Choose one player to be the runner an explain that his job is to reach the base safely. Meanwhile, defenders will try to tag the runner out before he reaches the base. This will help improve the defensive ability of the defenders by placing them in a game situation, while improving the runner's base-running ability.

    First to Third Drill

    • Having players run from first base to third base, making sure they step on the inner corner of second base and round the base at the correct angle. This will not only help improve base-running skills, but also improve the overall stamina of the players.