Baseball | Skills Training

WYBS is committed to player development at all ages.  On these pages coaches, parents and players will find instructional videos for all skill levels.

batting-cages

Hitting Drills

BATTING TEE

Setting up the Drill

• Player stands in batters box in hitting position.
• Tee is place on the hitters front hip about waist high so they are making contact out in front of home page.
• Player should swing through and drive ball off tee into netting.
• Move the tee to the inside and outside part of the plate or adjust height of the ball (low & high)
• Keep it moving; 3-5 swings for each player.

Coaching Points
• Swing should be level through the strike zone
• For players with a weaker swing; encourage choking up on the bat.
• Stay balanced
• Keep head still; chin moves from front shoulder to back shoulder)
• Trying to be short and quick to the ball.

SOFT TOSS

Setting up the Drill

• Player stands in batters box in hitting position.
• Coach is positioned opposite player and slightly in front on one knee.
• Coach under hands ball towards players front hip.
• Player swings and drives ball forward into netting.

Coaching Points

• Player should stand in the batter's box with toes pointed toward home plate and looking toward the pitcher.
• Feet should be spread apart and well balanced. Slightly more weight on back foot.
• Hands together on the bat.

WEIGHT SHIFT

Setting up the Drill

• Player stands in batters box in hitting position.
• Can be soft toss or batting tee.
• Player rocks back shifting weight to back foot and then transfers weight forward to front foot with the swing.

Coaching Points

• Go back to go forward.
• Shift some weight to back foot and then transfer weight to front foot on the swing.

GRIP & STANCE

Setting up the Drill

• Player stands in batters box in hitting position.
• Can be soft toss or batting tee.
• Before each swing - remind player to reset his/her grip on the bat.

Coaching Points

• Grip bat in your fingers not your hands.
• Align your 'door knockin' nuckles.
• Loose Hands and Quick Bat and Balanced

ONE ARM DRILL

Setting up the Drill

• Player stands in batters box in hitting position.
• Coach under hands pitches from in front (behind screen); keep balls low and away for most success.
• Swing 2-3 times with both hands and then remove top hand.
• Use bottom hand for swing
• Choke up on bat for more control or use smaller bat.

Coaching Points

• Try to be short and quick to the ball.
• Swing and miss is OK
• Backhand motion; don't loop the swing and pull shoulder out.

SOFT TOSS FROM BEHIND

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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HIGH TEE DRILL

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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PITCH RECOGNITION DRILL

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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Base Running Drills

DOWN TO FIRST

Setting up the Drill

• Players line up at home plate in the batters box.
• Players take a swing (no bat) and run to first base at full speed.
• After crossing first base - players jog back to home plate.

Coaching Points

• Full speed past first base and then decelerate; look over right shoulder for possible over throw.
• When rounding a base foot should land on the inside corner of the bag.

5-in-1 BASE RUNNING

Setting up the Drill

• 2 players at home plate; 1st player runs through 1st base bag and breaks down; 2nd player rounds first to 2nd base.
• 1 player at 1st base; runs to 3rd base
• 1 player at 3rd base; tags up to score on fly ball
• Coaches yells "Go" to start each player in motion

Coaching Points

• Full speed past first base and then decelerate; look over right shoulder for possible over throw.
• When rounding a base foot should land on the inside corner of the bag.

Throwing / Catching Drills

WINDSHIELD WIPER

Setting up the Drill

• 3-5 players in a line on both knees, no gloves.
• Player puts throwing hand behind their back.
• Coach tosses a ball to each player to catch with glove hand.
• Coach moves tosses from side to side to force player to catch the ball in multiple locations.

Coaching Points

• Fingers up to catch the ball.
• Move had across body (like a windshield wiper) to catch the ball.
• Watch ball into hand.

ONE KNEE - ARM FOLLOW THROUGH

Setting up the Drill

Coaching Points

• Player should hold the ball with 2 fingers on top of the ball across the seams.
• Player should first use their wrist to "flick" the ball to the other player.
• Ready, Break, Throw

READY - BREAK - THROW

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Thumbs down on the break.
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ROCKET RELAY

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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QUICK HANDS

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Deflect ball from glove hand to throwing hand.
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BALL HANDLING (WARMUP)

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Deflect ball from glove hand to throwing hand.
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Infield Drills

TRIANGLE DRILL

Setting up the Drill

• Separate team into groups of 3-5 players each in a line.
• Coach is out in front and rolls grounders to the first player in each line.
• Player fields ball and moves feet into throwing position.
• Player throws ball back to coach and moves to the end of the line.

Coaching Points

• Feet apart - bum down - hands in front.
• Maintain good balance
• Watch ball into glove
• Move feet and front shoulder into throwing position..

GLOVE OUT IN FRONT

Setting up the Drill

• Separate team into groups of 3-5 players each in a line.
• Coach is out in front and rolls grounders to the first player in each line.
• Player fields ball and moves feet into throwing position.
• Player throws ball back to coach and moves to the end of the line.

