Practice Planner

Warm-up · About 8 minutes · 1-30 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Small safe space (no field)

Goal: Raise body temperature and move every joint before anyone throws or swings.

Setup: Two cones about 20 steps apart. Players in lines of three or four, all facing the same way.

Equipment: 4 cones

Steps:

1. Easy jog down and back.
2. Walking knee hugs and lunges down; jog back.
3. Side shuffles both directions; carioca if the group is ready.
4. Arm circles small to big, forward and back.
5. Two short build-up sprints at about three-quarter speed.

Coaching cues: Tall body, quiet feet. Smooth before fast.

Safety: No throwing until the warm-up is finished. Players with pain sit out and tell an adult.

Easier: Walk the movements and cut the sprints. Harder: Add a reaction start: players sprint on a clap from a ready stance.

Limited space or staff: Indoors: march, knee lifts, gentle in-place side steps and arm circles. No running lanes, sprints or moving lunges; leave room for full arm reach and use a dry, clear floor.

For this division: Keep each movement short and demonstrate it first; use animal names for the walks if it helps.

Related: Lesson 8: Arm Strengthening & Injury Prevention

Throwing and catching · About 10 minutes · 2-30 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Half field or infield

Goal: Warm the arm gradually and throw to a target with a repeatable motion.

Setup: Partners on two parallel lines, every throw going the same direction. Leave a wide gap between pairs.

Equipment: 1 ball per pair, cones or chalk for the two lines

Steps:

1. Start close with short, easy throws aimed at the partner's chest.
2. After several easy throws, take a step back and repeat.
3. Keep backing up only while throws stay accurate and relaxed.
4. Finish by stepping back in for a few quick, accurate throws.

Coaching cues: Point the glove at the target, then throw. Step toward your partner.

Safety: Everyone throws in the same direction, and nobody walks between lines. Any arm pain stops throwing for that player that day and an adult is told. This is a warm-up, not a distance contest.

Easier: Stay at the first distance and use a softer ball for new catchers. Harder: Add a quick catch-and-release for the last few throws, still at an easy effort.

Limited space or staff: Short of space or adults: one line of pairs along a fence, with one adult watching the whole line.

For this division: Keep partners close (roughly base-path length or less); use softer balls for players still learning to catch.

Related: Lesson 8: Arm Strengthening & Injury Prevention, Lesson 7: Pitching: Grips, Mechanics & Strategy

Throwing and catching · About 8 minutes · 2-10 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Small safe space (no field)

Goal: Catch with two hands and bring the ball to the throwing hand quickly.

Setup: Partners about two steps apart on their knees, then standing; an adult watches the group.

Equipment: 1 soft ball per pair

Steps:

1. Partner tosses underhand to the chest.
2. Catch with the glove open to the ball and the throwing hand close by.
3. Pull the ball to the belly button, then toss back.
4. Move tosses to the glove side and throwing side.

Coaching cue: Two hands, then belly button.

Safety: Soft balls for anyone still learning to catch. Keep pairs far enough apart that a miss cannot hit another group.

Easier: Roll the ball instead of tossing it. Harder: Add a short step and a throw to a target after each catch.

Limited space or staff: Indoors: rehearse an imaginary catch and funnel with empty hands or a glove, no ball or throw. Foam underhand partner tosses are optional only with division approval, clear separated lanes and adult supervision; never substitute hard balls or throw against a wall.

For this division: Start on the knees; celebrate clean two-hand catches.

Related: Lesson 2: Situational Defense Reference

Hitting and decisions · About 6 minutes · 2-4 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Small safe space (no field)

Goal: Repeat a balanced swing that finishes through the ball.

Setup: One tee and a net or fence. One batter swings; everyone else waits behind a marked line well outside the swing area.

Equipment: 1 tee per station, hitting net or safe fence, bucket of balls, batting helmets

Steps:

1. Batter sets up the right distance from the tee: bat can reach the ball with a slightly bent arm.
2. Five swings, then the next player.
3. Waiting players take turns loading balls only when the adult says the batter is set down.
4. Rotate: batter, loader, waiting line.

