Free Baseball Practice Plan Drills

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Here is a sample 90-100 minute outdoor practice plan you can use for the more advanced players.

 

Throwing Drills

Wrist Flips

• Using 4-seam grip and about 10´-12´ apart, aim throwing elbow at partner at shoulder height and extend arm to flip ball keeping fingers on top of ball to create backspin.
• End with fingers pointing down and arm fully extended pointing at partner (can be done on one knee as well).
• For added form, put black tape around ball perpendicular to the 4-seams so when the ball is flipped properly, the tape rotates in a straight line up and down.

Step And Throw

• Start with feet planted, facing partner and ball in glove at chest.
• Thrower takes a step forward with throwing side leg and throws to partner.
• In addition to all above fundamentals (hand break, arm angle, glove position during throw and follow through), now coach is paying attention to thrower getting sideways to his partner and the direction of his stepping leg.

Crow Hop And Throw

• While stretched out to the peak of your throwing distance, have players take a more explosive first step with throwing side leg forward or crow hop and throw to partner.
• Pay attention to hand break, arm angles, body position after hop, glove position during throw, follow through and direction of stepping leg.
• The use of a small object (or mini hurdle) that the kids have to jump over can help kids get the feel of it.
• Throw should be firm.
• If done indoors with limited space, drill can be done throwing into a net. Pick a target in the netting to simulate a line drive throw from the outfield.

Long Toss

• Players gradually extending the distance between throws until they are throwing as far as they can and as fluidly as possible. Take a step back after every throw.
• When they get to their max distance, gradually move closer and now are throwing line drives to their partner as hard as they can and as fluidly as possible.
• If space is an issue indoors, it can be done throwing into a net.

 

Stations (15 minutes per station)

Rotate 3-4 kids through each station. Make sure you have a coach at each station making sure kids are doing drills properly.

 

Station 1 Infield Drills

Live Ground Balls

• Advancing from the above stations, now the infielders are getting live ground balls. It is important here to keep the infielder "moving" through the grounder and not getting caught flat-footed.
• As a right-hander approaching a ground ball, your last two steps are right foot-left foot, then get into fielding position to field the ball, continue on and step and throw to the base/target. It is opposite for lefties.
• To reinforce, have fielders take a few extra steps toward target after throw.
• Concentrate on fielding the ground ball in the middle of your body with your hands out front.
• Two coaches hitting ground balls to two different positions (Coach 1 hitting ground balls to 3rd base/2nd base from left handed hitter's side. Coach 2 hitting ground balls to 1st base/shortstop from right handed hitter's side).

Force Outs And Double Plays

• Coach hits grounders to infielders who make throw to 2B/SS for force out at 2B.
• In order to make this as game-like as possible, have player receiving throw start about 15' away from the bag near his normal position and come to the bag to make the play when coach hits the ball.
• After force out is made, continue through the bag to get out of the way of the runner.
• After force out is made and player is out of the way of the runner, practice getting ball out of glove quickly and getting into a good throwing position to look for the next play.

 

Station 2 Outfield Drills

Back Left

• Working on going back left to receive ball.
• Fielders first step is a jab step, then hip turn and go.
• After ball is caught, turn, crow hop and quickly throw ball in.

Back Right

• Working on going back right to receive ball.
• Working on coming in to the left to receive ball.
• Catch ball above head in strong throwing position.
• Fielders first step is a jab step, then hip turn and go.
• After ball is caught, turn, crow hop and quickly throw ball in.

Breaking In Left

• Working on coming in to the left to receive ball.
• Catch ball above head in strong throwing position.
• Crow hop and quickly throw ball in.

Breaking In Right

• Working on coming in to the right to receive ball.
• Catch ball above head in strong throwing position.
• Crow hop and quickly throw ball in.

 

Station 3 Pitching Drills

Bullpen Session

• With a catcher, pitching working on command, different pitches.
• This should be done at regular pitching distance.
• 30-35 pitches will suffice per session.
• Variation: Two pitcher bullpens - Pitcher 1 throws 10-12 pitches, then sits down. Pitcher 2 then throws 10-12 pitches, then sits down. Repeat for 3 rounds. Simulates more game-like scenario.

Pickoffs

• Getting kids used to throwing 1st/2nd base.
• From the stretch or set position, step back off rubber with pivot foot (throwing side foot which is in contact with the rubber) first.
• For throws to 1B, make sure 1st baseman is holding runner on properly (right foot against inside corner of the bag, glove up and ready to receive throw, feet in-line with the pitcher).
• From the set position, pitcher can only move his head. If he fakes with any part of his body, a balk will be called.
• From the wind-up position, the pitcher must first step off the rubber with his pivot foot (throwing side foot) first, or a balk will be called.

 

Entire Team - Batting Practice (15-20 minutes)

Live Pitching Batting Practice

• Coach throwing from in front of hitter (use screen).
• Make sure coach is close enough that he throws consistent strikes and can hit locations for older players.
• Every drill thus far has progressed to this point. This is where it all counts. A hitter must be able to take consistent swings during batting practice to have success in the games.

Split team into 3 groups. Each group gets to hit for 6-7 minutes.

If you have enough coaches, have one coach for each group throwing wiffle batting practice.

 

End Workout (Entire team) Base Running - 10 minutes

Stealing

• Initial step, arm action, staying in the tunnel, peeking.

Tagging Up

• With a runner at each base, hit a fly ball to the outfield. Runner has to get back to their respective base and wait for outfielder to catch, touch or miss ball with their foot on the base, then move up to next base.