While we’re all home waiting for the Coronavirus to run its course, we want to provide the boys a few drills they can do to stay sharp and ready for the baseball season. The drills below are simple and don’t require anything more than a ball, glove, and a bat. For hitting, we provided an option if you have a tee and an option if you don’t have one.
In addition to the hitting drills below, we also recommend playing Wiffle ball! Hitting a Wiffle ball is great practice. A Wiffle ball tends to move more than a baseball, which requires the players to make better adjustments. And, with a Wiffle ball, you know if you squared it up or not. If you’re really adventerous, you might try hitting smaller objects. Can you hit battle caps with a broomstick or even pinto beans!?
Fielding Drills
Coach Clausen shares a set of fielding drills that will help maintain and build glove work. These drills are quick and can be performed almost anywhere. All thats needed is a glove and a ball. The fielding drills can be done any time and as often as the boys want. Try them with a glove and bare-handed!
Fielding Drills
Radius Drill
Wall Ball
Throwing Drills
Coach Noah Briley presents a great warm up and throwing routine. The boys can complete the throwing drills by throwing into a net, against a wall, or to a partner. The key is to keep the arm working so it’s prepared for the season. It’s best to throw 2 to 3 times per week, witha a day off from throwing after each session.
If you are a pitcher, you should throw 1 bull pen each week. The pen can be on flat ground, but should simulate a game, throwing a mix of 30-50 pitches.
Throwing Warm-up Exercises
Throwing Drills
Hitting Drills
Coach Brandon Dulin shares a great series for the tee as well as a backyard hitting drill. The key during this break is to have the boys hit at least 1 or 2 times during the week–they can hit as many times as they want. The hitting sessions don’t have to be too long, either; it’s more important that they get quality swings and have fun doing it!
Tee Drill
No Tee Drill
Bodyweight Exercises
Bodyweight exercises are a great way to increase strength and help to prevent injuries. The following exercises can be performed anywhere and do not require any equipment. It’s best to do one set of exercises and rest a day before doing the next set. It’s also good to do a quick warm up before performing any exercises. The boys can do the throwing warm up, or give the one below a try. Best of all, these exercises are perfect for any age, so come on parents! Jump in and do them with your son.
Warm Up
- Butt kicks x 10 yards
- High knees running x 10 yards
- Knee hugs x3 per leg
- Toe Sweeps x5 per foot
- Frankenstein Walksx 5 per leg
- Jumping Jacks x 10
Lower Body
Do each exercise for the specified number of times without resting between exercises. After you finish the first set, rest for 45 seconds and then repeat. Do 3 sets of each exercise.
- Bodyweight Squat x 10
- Jumping Lunge x 5 per leg
- Duck Walks x 5 forward and 5 backward
- Mountain Climber x 10 per leg
- Tuck Knee Jumps x 5
- Single-leg Deadlift x 5 per leg
- Standing broad jump x 3 for distance
Upper Body
Do each exercise for the specified number of times without resting between exercises. After you finish the first set, rest for 45 seconds and then repeat. Do 3 sets of each exercise.
- Pushups x 6
- Hold pushup position (up) x 30 seconds
- Inchworm x 4
- Bear Crawl x 1o steps
- Superman x 5
- Dead bugs x 4 per side
- Bird dog x 4 per side