Coaching cues: See the ball on the tee, then swing through it. Finish balanced.

Safety: Only the batter holds a bat. Waiting players stand behind the line. Collect balls only on the adult's call.

Easier: Bigger ball or a lighter bat; fewer swings per turn. Harder: Move the tee for inside and outside pitch locations.

Limited space or staff: No net: hit Wiffle-balls into a fence. Indoors: dry swings with a mirror or partner check.

For this division: Three to five swings per turn keeps the line moving; one cue at a time.

Related: Lesson 1: Hitting Mechanics & Plate Approach

Hitting and decisions · About 6 minutes · 2-4 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Half field or infield

Goal: Time a moving ball and hit it back through the middle.

Setup: An approved adult stands behind the tall panel of an appropriate L-screen, with head and torso protected. Toss underhand through the open area above the low panel toward a helmeted batter, into a net or clear open field.

Equipment: appropriate protective L-screen, bucket of baseballs, net or clear open field, batting helmets

Steps:

1. Adult shows the ball, then tosses firmly and underhand.
2. Batter hits the ball back up the middle.
3. Five swings per turn, then rotate.
4. Adult stops tossing while balls are being collected.

Coaching cue: Hit it back where it came from.

Safety: Only an approved adult tosses. Position the screen to protect the head and torso; inspect it before use. One batter holds a bat; waiting players stay behind marked cones outside the swing and batted-ball areas. Stop all tosses and put the bat down before collecting balls. No player stands in front of the net or in the batted-ball area.

Easier: Slow the toss and use a larger or lighter ball. Harder: Mix locations; ask the batter to take tosses that are not strikes.

Limited space or staff: No screen: choose Wiffle-ball front toss and use only its specified light balls, or switch to tee hitting. Never use baseballs for the no-screen variation.

For this division: Keep tosses soft and predictable.

Related: Lesson 1: Hitting Mechanics & Plate Approach

Hitting and decisions · About 6 minutes · 2-4 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Half field or infield

Goal: Time an easy underhand toss and make controlled contact with a Wiffle-ball.

Setup: An approved adult kneels beyond the batter's full bat reach, facing one helmeted batter. Use Wiffle-balls only, with no screen. Mark a waiting area behind and away from the swing and batted-ball path; keep the hitting area clear.

Equipment: Wiffle-balls, bat, batting helmets, waiting-area cones, clear open hitting area

Steps:

1. Adult shows the Wiffle-ball and makes a gentle underhand toss.
2. Batter makes controlled contact into the clear hitting area.
3. Five swings per turn; the adult stops tossing before the next player comes in.
4. Put the bat down before anyone collects balls.

Coaching cues: Easy toss, balanced swing. Wait behind the cones until the adult calls you.

Safety: Wiffle-balls only: do not substitute baseballs or softballs in this no-screen drill. Helmets stay on; only one player holds a bat. The adult stays beyond full bat reach. Keep all waiting players outside swing and batted-ball areas. Wiffle-balls still require spacing and supervision. Stop all swings and tosses before collecting.

Easier: Use slow, predictable tosses and fewer swings. Harder: Vary easy toss locations and ask the batter to take balls outside the target area.

Limited space or staff: If Wiffle-balls or a clear hitting area are unavailable, use tee hitting with its required equipment.

For this division: Demonstrate the waiting area and the stop signal before any swings. Wiffle-ball hitting is a practice-only drill for every division. Use Wiffle-balls only in this no-screen drill; never substitute baseballs or softballs. This drill does not change league game-ball rules.

Related: Lesson 1: Hitting Mechanics & Plate Approach

Hitting and decisions · About 6 minutes · 2-6 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Small safe space (no field)

Goal: Practice plate decisions: what to swing at with no strikes and with two strikes.

Setup: Players in a semicircle with bats set down. The adult holds cards or calls out pitch locations and a count.

Equipment: location cards or a drawn strike zone

Steps:

1. Adult calls the count, for example "1 and 0".
2. Adult shows a pitch location.
3. Each player says "swing" or "take" and why.
4. Repeat with two strikes and talk about protecting the plate.

