Baseball drills for rec and travel teams, with video, setup and coaching points. Grouped by throwing, fielding, hitting, pitching and baserunning so you can build a station plan in minutes. For tee ball to 12U.
Give each player a light resistance band looped around a fence post or held by a partner. Run the shoulder series shown in the clip: external rotation, internal rotation, and straight-arm pulls, 10 to 12 slow reps each on the throwing arm. Do this before anyone picks up a ball.
Coaching points
Elbow stays tucked at the side on the rotations and the band moves slow both directions. If a kid is yanking it fast he is not doing anything useful.
Players spread out an arm's length apart with no glove. Walk them through the shoulder blade pinch and release, then arm circles small to big, then the throwing-arm pull back and extend pattern from the video. Two sets of 10 on each movement.
Coaching points
Squeeze the shoulder blades together like you are pinching a pencil between them. Chest up, no shrugging the shoulders toward the ears.
Pair players up about 20 feet apart and start with the one-knee throws and the wrist flip from the clip, then stand and add a step. Back the pairs up every eight to ten throws until they are at normal infield distance. Finish with a few throws at game effort to a chest target.
Coaching points
Build intensity slowly and never let kids air it out cold. Fingers on top of the ball and a full follow through on every throw, even the easy ones.
Outfielders start 90 feet from a coach or cutoff man. Toss or hit a ball to them, they catch it, crow hop, and throw to the target. Rotate through so each player gets eight to ten throws.
Coaching points
Catch moving toward the target, then hop and throw in one motion. Throw through the cutoff man's head, not over it.
Set an outfielder, a relay man in shallow outfield, and a base. The outfielder throws to the relay man, who turns glove side and throws to the base. Run it from left, center and right, three reps each spot, then rotate roles.
Coaching points
Relay man shows two hands high and yells for the ball. Catch, turn to the glove side, and get rid of it fast.
Line players up facing a partner and build the throw from the ground up the way the clip does: four-seam grip, front shoulder to the target, step and throw. Go grip only, then step without a ball, then the full throw at short distance. Move back once the pattern holds.
Coaching points
Point the glove shoulder at the target and finish with the throwing hand across the opposite knee. Fix one thing at a time per kid.
Infielders field a rolled ball, then shuffle their feet toward first and throw to a first baseman or a coach with a glove. Start at second base depth and move to shortstop depth once throws are on target. Ten clean throws per player.
Coaching points
Feet first, then the arm. Gain ground toward first with a shuffle so the throw is short and accurate instead of long and wild.
Each player stands 10 to 15 feet from a wall or fence with a tennis ball or soft baseball. Throw against the wall, field the rebound, and throw again in one rhythm. Count how many clean catches each player gets in 60 seconds.
Coaching points
Quick but under control. Catch with two hands, get the ball out of the glove fast, and keep the feet moving the whole time.
Coach throws easy fly balls to outfielders standing 40 to 60 feet away. Players move so the ball comes down in front of the throwing shoulder and catch it with two hands above the head, as the clip shows. Move to hit fly balls once throws are clean.
Coaching points
Get behind the ball and catch it moving forward. Two hands, glove up at the forehead, throwing hand covering the ball.
Players line up at shortstop depth with a coach rolling or hitting ground balls. They work the setup from the clip: feet wide, glove out front, butt down, field the ball out in front and bring it to the chest. Field and throw to a target on the first base side. Ten reps each.
Coaching points
Wide base, glove on the ground early, look the ball all the way in. Field it out front so you can see the ball and the glove at the same time.
Pairs face each other five feet apart with no ball. One player rolls an imaginary ground ball, the other gets in the fielding position and gives a high five with the glove hand out front, then brings it to the belly. Add a real ball after ten reps.
Coaching points
Glove out front and palm up like you are giving a high five. Then funnel it to the belt. Simple cue the kids remember all season.
Outfielders start in ready position facing a coach. Coach points left or right, player drop steps that way and sprints back as the coach throws a fly ball over that shoulder. Five balls each side.
Coaching points
Open the hip and go on the first step, no false step forward. Run on the toes so the eyes stay steady on the ball.
Coach hits or rolls ground balls to outfielders who charge, field the ball on the glove side with the glove down, and come up throwing to a cutoff man. Vary it between a block-it-with-a-knee no-runner version and a charge-and-throw version. Eight reps each.
Coaching points
Nobody on base, get in front and block it. Runner moving, field it off the glove foot and come up throwing.
Set four cones in a box about 15 feet across. A player starts in one corner, shuffles to the next cone, fields a rolled ball, and throws to a coach, then moves on around the box. Two trips around, then rotate.
Coaching points
Stay low while moving between cones. Feet are already set when the ball arrives so there is no extra step.
Coach rolls balls to the glove side so players must cross over and field them on the backhand. Start slow with the ball barely rolling, then add pace. Eight reps each, then throw to first on the last three.
Coaching points
Right foot forward on the backhand so the glove reaches out ahead of the body. Stay low through the ball instead of standing up as it arrives.
