Want your Players to Catch every Pop Up?

Most people have seen a youth baseball play that goes like this: The hitter pops the ball almost straight up, it hits the ground, and the batter gets a strike. Sometimes, though, something magic

happens- the catcher catches the ball. Is it really magic when that happens though? Not really. It’s just a well-trained little catcher who knows how to catch those pop-ups. If you want your players to have this skill, try this awesome new drill with them.

The Drill

Have the catcher squat into the position. Then you, the coach, should step a few feet in front of him and turn your back. Using a signal phrase or hand motion, toss the ball up into the air, mimicking a pop-up. Your catcher should then do his best to catch the pop-up and keep it from hitting the ground.

You should also teach your catcher to remove his mask while he’s getting to his feet to catch the ball. Not having the mask hindering him makes it a lot easier to catch the ball.

Also, make sure you don’t toss the ball exactly the same every time. Vary where the “pop-ups” go and how high they go. After all, who knows what way a pop-up ball is bound to go in a real game?

If you devote just a few minutes each practice day to this handy, easy drill, you should see great results from your catcher in no time flat. Try it with your other players too. Everyone can benefit from learning how to catch those pesky pop-ups.

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The Must Try Baseball Drill that has Coaches Raving

If you ask most youth baseball coaches what their young players struggle with the most, the answer is often aggressive base running. Kids tend to be too scared to risk it all and run the bases or they just don’t have a good feel for when to run. Fortunately, there’s a great new base running drill that can help them to learn how to round the bases and how and when to take an extra base. Best of all, the drill is super fun for kids and can be done indoors or outdoors.

Getting Started

l  First things first, place down four bases in a square shape, keeping each base about 30 feet apart from the next.

l  Choose one of the bases to be the home plate.       

l  Split players into teams of four

l  One team should act as defensive players. Give each member of this team a glove and place each player at one base.

l  Another team should act as offensive base runners. Place players on first, second, and third base.

l  Team three will have the job of backing up passed balls behind each base.

l  Allow two players to act as base coaches, behind bases one and three.

l  The coach should prepare to act as umpire

Drill Rules

During the drill, offensive players will try to score runs. The goal for the offense is to score five runs. The goal for the defense is to score five outs. Whichever side reaches the goal first is the winner.

Basic rules for the drill are as follows:

l  A play is counted a “run” only when the base runner who started at first base makes it across home plate.

l  An “out” is when a runner gets tagged off base.

l  Begin the game by tossing the ball to a defensive player who is “home.”

l  That player then throws to another base at the umpire’s signal.

l  Base runners may lead off to simulate real gameplay.

l  Runners may run through first and home.

l  A runner who is “out” can remain on the nearest base.

There you have it- a simple, easy, and above all else, FUN drill to try with your players. They’ll love it, and they’ll learn a lot about base running too!

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An Easy Trick to Increase Batting Power

When you ask youth baseball coaches to pinpoint the skill most lacking in their young players, nine times out of ten, they will say the ability to hit the ball hard. Young players often forget that their goal is to hit the ball “right” and instead just try their best to hit it at all. The result is often players who are well in front of pitches or who otherwise get their bodies all out of whack as they struggle into awkward positions.

The trick to getting your players to hit the ball hard isn’t so much in the hitting as it is in where they keep their weight. As mentioned, most younger players have a tendency to throw their weight forward, when it should be back, where it can allow for balance and leverage. Fortunately, teaching them how to properly place their weight isn’t as difficult as you might think.

An easy drill to do with players is to get a tee and place an old basketball that has seen better days on it. You want a basketball that’s deflated and otherwise useless,  so definitely don’t go out and buy a new ball. If you’re having trouble balancing the basketball on the tee, you can use a toilet plunger, inserted into the tee, as a “holder” for the ball.

Allow your players to come up, one by one, and hit the basketball. Take some time with each player, making sure every little baseball star is taking the best possible batting stance. They will quickly find, after a few tries, that keeping their weight behind them is the only way to get a good, solid whack on the basketball.

The kids are sure to have a blast- who wouldn’t love hitting a big old basketball with a bat and sending it soaring? Plus, as long as you make the lesson you are teaching clear, it should go over well and “drill” into the players’ minds that strong hits require proper weight positioning.

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Fun Youth Baseball Drill

Are you searching for a great new drill to try with your baseball team? Young players often get bored doing the same old drills, so it’s wise to liven things up with something different every now and then. Plus, the drill we’re about to teach you gives your players the chance to learn an important skill- how to determine where a ball is likely to go once it has bounced in the dirt!

To do this drill, you’ll need to situate a base runner at every base. Your job, as coach, is to stand on the mound and pitch all different kinds of pitches. Try to pitch easy balls, hard to hit balls, strikes, and bouncing pitches. The goal is to teach your players what to do in every situation and with every type of ball.

Instruct all your players to be on the lookout for “bouncy balls,” meaning balls that are likely to bounce in the dirt. You may need to do a little pre-drill educating to help your young players identify these balls. Tell your players that, when they see these balls, they should yell out, “Bouncy Ball!” all together. Young players will love having an important job to do and the game-like feel that the shouting causes.

When the “Bouncy Ball!” cue is yelled, that is the first base runner’s cue to run! If they hesitate or look back at the catcher, they’re “out” and should be replaced by a new base runner.

The second base runner has a little more time. This particular base runner is allowed to take a moment to determine if it’s safe to run. Also, unlike the runner on first, this base runner should pay attention to what the catcher is doing. If he blocks, the runner must not run, but if he loses the ball, the runner should take off. Not choosing the right action means that runner’s turn is up! The same basic rules apply to the third base runner.

Make sure each player on your team gets to try different base positions. You may want to take them in groups of three, having each base player move forward when he’s “out” and adding in new players as needed.

This great drill is not only fun, but it teaches individual skills while at the same time promoting teamwork. It’s basically the perfect drill; give it a try!

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