Coaching cues: Early in the count, hunt your pitch. Two strikes: protect the plate.

Safety: No bats in hands during the talk. This station needs no thrown or batted balls.

Easier: Only three locations: middle, too high, too low. Harder: Add a game situation: runner on third with one out.

Limited space or staff: Indoors or in the dugout: call counts and pitch locations; players answer swing or take verbally. Keep bats set down and use no thrown or batted balls.

For this division: Keep to strike or not a strike.

Related: Lesson 1: Hitting Mechanics & Plate Approach, Lesson 5: Team Offense & Base Coaching

Infield · About 7 minutes · 3-6 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Half field or infield

Goal: Field a ground ball in front and make a controlled throw to a target.

Setup: An adult rolls or hits ground balls from a safe distance. One fielder at a time; a receiver at a base or a net as the target.

Equipment: bucket of balls, base or target net, gloves

Steps:

1. Fielder starts in a ready stance.
2. Adult rolls or hits a ground ball.
3. Fielder moves to the ball, fields it out in front and steps to throw.
4. Throw to the receiver; rotate fielder to receiver to line.

Coaching cues: Glove down early. Feet to the target, then throw.

Safety: One ball in play at a time. The waiting line stands to the side, out of the throwing lane.

Easier: Roll slowly straight at the fielder. Harder: Add balls to the backhand and forehand sides.

Limited space or staff: Small space: short rolls and underhand tosses to a partner instead of a base throw.

For this division: Rolls only; soft balls for new fielders.

Related: Lesson 2: Situational Defense Reference

Infield · About 7 minutes · 4-8 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Half field or infield

Goal: Know which base has the force and make a firm, catchable feed to the player covering it.

Setup: Infielders at their positions with one base marked as the force. An adult calls the situation and rolls the ball.

Equipment: bases, bucket of balls, gloves

Steps:

1. Adult calls the runners and outs.
2. Players say where the play is before the ball moves.
3. Adult rolls a ground ball; the fielder feeds the covering player.
4. The cover player catches with a foot on the base.

Coaching cues: Know the play before the pitch. Feed to the chest.

Safety: Covering players stay on their side of the base; no runner is used until the feeds are safe and controlled.

Easier: Walk through with no ball, then use rolls. Harder: Add a runner who starts on the adult's signal.

Limited space or staff: Short on space: a single base and two players at a time.

For this division: Only one force base at a time.

Related: Lesson 2: Situational Defense Reference, Lesson 4: Batted-Ball Priority & Relays

Outfield and relays · About 7 minutes · 3-6 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Full field

Goal: Call the ball early, give way by priority, and back up the catch.

Setup: Two or three players in a line of positions. An adult throws or hits high balls between them from a safe distance.

Equipment: tennis or soft balls for younger players, baseballs for older players, gloves

Steps:

1. Adult names the positions and their priority.
2. Adult throws a ball between two players.
3. The player with priority calls loudly; the other answers and moves to back up.
4. Rotate positions after each catch.

Coaching cues: Call it loud and early. The other player backs up.

Safety: Start with soft balls. Players never run full speed toward each other without a call; the adult stops the rep if two players converge.

Easier: Short, softly thrown balls with one player at a time. Harder: Add the sun, a wind side or a third fielder.

Limited space or staff: Limited space: short pop-ups with tennis balls in a small area, two players at a time.

For this division: Tennis balls and short throws; practice the words first.

Related: Lesson 2: Situational Defense Reference, Lesson 4: Batted-Ball Priority & Relays

Outfield and relays · About 7 minutes · 3-6 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Full field

Goal: Move the ball quickly and accurately through a relay player.

Setup: Lines of three players spread along a straight lane: outfielder, relay, receiver at a base. Lanes far apart.

Equipment: 1 ball per lane, cones for lanes

Steps:

1. Outfielder throws to the relay player's glove side.
2. Relay turns to the glove side and throws to the receiver.
3. Receiver catches and tags the base.
4. Rotate positions every few throws.

