Baseball Drills and Baseball Skills

Baseball drills and baseball skills go hand-in-hand. If you want to play baseball error free, you're going to need to work on proper techniques and throwing mechanics in practice, then you're going to need to work on them again. Coaches have to drill their players on where to throw in certain situations, so their players throw to the right base in the game, without even thinking about it.

Drilling your players helps you eliminates a lot of the mistakes and errors that happen in a game. The problem with honing a baseball skill set, though, is there are so many parts to a baseball game. You have to know how to field a ball, proper footwork when throwing, the proper throwing motion to avoid throwing errors, as well as how to bat, when to shorten your swing and how to bunt.

It doesn't stop there, though. A baseball player has to understand baserunning, when to lead off, and how to slide into base. Pitches are going to need special pitching instructions, including pitching motion, where to stand on the rubber, how to hold a runner on the bag, how to pitch from the stretch and how to attempt a pick off move without balking. Catchers are going to have to practice setting up for the pitch, how to block the ball, and how to throw to 2nd and 3rd base.

So welcome to coaching baseball. Here's some basic drills, if you're new to coaching Little League and you don't where to start drilling your team. Whether catching a fly ball, fielding grounders or hitting the ball, always keep your eyes on the ball. You're going to be more accurate at everything, if your eyes stay on the ball at all times. First things first; don't get ahead of yourself and take your eyes off the ball.

Fielding a Ground Ball

Baseball Drills Fielding grounders is the best way to practice the infield positions. Have a coach hit the ball around the infield a lot, or even hit burners to players, to get used to the ball getting to them quickly. Many little league teams let players take batting practice and let this serve as practice for infield and outfield, but hitting ground balls to your players lets them see more balls.

How to Field a Ground Ball

When playing infield position, you need to anticipate a hit ball by getting into a crouch. This allows you to spring forward, left or right at an instant's notice. There are two things a lot of young players assume about this crouch position you have to warn against: hands-on-knees and being on your heels.

One, when the pitch approaches the plate, take your hands off your knees (if you've kept them on your knees to that point). You're unprepared if your glove is on your knee, because you want your hands loose and in front of you, ready to scoop up a ball or catch a line drive.

Two, get on the balls of your feet or your "on your toes" when the ball might be hit. This allows you to spring towards the ball quicker than if you're on your heels when the ball's hit, which gives you more range. Footwork is a major factor for an infielder, because this allows you to square up on a ball and get in front of it. When the ball is hit, do your best to get in front of the ball, so you don't have to lunge with your glove one direction or another. Lunging lowers the odds you're going to glove the ball, though this is unavoidable at times.

When you do have time to get in front of the ball, move your glove the ground, where there's no daylight between the glove and the dirt. Get your body squared up (perpendicular) facing the ball, so if the baseball pops up, it's going to hit your body, instead of skip past you.

Use both hands to secure the ball. If the baseball is a slow roller, run up to scoop the ball, so you decrease the amount of time the runner has to reach 1st base. Once you have the ball in hand, set your feet to make the throw, if everything has gone right so far and you have time. Throwing off the wrong foot lowers your odds of making an accurate throw, and should only be done when time doesn't allow you to set your feet.

How to Field a Fly Ball

When fielding a fly ball, you want to get directly under the ball, if at all possible. Have your glove raised over your head, watch the ball into the glove and have your throwing hand ready to act in keeping the ball in the glove, once caught (as they say, catch with both hands).

Side Toss Hitting Drills

The side toss hitting drill occurs when you sit next to a batter in a regular batting stance and toss the ball towards them from the side position. The one tossing the ball can do this from a foldout chair, which means the balls should be about belt high and accurate.

This hitting drill allows players to get down their hitting rhythm, by seeing plenty of balls in their wheelhouse. Remember to sit where a mishit or foul ball won't hit you, because you're right on the batter. Intermix the side soft toss with a batting cage or batting practice, to give a hitter a chance to get their rhythm down, but also see a ball coming at them from the pitchers mound.

Hitting to the Opposite Field

"Hitting to the opposite field" is hitting to the side of the field opposite to the side of the plate you're standing on. If you're a right-handed hitter, hitting to the opposite field is hitting towards right field. If you're a left-handed hitter, hitting to the opposite field is hitting towards left field.

Most hitters prefer to "pull the ball", which tends to let you hit with more authority and power. When the pitcher is flowing on the outside of the plate or throwing extremely fast, you might want to hit to the opposite field. If you are a right-handed hitter and you have runners at 2nd or 3rd base, you might want to hit to the right side of the field - called "hitting behind the runner" - to advance the runner and force the defense to get the force out at 1st.

Or if you're known for pulling the ball and the defense is shaded to that side of the field, you might want to hit it where the defense isn't, but hitting opposite field. In either case, it's nice to have options. Here's how you hit to the opposite field.

One, let the ball get deeper in the batter's box. That is, pause ever-so-slightly to let the ball get close to the catcher. This means you'll be hitting it a split-second later, which should naturally knock the ball to the opposite field.

Two, when swinging the bat, let your hands lead the way through the swing. Normally, when pulling the ball, you want to get the bat head out in front of your hands, which naturally pulls the ball. When you lead with your hands, though, this means you're naturally pointing the ball to the opposite field. This should produce the results you want.

when practicing your batting practice and side toss hitting drills, spend a certain amount of time hitting towards the opposite field.

Mechanics of Throwing the Baseball

Baseball Skills When throwing the baseball, you're going to need good mechanics, so you can reproduce the same throwing motion time and again. When you have good throwing skills, you become more accurate, because you have the same motion, like a robot would. While everyone might have a slightly different motion, follow these steps to get your throwing motion down.

Step Towards the Target with Your Lead Foot - If you are right-handed, step towards the target with your left foot. Have the left foot pointing directly at them. The step shouldn't be too long or two short, but about a foot in front of you, if you're an adult.
Point Your Lead Shoulder at the Target - if you throw right-handed, align your left shoulder with the target, so it appears to be pointing at them.
Grip the Seams of the Baseball - Next, while gripping the seams of the baseball horizontally for maximum control, cock the ball behind you by moving your throwing hand down and then behind you, with the ball eventually pointing in the opposite direction from where you want to throw it. Extend your gloved hand in front of you, if needed, to maintain balance. Keep your wrist cocked. Do not keep your wrist stiff or straight out.
Keep Your Eyes on the Target - While doing this, maintain eye contact with your target.
Bring Your Throwing Arm Forward - Finally, bring your throwing arm forward, over your head. Release the ball when your throwing hand is over your head. Practice on motion-muscle memory, to know exactly when the right time to release the ball is.
Follow Through with Your Throwing Motion - Once you have released the ball, get in the practice of continuing through with your throwing motion. The follow through helps you get the momentum going, so you throw with your whole body.

When throwing the ball, don't grip the ball too hard. When you hold onto the ball too hard, the ball won't zip out of your hand, and you lose speed. Also, you're likely to release the ball too late, pulling the ball when you throw it to first base.

Baseball Skills and Baseball Drills

Remember, whenever you're practicing baseball, skills and drills are intertwined. If you want your team to be more skillful and to commit fewer errors, you have to drill them better and smarter. You have to be a drill sergeant, but a drill sergeant with a purpose and a plan. Kids are kids, so you never know what happens in a game; but once your kids have drilled at every possible scenario, their skills when the game is on the line should improve noticeably.