Just trying to add ideas and drills that are competitive for the players. Any individual or team drills is warranted. Do any of yall have practice drills that helps replicate game speed without just scrimmaging?
Replies sorted oldest to newest
What age group?
16
Used to do this with younger kids (12 - 15)... Divide the kids into teams of 4.
Coach pitch. One team bats ... one in OF one in IF. The 4th team could be off on the side working on bunts / footwork etc...
Set the situation ... men on bases - number of outs etc... The batters get up with 2 strikes on the count ...They get 1 pitch to hit (if it is a strike).
The goal is for the offensive team to score... the defensive teams to get the outs.
You can stop the action after the play - explain the mental errors made, praise the good.
When there are 3 outs ... the bunting team now bats ... the batting team to OF ... the OF to infield and IF to bunting.
Rotate until all situations covered.
It gives kids a chance to work at positions other than their primary. You never know when an injury puts a kid in a spot he isn't used to playing.
It allows the kids to see and learn where they should be and where others will be in a given situation.
The 1 strike rule teaches batters situational hitting ... not to get tight when 2 strikes in the count.
You can put parameters in the rules - no stealing / bunting (if there are no catchers to rotate in).
You can make teams of 5 or 6 and include catchers is tat is something you want to work on.
Auto outs if man on 2nd and you don't hit behind the runner.
So many options that can be customized to age / skill / needs. To address a situation that occurred in last game.
We did this for 30 - 45 mins at the end of every practice. Losing team had to do a punishment. Sometimes it was fun - like wheelbarrow races up the line. Sometimes it was running poles or picking up all practice equipment and raking infield. depending on how serious they were in practice.