| Many new coaches would like nothing more than | | | | stress the importance of the player being aware |
| to simply jump right in with both feet and begin | | | | of how they are actually swinging the bat. This |
| having their team play the game without teaching | | | | ensures that the player will see where they will |
| them youth baseball drills. Of course, this can | | | | need improvement. |
| simply be the absolutely worse thing coach can | | | | Running the bases can be the fun part of learning |
| do. | | | | the game of baseball. And, it may even allow the |
| As a coach, it takes hard work and even harder | | | | player the chance to get dirty too. |
| work to come up with a practice game plan. | | | | Certain drills are able to teach the finer points of |
| Going in completely unprepared is basically setting | | | | base running. One very good drill is to have all the |
| both you and your team up for a big fall. First of | | | | players line up at home plate and subsequently |
| all, there are numerous places that a coach can | | | | run after the coach calls out the type of hit that |
| explore to find drills to teach their team. And, | | | | was made. For example, by calling out a single, |
| there are many different drills out there that a | | | | the base runner would be expected to stop at |
| coach can employ too. Therefore, specific drills | | | | first base. While a double would have them |
| cannot be stressed enough. But, with younger | | | | running to second base and so on and so forth. |
| children, especially concentrate on the three main | | | | This can open a door for explaining the |
| areas which are namely hitting, catching, and base | | | | importance of how the player should turn after |
| running. | | | | getting past first base and can even include a |
| When using or creating drills that pertain to hitting, | | | | sliding drill on the other bases. |
| certain aspects will need to be considered. Items | | | | Catching a little white ball is not as easy as it |
| such as the player's stance, their swing, and even | | | | seems, especially for younger players. The |
| what they do with their feet are all equally | | | | youngest players are usually quite afraid of |
| important and must be addressed. | | | | getting hit with the ball and they will have a |
| Keep their stance as wide as their shoulders and | | | | tendency to avoid any throws. This problem can |
| this will be a good start. This will allow the younger | | | | probably be solved by one single drill. Have the |
| player to be able to balance properly as well as | | | | player stand a short distance from you and easily |
| comfortably. Show them not only how to hold the | | | | toss the ball back and forth. While tossing the ball, |
| bat, but also explain why they need to hold the | | | | explain how to properly hold the glove and to |
| bat a certain way. | | | | always watch the ball. Before long, the young |
| When exploring these aspects, there is a drill that | | | | player will gain confidence and will eventually lose |
| can be quite useful. It is primarily a way for both | | | | their fright of getting hit with the ball altogether. |
| you as well as the player to be able to | | | | Basically, they will realize that they are actually |
| understand their swing. Stand on the mound and | | | | able to catch it and they will certainly do so. |
| pretend like you are pitching to the player in the | | | | Many younger players are quite familiar with the |
| batting box. Go through the wind up and the pitch. | | | | art of playing baseball. But, by using youth baseball |
| The player is then expected to pretend like they | | | | drills, this can only improve. |
| are hitting the ball. All the while, maintain and | | | | |