| In my eighteen years of coaching youth baseball, | | | | lot of repetitions for the kids, I move up almost |
| I am always looking for the most efficient | | | | to the front base of the mound to pitch. I do this |
| practice methods for every aspect of baseball. It | | | | mainly so I can throw strikes consistently. For |
| took me only a few years to realize that most | | | | safety purposes, an "L" screen would be required |
| youth baseball coaches and myself were running | | | | from a shorter distance for safety. If your league |
| batting practice, not incorrectly, but not efficiently. | | | | doesn't have any, make them get them. |
| From what I have seen with the typical batting | | | | I have the first person up at bat with the 2nd |
| practice, a coach will pitch a predetermined | | | | and 3rd player ready to go. I have the 3rd hitter |
| number of balls for each batter with the fielders | | | | (or double on deck hitter) on the outside of the |
| fielding the hit balls and throwing them to first | | | | screen hitting balls on a batting tee using pickle |
| base. Usually the coach will yell something like "run | | | | balls (plastic) or wiffle balls with another parent |
| the last one out", and the batter does just that. If | | | | feeding the balls on the tee. I always have the |
| the ball is an infield hit, they try to throw him out | | | | number 2, or on deck hitter, ready to hit. |
| at first. If it is hit into the outfield, he usually runs | | | | The batter bunts the first to pitches. For each |
| until he is thrown out. This is all well and good | | | | successful bunt, the player receives an extra |
| intentioned, but it is wasting valuable time when a | | | | swing. I usually give a player five swings besides |
| coach wants to run an efficient practice. | | | | his two bunts. So if a player lays one bunt |
| Here is the most efficient way of running a | | | | between the cones, he get six regular swings. If |
| batting practice that I've come up with. First of all, | | | | he lays both bunts between the cones, he gets |
| let me say this. Batting practice is just what it is, | | | | seven swings (the maximum per hitter). Now, |
| batting practice. Batting practice is not fielding | | | | there are certain things that have to happen to |
| practice or base running practice. So all youth | | | | make this work. Remember there are two |
| coaches and parents should really define what a | | | | buckets strategically located. After the bunts, |
| youth batting practice is and what they want to | | | | when the hitter swings away, wherever the ball is |
| get out of it. | | | | hit, the fielder tosses it into the bucket closet to |
| Most of my youth practices do not run more | | | | him. If it is hit to the outfield, he will throw the ball |
| than one hour. Every minute of wasted time will | | | | as close to the bucket behind second base. If he |
| affect all other aspects and time of any other | | | | hits it to the infield, the fielder will toss it to the |
| drills or techniques I want to accomplish. The first | | | | bucket behind the pitcher's mound. Reinforce to |
| thing a coach needs to have is an over abundance | | | | the players that they must toss to the bucket on |
| of baseballs. The league will provide baseballs but I | | | | one or two bounces or they will tend to play |
| always make sure I purchase a few dozen | | | | basketball with the baseball and bucket. |
| extras. I try to work with three-dozen and keep | | | | Now the point here is that the fielders do not |
| an extra dozen in my trunk. And don't think I'm | | | | make a play to first and the hitter does not run |
| not frugal accounting for every baseball at the | | | | the last one out. We get more repetitions in a |
| end of practice. I try to make sure we find each | | | | short period of time. The players are always |
| one, and after practice, we comb the field to | | | | facing the hitter. One might ask, isn't this boring |
| make sure we got them all. Usually we find | | | | for most of the players in the field? Well, not |
| extras and end up with more than what we | | | | really. Because of the amount of balls hit in a |
| started with. | | | | short period of time, the ball is usually hit all over |
| Now, here is the actual logistics and set up that I | | | | the place. And the coach throwing batting practice |
| do about 95% of the time I run batting practice. | | | | will keep one or two extra balls in his glove and is |
| I'm a big proponent of bunting. I set up two cones | | | | ready to pitch the next ball right away. When out |
| on the third base line, about six feet apart, | | | | of baseballs, have the players in the infield hustle |
| approximately where the bunt is suppose to go. I | | | | to gather up the balls, combine buckets, and |
| set up two empty buckets, one about three feet | | | | we're ready to go again. This works great! |
| behind second base and the other one at the far | | | | Batting practice is a favorite of any baseball |
| base of the mound toward second. I have | | | | player at almost every level. Do not deny batting |
| another bucket with the baseballs on the mound | | | | practice at any practice. And always look for the |
| easily accessible to me. Now, this is a key. As a | | | | most efficient, safest procedure to help enhance |
| youth coach who wants a well-run practice and a | | | | your whole practice. |