Coaching cues: Relay: hands up, turn glove side. Hit the chest.

Safety: Lanes run parallel with nobody crossing them. Short distances first; stop for arm pain.

Easier: Shorten the lane and roll the ball in. Harder: Add a timer target the group tries to beat with accurate throws.

Limited space or staff: Tight space: shorter lanes with underhand tosses.

For this division: Two-player lanes and short throws.

Related: Lesson 4: Batted-Ball Priority & Relays

Baserunning · About 6 minutes · 3-14 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Half field or infield

Goal: Run hard from the batter's box through first base and look for the ball.

Setup: Home plate and first base. Players take turns from the batter's box after a dry swing.

Equipment: bases, cones

Steps:

1. Dry swing, drop the bat safely (no throwing it).
2. Run hard, touch the front of the base and run through.
3. Break down after the base and look toward the infield and the coach.
4. Walk back along the outside of the line.

Coaching cues: Run through, not to, the base. Look for the coach.

Safety: One runner at a time. Runners return outside the base line. Helmets on for running if your rules require it.

Easier: Start from a standing position without a swing. Harder: The adult calls "round it" or "stay" as the runner approaches.

Limited space or staff: No field: straight-line sprints to a cone, practicing the run-through and look.

For this division: Focus on dropping the bat safely and running through.

Related: Lesson 6: Base Running & Base Stealing

Baserunning · About 6 minutes · 3-10 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Half field or infield

Goal: Leave the base at the moment this division allows, then read the ball.

Setup: Runners at first base. An adult acts as the pitcher and a second player as the batter with no bat.

Equipment: bases

Steps:

1. Read Lesson 6 (Base Running) for this division's leaving-the-base rule first.
2. The adult simulates a pitch.
3. Runners leave only when the division rule allows.
4. The adult calls "ground ball", "line drive" or "fly ball"; runners react.

Coaching cues: Know when you may leave. Line drive: freeze.

Safety: No thrown ball is needed. Space runners so they do not collide on the base.

Easier: Walk-through with the adult naming each step. Harder: Add the coach's signs from the Team Offense lesson.

Limited space or staff: Any open area with a marked base works.

For this division: One read at a time.

Related: Lesson 6: Base Running & Base Stealing

Baserunning · About 6 minutes · 3-10 players per group · 2 approved adults · Space: Full field

Goal: Decide when to tag up and when to go halfway on a fly ball.

Setup: Runners at third (or second). An adult throws a fly ball to an outfielder; another adult acts as the base coach.

Equipment: bases, soft balls for younger players

Steps:

1. Runner stands on the base with the outs called.
2. On a deep fly with fewer than two outs, tag and watch the catch.
3. Leave on the catch when the base coach says go.
4. On a shallow fly, go partway and return if it is caught.

Coaching cues: Fewer than two outs: tag on the deep fly. Leave on the catch.

Safety: Runners slide only as taught in the lesson and only where the adult has checked the base area.

Easier: The adult calls "tag" or "halfway" before the throw. Harder: Add a throw home and a decision to stop.

Limited space or staff: Limited space: runners react to called flies with no ball thrown.

For this division: Only the deep-fly tag-up.

Related: Lesson 6: Base Running & Base Stealing, Lesson 5: Team Offense & Base Coaching

Catcher footwork · About 7 minutes · 1-4 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Small safe space (no field)

Goal: Hold a balanced stance, catch the ball quietly, and block balls in the dirt.

Setup: Catchers in full gear, spaced apart. An adult tosses soft balls from a short distance.

Equipment: full catcher's gear, soft or foam balls for blocking

Steps:

1. Stance: feet wide, weight balanced, glove out front.
2. Adult tosses to the glove; catcher receives quietly.
3. Adult bounces a soft ball in front; catcher drops to the knees and keeps the ball in front.
4. Rotate after five reps.

Coaching cues: Quiet glove. Chest over the ball.

Safety: Full gear for any ball thrown at a catcher. Blocking reps use soft balls and short sets.

Easier: Only stance and receiving; no blocking. Harder: Add a transfer and a throwing footwork step (no long throw).

