| Making The Most Of Your Youth Baseball Practice | | | | throw to each other. Have all the pitchers switch |
| If you ever have the opportunity to watch a | | | | off after ten pitches to the catcher so all pitchers |
| professional sports team practice, the one aspect | | | | have a chance to throw to the catcher. Have a |
| that jumps out at you, other than the abundance | | | | coach watch the pitching form of each pitcher. |
| of talent, is the degree to which every single | | | | Have the infield group cover all the infield positions |
| minute is utilized in an efficient manner. Different | | | | with extra players going to the outfield. A coach |
| groups rotate around drills for set amounts of | | | | should bat balls to all areas of the field. Have |
| time governed by a clock and timed buzzer. You | | | | extra players assume the roles of base runners. |
| can do somewhat the same thing with your | | | | Rotate the infield positions after every few hits. |
| youth baseball practice. Here is a good basic | | | | Have your outfield group spread out in a wide |
| formula for an hour and 45 minute practice: | | | | semi-circle in pairs of two with each two players |
| In the first 10 minutes have players each find a | | | | about 8 feet from each other. A coach or |
| teammate to warm up with by throwing and | | | | assistant bats or throws balls to each pair. The |
| catching with each other. If a player does not | | | | player closest to the ball calls it and the other |
| have a partner, an assistant coach should throw | | | | plays backup. Stress the need for good backup! |
| and catch with the player. | | | | Only 2 outfielders should be involved with each |
| In the next 5 minutes you should have your team | | | | throw but you can keep the hits/throws going as |
| meeting and discuss what you will be doing in the | | | | quick as possible. It is nice to have an extra helper |
| practice and cover details for an upcoming game. | | | | to the coach to gather balls as they are returned. |
| In then next 1 hour divide the team up as follows: | | | | After 30 minutes, have the infield and outfield |
| Have your 3 starting pitchers and starting catcher | | | | groups switch. On every other practice have the |
| in the pitching & catching group, have half of | | | | pitchers & catcher mix in with the infield |
| the remaining players in an infield practice group, | | | | outfield groups. |
| and have the remaining players in an outfield | | | | Devote the last 30 minutes to batting practice. |
| practice group. | | | | Use a variety of batting drills and make sure |
| Have one of the pitchers throwing to the catcher | | | | every player gets a lot of practice. |
| (in full catcher's gear) while the other two pitchers | | | | |