Pair players 10 feet apart, one at second base and one covering the bag. Roll a ball to the fielder who fields it and flips underhand with a stiff wrist, glove hand pointed at the target. Ten flips, then switch roles.
Coaching points
Show the ball, then firm flip chest high. Follow the flip with your feet toward the bag so it does not float.
Coach sits behind a screen about 15 feet in front of the hitter and tosses underhand strikes. Hitter takes eight to ten swings on a field or into a net. Shaggers in the outfield or at the net rotate in.
Coaching points
Tosses are firm and flat so the hitter can time them. Hitter stays balanced, short stride, head still.
Put an oversized soft ball, like a playground ball or large soft-training ball, on the tee. Players swing normally and try to drive it straight back into the net. Eight to ten swings each.
Coaching points
The bigger ball shows you right away if the swing is off plane. Stay through the ball and finish the swing, no chopping down at it.
Hitters pivot into the bunting stance as the clip shows, bat at the top of the zone, barrel above the hands. Coach front tosses and the hitter bunts toward a cone down the first or third base line. Five bunts to each side.
Coaching points
Catch the ball with the bat, do not jab at it. Bend the knees to get down to a low pitch, never drop the barrel.
Raise the tee to the top of the strike zone, around the letters. Players take ten swings trying to hit a line drive, not a pop up. Pair hitters and have the partner watch the bat path.
Coaching points
Stay on top of the ball and hit the back of it. If the ball goes straight up, the hands dropped under it.
Hitters choke up and swing with only the top hand for five swings off the tee, then only the bottom hand for five, then both hands for five. Use a lighter bat for the younger kids.
Coaching points
Short swing, barrel to the ball. The top hand teaches the kid to stay inside the ball and the bottom hand teaches him to pull the knob through.
Coach kneels at a 45 degree angle in front of and to the side of the hitter, who is set up facing a net or fence. Flip the ball underhand into the hitting zone and the player drives it into the net. Ten swings, then switch hitters.
Coaching points
Let the ball get to you and hit it out front of the plate. Feeder tosses to the same spot every time so the hitter can groove the swing.
Set up tees at a fence or net with a bucket of balls for each. Players hit in groups of two or three, one swinging while the others load the tee and shag. Start with the ball at belt height and middle of the plate as the clip shows. Ten swings, then rotate.
Coaching points
Tee sits even with the front hip, not out front. Head stays down on the ball through contact and the swing finishes high.
Pitchers stand on the rubber or a line with no ball. Lift the front leg to the balance point and hold for a two count, then finish the delivery without throwing. After five holds, add a ball and throw to a partner from the same stop.
Coaching points
Head over the back knee at the top, no leaning toward home. If the kid falls off the rubber he lifted too fast.
Break the delivery into three stops as the clip shows: one is the leg lift, two is the stride with the hands separated, three is the finish. Coach calls each number and pitchers freeze there. After a few dry reps, throw to a partner on the call of three.
Coaching points
Pause at each number so the kid feels where his body should be. Hands break together and the front foot lands closed.
Pitcher holds a small towel in the throwing hand and goes through the full delivery toward a partner who holds a glove out at arm's length a stride in front. The pitcher tries to snap the towel on the glove. Ten reps, then switch.
Coaching points
Finish out front and get the chest over the front knee. The towel only reaches the glove when the pitcher extends through the pitch.
Runners take turns at first base with a coach on the mound. Take a primary lead of three shuffles, then a secondary lead of two more shuffles as the pitch is delivered, landing on the right foot as the ball crosses the plate. Ten reps each, then move to second base.
Coaching points
Shuffle, never cross the feet, so you can go back on a pickoff. Watch the pitcher the whole time, not the coach.
Runners at first with a coach pitching. On the pitch, the runner takes a walking secondary lead so he is already moving when the ball is hit or caught. Run it live with a batter if you have one, otherwise call hit or back and the runner reacts.
Coaching points
Be moving on contact, not standing still. Two steps and a read, then go or get back.
Put a runner at third, a batter in the box, and a full infield. Coach pitches and the batter squares to bunt on the pitch while the runner breaks for home, as the clip breaks down. Defense plays it live. Rotate so every player gets to bunt and to run.
Coaching points
Runner leaves when the pitcher's arm starts forward, not before. Hitter puts it on the ground anywhere fair, that is all that matters.
Split into two teams on a short field with a broomstick or thin bat and a tennis ball or wiffle ball. Coach pitches, a few swings per batter, and score runs the normal way but keep innings short so everyone hits. Great end of practice game.
Coaching points
Small bat and small ball means the eyes have to track. Keep it moving and loud, this is where kids fall in love with hitting.
Videos are linked, not hosted, and belong to Ripken Baseball. Drill write-ups are by Cheat Code Coaching. Durations are what we run them at with a youth team; adjust for your group.
Run these drills with a timer on the field.
Every drill here is already in the Cheat Code Teams Practice Builder for Youth Baseball. Drag them into a plan, tap Start practice, and the clock, the whistle and the next drill are on your phone and your lock screen.