TEE BALL PRACTICE DRILLS

1. Learn the Bases

Purpose: For the players to l= earn which base is which and how to run them.&n= bsp; Through repetition it will become second nature to the players where each base is, which will enable them to better follow coaching instructions= on both offense and defense.

3D"*" = Station an adult at each of the four ba= ses

3D"*" = Line the players up at home plate and s= tart each one running to first at about 20 foot intervals

3D"*" = As each player arrives at each base he/= she should make contact with the base using the right foot and yell out the name of the base at the sa= me time

3D"*" = If the player fails to either make cont= act of correctly identify the base the adult stationed at that base calls the play= er back to that base to make them either touch it, correctly identify it, or both

2. Running - Coyote and Road Runner

Purpose: Develop running ski= lls and improve speed

3D"*" = This is a foot race between two players= with one chasing the other around the bases. Goal is for the Coyote to attempt to catch the Road Runner

3D"*" = Line up players behind home plate and identify the first player as the Road Runn= er and the second player as the Coyote.

3D"*" = Send the first player running toward fi= rst base. Depending upon the speed of the two players, send the second player a= fter the first, when the first is a sufficient distance to make the race close.

3D"*" = This is really fun for the kids and can= be used multiple time throughout the practice if things are getting unruly. I always end the practice with this drill.

3. Throwing

Purpose: Develop proper throwing motion

· Driving range line throw – long arm (for motion, for distance, for accuracy)

· Pl= ayers line up side by side, each with a few tennis and/or tee balls

· Pl= ayers turn sideways with left foot on the throwing direction side and right foot = on the back side (this is for the right handed thrower)

· Pl= ayer reaches straight back with ball hand, with two to three fingers on top of b= all and thumb on bottom of ball

· Pl= ayer reaches back farther so that the front foot comes off of the ground (forcing the step) and throws the ball as far as they can, while bringing front foot back down=

· Ea= ch player “reloads” and repeats

· On= ce all balls have been thrown, players run to collect their balls and form another line where the balls lie to repeat drill

4. Throwing Accuracy<= o:p>

Purpose: Develop throwing accuracy

· Ad= just the tee so the top is about average chest height of your players and place = on home plate

· Pl= ace an empty bucket (I use one to carry the balls) upside down on top of the tee <= /span>

· Li= ne the players up at the pitcher’s mound and give each one the same number of throws at the bucket. =

· Ke= ep track of how many times each player hits the bucket and award a prize or let the winning player bat first in batting practice.

Fielding (grounders) (depending on your players’ catching skills, you may = want to conduct your first few practices with no gloves at all, to develop the t= wo hand catching and hand to eye coordination)

5. Power Ranger Drill – focus on two hand catching

· pa= ir off – one player with glove / one with no glove

· th= row grounders to no glove

· th= row in air to glove

· 1<= sup>st to reach 10 accurate throws wins

6. Gauntlet – focus on catching on run

·= ; five in a line side by side =

·= ; one runner receives ground ball

· th= rows ball back and continues down line