Fun Drills/Games

Flip  | Glove Flip Competition  |  Pepper  |  Relay Race  |  Base Hit Game   |  Barrel Game  |  Two Ball
Flip

This is a good one to play before the warm-up.

Video: Baseball Flip Game 

Purpose

This drill does not do much on improving a player’s skills, but it does something better than that—it creates some friendly competition and great team camaraderie.

If done right, the game will be intense and it will psyche up and unite your players before they go to work on the field.

Rules

  • Players can only flip the ball with their glove (not their throwing hand).
  • Cannot catch the ball.
  • Can bounce the ball in their glove until the flip to the next player.
  • Must pass the ball between the next player’s knees and shoulders.
  • Players decide how many drops or missed throws before a player is out.
  • Last player standing wins.
Glove Flip Competition

May come in handy for instance if second baseman needs to flip to first base.

Video: Glove Flip Competition (Winning Baseball) (1 min)

Rules

  • Two players approximately 5 yards apart.
  • See how many glove flips they can do in 20 seconds.
  • In this case, they are catching the ball in glove before they flip the ball.
Pepper

Over the years, this drill has become a classic and has come to have several variations of play.

Purpose

The point is for the hitter to hit the ball hard. That, coupled with the short distance, will teach the fielders to react quickly to a ball hit off the bat.

Rules

  • Line up about 5 to 7 players in a line facing a batter about 20 feet away.
  • One of the players will start by tossing the ball to the hitter.
  • Batter must hit a solid ground ball or line drive to the group of fielders.
  • If a player bobbles the ball when it is hit at him, then that player is out.
  • The last fielder standing will be the winner and get to be the hitter next.
Relay Race

Purpose

This drill will simulate the motions that fielders go through when relaying the ball from the outfield to a base. Players will learn how to line themselves up for a throw and develop quick hands.

Rules

  • Divide your team into even groups of 4 to 6 depending on the size of the field and your players’ throwing capabilities.
  • Have each group line up parallel to each other and spread them across the outfield.
  • Have each group start with the ball on the same end.
  • Make it a competition on what group can relay the ball to the last player and back the fastest.
Base Hit Game

Purpose

To work on offense and defense skills in a fun game environment.

Rules

  • Divide into two equally-matched teams.
  • One team takes positions in field and other team bats.
  • Hitting team gets 5 minutes to hit with a defense in place. Hitters run on their hits.
  • Hitting team gets 1 point for single, 2 points for double, 3 points for triple, and 4 points for home run.
  • Coach subtracts one point for not hustling.
  • Team with the most points after one or two rounds is the winner.
Barrel Game

Purpose

To work on hitting the ball hard.

Rules

  • Divide into two equally-matched teams.
  • One team takes positions in field and other team bats.
  • Hitting team gets 5 minutes to hit with a defense in place. Hitters don’t run on the hits.
  • The team gets a point for every ball that is barreled up (hit hard). It does not matter if the ball is caught or not, or a hit or not. What matters is that it was hit hard.
  • The hitter gets to swing again as long as they keep hitting it hard. When they miss-hit the ball, they are done and the next hitter comes in.
  • The team that accumulates the most points “barrels” is the winner.
Two Ball Toss Game

Purpose

To work on hand eye coordination and team-building.

Rules

  • Form into small groups with two baseballs per group.
  • One player starts by taking both balls in one hand and throwing the balls underhand to another player in the group.
  • The catching player must catch the balls in separate hands. Catching against the body is permitted.
  • If the catching player drops a ball he is out.
  • Last player to not drop balls is the winner.
  • If more than one group, have group winners play each other to determine overall winner.