• Energy, enthusiasm and preparation: The coach needs to bring energy and enthusiasm to each practice and be prepared. The kids feed off this. Speak up so players can hear you.
  

• Maintain control: When you first address your group as a team, discuss expectations and consequences for not meeting them. Goofing off excessively, being disruptive, picking on teammates, talking while the coach is talking, etc. can quickly become contagious and ruin a practice. Call out such behavior quickly. After a warning or two, have the offending player(s) run a lap, take a time out on the bench, etc. If addressed early on, behavior issues rarely continue into the season. Expectations on behavior and consequences are obviously age dependent.

• Make time for instruction and correction: Young players doing reps incorrectly reinforces bad habits.

• Utilize stations: Players should almost never be standing around with nothing to do or waiting in a line more than 3-4 players deep. With stations, you get more repetitions in and maintain better control of the group. A baseball field can be broken into at least 6 stations if needed (LF, CF, RF, left side infield, center infield, right side infield) and some of our fields have extra grassy areas and batting cages.

• Make it competitive: Competition makes practice fun and engaging. Competition can be team level (how many times can the team through the ball around the bases without a drop or overthrow), small group level (how many error-free defensive plays can group A make in a row vs. group B), or at the individual level (who can lay down the most bunts in a row). Adjust for age level accordingly (which young player can catch the ball the most times in a row?)

• Do the work first: Players love to hit. If possible, try to hit each practice, but work on other fundamentals first (defense, base running, etc.) and have hitting be the reward.

• Time of arrival determines batting practice order: Once the players catch on, they will rarely be late for practice and will often start to show up early.

 Sample practice videos

• Jog one lap around the field
  
• Line up on outfield foul line & run 6 sprints (down and back 3x) roughly length of the 60-foot base line
• Progress from 50% effort to 90% effort
• You can add in high knees, skips, butt kicks, side shuffles, running backwards, carioca, etc.
• Arm circles (forward & back, large & small)
• Partner players up along foul line and throw long toss (start close and have the partner closest to centerfield take a step or two back with each throw)

Additional warm-up resources:

Antonelli baseball camp warmup – Time stamp starting 5:02 through 10:58

Warm up created by Tracy St. Hilaire, physical therapist- MLL parent

WARM UP IS THE BEST TIME TO INSTRUCT/REMIND PLAYERS ON PROPER THROWING MOTION – AS A GROUP OR INDIVIDUALLY AS NEEDED – Basic throwing motion video tutorial

Infield/Outfield

Station 1: Infield ground balls

1. Instruction on ground ball form including backhand form
2. Drill progression: Infield drill videos
   

• rolled/softly thrown ground balls, backhands and short hops (recommend starting with kids partnered up so coach can watch and correct form before moving on)
• coach thrown or softly hit ground balls from a close distance (work in backhands & short hops)
• full ground balls/traditional infield practice

1. First baseman basics: footwork on the base, how to stretch, fielding short hops, making a tag when pulled off the base

• First base videos here
• You can pull first basemen aside as a separate group or incorporate their work into infield practice, ideally with a dedicated coach paying attention to first basemen.

 

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Station 2: Outfield fly balls

1. Instruction on fly ball form: Fly ball instructional video
2. Drill progression: Outfield fly ball drill videos

a.       Popups or drop step pop ups thrown up from short distance

b.       Communication or cone drills (IE "The Box" or "Speed Square" drill -see video playlist)

c.        Batted or high thrown fly balls

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Station 3: Outfield ground balls

1. Instruction on fly ball form: Outfield ground ball instructional video
2. Drill progression: Outfield ground ball drills

a.       Popups or drop step pop ups thrown up from short distance

b.       Communication or cone drills (IE "The Box" or "Speed Square" drill -see video playlist)

c.        Batted or high thrown fly balls

SAFETY IS THE PRIORITY

NOTE: PLAYERS MUST WEAR HELMETS DURING ALL HITTING STATIONS (EVEN IF HITTING OFF A TEE WITH NO LIVE PITCHING)
PLAYERS CANNOT BE STANDING AROUND SWINGING BATS

Hitting stations – players rotate through stations after 10-15 good swings or hits – adjust stations and time spent at each station based on number of players and coaches and time allotted within the practice

• One or two coaches throwing front toss (one in each cage at Monk) – How to throw front toss
• Numerous batting tee and/or soft toss stations - in cage behind front toss or set up with outside the field (each cage can hold three stations – one front toss and two tee/soft toss -see diagram) – coaches or players can set the tee or throw soft toss for a hitter as appropriate per age group and as needed – please do not hit into a chain link fence
  