Coaching Points

• Feet apart - bum down - hands in front.
• Maintain good balance
• Watch ball into glove
• Move feet and front shoulder into throwing position..

FLAMINGO DRILL

Setting up the Drill

• Divide team into groups of 3-5 players each in a line
• Coach is positioned across from players.
• Player balances on right leg (lefties on left leg)
• Coach rolls ball to left leg side.
• Player fields ball as left leg/toe hits ground and moves into throwing position.

Coaching Points

• Right - Left - Field
• Field ball at the same time that left toe hits ground.
• Right - Left - Throw

3 CONE DRILL

Setting up the Drill

• Groups of 3-5 players
• 3 cones in a triangle in front of the fielder.
• Coach out in front rolls grounder to first player in line.
• Player moves around cone to the right and fields ball in front of cone to the left and gets into a throwing positions.

Coaching Points

• Feet apart - bum down - hands in front.
• Maintain good balance
• Watch ball into glove

BACKHAND

Setting up the Drill

• Separate team into groups of 3-5 players each in a line.
• Coach is out in front and rolls grounders to the first player in each line.

Coaching Points

• Balanced, bum down, one knee down (glove side) and one bent (throwing side).
• Chest down towards knee (throwing side)• Field ball out in front of the throwing side foot.

THROWING TO FIRST BASE

Setting up the Drill

• Separate team into groups of 3-5 players each in a line.
• Set up three cones (or gloves/hats) in a line; the first 2 about 5 ft apart and the 3rd one about 10 ft apart.
• Starting at first cone, player fields ground ball, moves into throwing position and throws at 2nd cone, then follows the throw to the 3rd cone.

Coaching Points

• Move your feet (shuffle) to gain momentum towards the target.
• Get body into throwing position (front shoulder towards target).
• Stay balanced.
• Make the throw and then continue momentum to follow the throw.

RECEIVING THROW AT FIRST BASE

Setting up the Drill

• Player standing at first base.
• Coaching or other players throwing to first base.
• Have 1st baseman take easy throws focusing on footwork and body positioning.

Coaching Points

• Heel up against the edge of the base.
• Glove and glove side foot step towards throw.
• Step and catch ball at same time.
• Keep glove inside your body.

UNDERHAND FLIP

Setting up the Drill

• Separate team into 2 groups of 3-5 players each in a line.

Coaching Points

• Field the ball first.

4-CORNERS

Setting up the Drill

• Set up bases ~10 yards apart in a square; 2-3 players at each base.
• Players catch and throw the ball around the square box, alternating turns
• To start, players stay at their cone. After a few throws, have the players follow their throw and sprint to next cone.
• Switch directions (clockwise vs. counter-clockwise)

Coaching Points

• Move your feet, bend your knees, be athletic
• Throwing – throw to glove side at shoulder level
• Catching - move feet to catch the ball on glove side
• Work on handling the ball and accuracy, not velocity

RUNDOWNS

Setting up the Drill

• Group players into groups of 4/5 players; one baserunner with helmet in each group.
• Set up one group between 1st and 2nd bases and the other group between 3rd base and home plate.
• Two fielders on each base with base runner in the middle
• Encourage players to make only one throw to get the runner out.

Coaching Points

• Pick a lane (inside or outside of base runner)
• Ball out of the glove (no pump fakes!!)
• Run full speed
• Catch towards the ball (close the distance)
• Tag with 2 hands

Outfield Drills

READING FLY BALLS

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Drop Step
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CATCHING FLY BALLS

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Communication
• Catch the ball over your head and in front of your body.
• Keep eye on the balll.
• Secure the ball with 2 hands.
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CHARGING THE BALL (OUTFIELD)

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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THROWING FROM THE OUTFIELD

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Stay behind the ball.
• Attack the ball on the catch
• Set feet and make strong throw to infield.
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OUTFIELD DROP STEP

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Drop step, cross over, and then run to ball.
• Keep glove above the head to track ball into glove.
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OUTFIELD COMBO

Setting up the Drill

• Group of 4-5 players
• One coach with bucket of balls.
• Coach throws a fly ball, then a ground ball to each fielder.
• Player fields each ball and throws to target.
• After fielding, player moves to catch throws (target)
• Target player moves to end of fielding line.

Coaching Points

• Drop step, cross over, then run to the ball.
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Pitching

PITCHING MECHANICS

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Balance
• Power
• Finish
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ROCKER DRILL

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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STAY SQUARE TO TARGET

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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CATCH PITCHER FROM BATTERS BOX

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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Catching

CATCHER BLOCKING

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

• Cover the 5-hole with glove
• Chest down over the ball.

STAY LOW DRILL

Setting up the Drill

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Coaching Points

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Fun Games

TWO BALL

Setting up the Game

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Coaching Points

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