Limited space or staff: Indoors or without gear: stance, imaginary receiving and slow footwork only, no ball, throw or blocking drop. Keep players apart on a dry, clear floor. Full gear is required before any ball is thrown at a catcher.

For this division: Soft balls and very short sets.

Related: Lesson 3: Catcher's Command Center

Team situations · About 7 minutes · 4-8 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Half field or infield

Goal: Run the runner back toward the last base with as few throws as possible.

Setup: Two bases, a fielder at each, and a runner between them. Start at walking speed.

Equipment: bases, soft ball for the first reps

Steps:

1. Fielder with the ball runs at the runner with the ball held up.
2. Throw only when the partner calls "now".
3. Tag the runner with the ball in the glove.
4. Rotate runner to fielder.

Coaching cues: Ball up, run hard at the runner. Throw on "now".

Safety: Tags are gentle, below the shoulders. Start walking; build speed only when throws are controlled.

Easier: Walk-through with no ball. Harder: Add a second runner and a backup fielder.

Limited space or staff: Small space: shorten the distance between bases.

For this division: Walk-through only, with a soft ball.

Related: Lesson 2: Situational Defense Reference, Lesson 6: Base Running & Base Stealing

Team situations · About 15 minutes · 6-30 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Full field

Goal: Everyone makes the right decision for the called situation: where the ball goes and who covers.

Setup: A defense in the field and a group of runners. An adult calls the runners and outs, then hits or rolls the ball.

Equipment: bases, bucket of balls, batting helmets for runners

Steps:

1. Adult calls the situation, for example "runner on first, one out".
2. Every fielder says where the play is.
3. Adult puts the ball in play; players make the play.
4. Short talk: what went right, one fix. Rotate positions.

Coaching cues: Know the play before the pitch. Talk to each other.

Safety: One ball in play at a time. Runners wear helmets. The adult hits from a spot where no fielder is in front of a batted ball they cannot see.

Easier: Walk-through first, then rolled balls. Harder: Add the base coaches and a second runner.

Limited space or staff: Short on space or adults: walk-through the same situations with no ball.

For this division: Rolled balls and one runner.

Related: Lesson 2: Situational Defense Reference, Lesson 4: Batted-Ball Priority & Relays, Lesson 5: Team Offense & Base Coaching

Throwing and catching · About 6 minutes · 1-6 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Small safe space (no field)

Goal: Practice balance and direction toward the target with no throwing load.

Setup: Players on a line facing a target, a towel or no object in hand.

Equipment: small towel per player (optional)

Steps:

1. Balance position, hold for a count of two.
2. Stride toward the target and finish over the front leg.
3. Repeat slowly; the adult checks direction.
4. Talk about one change for next time.

Coaching cue: Balance, then go to the target.

Safety: No ball is thrown, so no pitch count starts. Live pitching practice needs an adult tracking throws and the player's recent game pitches; game limits are not practice targets.

Easier: Balance only. Harder: Add the arm path slowly with the towel.

Limited space or staff: Indoors: balance and step slowly with empty hands, no ball or towel. Keep enough space for full arm reach, use a dry, clear floor and stop for pain.

For this division: Balance and step only.

Related: Lesson 7: Pitching: Grips, Mechanics & Strategy, Lesson 8: Arm Strengthening & Injury Prevention

Team situations · About 5 minutes · 1-30 players per group · 1 approved adult · Space: Small safe space (no field)

Goal: Name one thing each player improved and one thing to practice at home.

Setup: Players seated in a circle with water.

Steps:

1. Each player names one thing that went well.
2. Coach names one team goal for next time.
3. Remind players to tell an adult about any pain or injury.
4. Collect equipment together.

Coaching cue: One win, one next step.

Safety: Confirm every player is picked up by an approved adult per league policy.

Easier: Coach asks yes-or-no questions. Harder: Players ask each other the question.

Limited space or staff: Indoors: sit or stand in a clear circle, share one win and one next step, and confirm approved pickup. Keep bats and balls set down.

For this division: Keep it short and positive.