  Suggested drill progression for cage & tee/soft toss:

1. extreme open stance
2. controlled stride - front foot on ball/batting helmet
3. regular swings

Traditional batting practice

•  recommend having batter start with 2-3 bunts
• players shag balls before and after they have rotated through hitting stations
• L screen for BP pitcher is highly recommended, especially at the majors level
  

Station 1: Baserunning Station – use infield bases

• Instruction on baserunning – Baserunning instructional videos - have coach demonstrate running through first base, rounding first on a single, running out a double with a rounded path, taking a secondary lead after the pitch crosses home and tagging up after taking a secondary lead.

a.       Emphasize hitting the front of first base with your foot when running through first base

b.       Emphasize hitting the inside corner of the bases when rounding a base

• 
  Drill: Practice each point instructed above as time allows. You can add an additional base or two parallel with first base to move through the group quickly.

 

Station 2: Sliding – use left field grass

• Instruction on how to slide
• Practice sliding on the grass as shown in the video above. Use a glove, hat or unanchored base as a target so players get familiar with sliding from the correct distance from the base. With large groups set up multiple lines so players keep moving.

 

Station 3: Bunting – use right field

• Instruction on how to bunt
• Drill progression: 1) bunt with easy underhand toss 2) bunt with faster overhand pitch (use 2-3 coaches or have kids pair up with large group)

Have most knowledgeable coach instruct the whole group, then break kids into groups based on number of attendees and coaches – use the mound for one group and then space out remaining groups throughout the field

Instruction on a simple pitching motion and finishing in a fielding position.

Suggested drill progression:

1. Have players throw pitches and provide further instruction as needed.
2. Play pitching knockout
3. Roll ground balls after pitch is thrown to emphasize finishing pitching motion in fielding position

Don’t push a specific motion on a player if they have a somewhat effective motion they feel comfortable with and/or they have been working on a different motion with their dad or coach.

For coaches looking for high level pitching mechanics instruction and drills, check out the Mustard app.

Instruction on setting up appropriate distance behind hitter with throwing hand behind the back, receiving/framing, blocking, pop ups, fielding bunts/dribblers & dropped third strikes with the throw to first on the inside or outside.

·   See some videos for basic catching instruction and drills here.

Suggested drill progression: Tennis ball can be used for younger players or to start off

1. Receiving and framing tennis ball barehanded
2. Blocking tennis ball starting in blocking position
3. Blocking tennis ball starting in catcher’s stance and dropping into blocking position
4. Blocking tennis ball side to side starting in catcher’s stance
5. Play to first setting up inside on dribbler/bunt
6. Majors only: setting up outside to first base on dropped third strike
7. Majors only: pop up basics

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES – PICK ONE OR TWO ACCORDINGLY

• Pair kids and have foot races (straightaway or around the bases w/ each kid starting at home and running the opposite direction)

• Pitching knockout: You can add rules as needed such as bounced or uncatchable pitch or dropped return throw knocks a player out. Can have 2 or 3 games going with a large group.

• Hit the bucket: Have the kids line up in centerfield, hit them a ball and have them try to throw the ball and hit a bucket placed at home plate. Not great for a large group but you could do this with two smaller groups at a shorter distance on two separate places on the field. Make sure everyone is safe

• Bucket basketball: Kids love to try and throw baseballs into the bucket. You can close out practice by putting the kids in a circle with a ball bucket in the middle and they each take a turn trying to get a ball in the bucket. First one to make it wins and the game is over. Can have 2 or 3 games going with a large group. 

• Mini-scrimmage with three small teams: Coach is permanent pitcher. Break team into three teams of 3-4 players (A,B,C). Team A hits first, team B is in the infield, team C is in the outfield, then rotate accordingly. Have coaches help in the field as needed. Innings start with one out. Batters start with two strikes and are allowed two foul balls. Coach is umpire and can call strikeouts looking. To teach hustle, the first player to reach home plate with their bat and helmet is the first hitter each inning. No batting gloves allowed as it slows down the game. If fielders don’t hustle into the field, play starts with them out of position and therefore at a disadvantage (coach needs to be mindful of safety here).
  

• Ichiro Drill: Line up 3-4 bats at home plate.  Players can stand anywhere on the infield and serve as a “relay”..  Coach will throw 5 balls to the player and will see how many of the bats that they can knock down.