Choose drills, arrange your practice, and print a plan for the field. Times and setups are editable examples.
Practice plans save on this device; export a copy to use elsewhere.
Start or change practice
Ready-made practices
Each practice has a teaching goal, a warm-up, water breaks and a closing huddle. Station rounds run at the same time, so three 7-minute stations take 7 minutes per round, not 21. Change any time to fit your field and your group.
Balanced fundamentals
One skill in each area: hitting, fielding and throwing, finished with a team game.
See schedules45-minute version
Balanced fundamentals, 45 minutes. Total 45 minutes.
A useful practice indoors or in a small safe area: use each drill's indoor, no-ball alternative. No batted balls or long throws.
See schedules45-minute version
Rain or small-space plan, 45 minutes. Total 45 minutes.
Time
Activity
Details
0:00–0:07
Dynamic warm-up
Everyone together. 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.
Water, shade, and a quick check that everyone feels okay.
0:34–0:41
Catcher stance, receiving and blocking
Catcher stance, receiving and blocking · 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.
0:41–0:45
Closing huddle
One win, one next step. 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.
60-minute version
Rain or small-space plan, 60 minutes. Total 60 minutes.
Time
Activity
Details
0:00–0:08
Dynamic warm-up
Everyone together. 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.
Water, shade, and a quick check that everyone feels okay.
0:40–0:50
Catcher stance, receiving and blocking
Catcher stance, receiving and blocking · 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.
0:50–1:00
Closing huddle
Longer talk: one play from the last game, walked through slowly. 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.
90-minute version
Rain or small-space plan, 90 minutes. Total 90 minutes.
Time
Activity
Details
0:00–0:10
Dynamic warm-up
Everyone together. 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.
Water, shade, and a quick check that everyone feels okay.
0:50–1:00
Catcher stance, receiving and blocking
Catcher stance, receiving and blocking · 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.
1:00–1:10
Pitching mechanics without a ball
Pitching mechanics without a ball · Balance and step slowly with empty hands; no ball, towel or throwing. Leave full arm reach between players. 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.
1:10–1:25
Team count challenge
Count and swing decisions · 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.
1:25–1:30
Closing huddle
One win, one next step. 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.
Blank plan
A warm-up, a water break and a closing huddle. Add your own blocks and stations.
Drill ideas
Read setup & safety before starting.
Filters
No drills match. Try another search or clear the filters.
Setup image
Warm-up
Dynamic warm-up
Raise body temperature and move every joint before anyone throws or swings.
Time
8 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
1–30
Space: Small safe space
Equipment: 4 cones
View drill: Dynamic warm-up
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
Easy-jog phase of the warm-up: spread players out between the cones and keep each trip in one direction. Finish the movement sequence in the steps before throwing. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Easy jog down and back.
Walking knee hugs and lunges down; jog back.
Side shuffles both directions; carioca if the group is ready.
Arm circles small to big, forward and back.
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: Add a second sprint and a short skip for height.
Warm the arm gradually and throw to a target with a repeatable motion.
Time
10 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
2–30
Space: Half field or infield
Equipment: 1 ball per pair, cones or chalk for the two lines
View drill: Partner throwing progression
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
Start with easy, accurate throws to a ready partner. Keep pairs in separate lanes; step back only while throws remain relaxed, then finish closer in. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Start close with short, easy throws aimed at the partner's chest.
After several easy throws, take a step back and repeat.
Keep backing up only while throws stay accurate and relaxed.
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: Distance can grow toward infield-throw length when accuracy holds; effort stays easy.
Catch with two hands and bring the ball to the throwing hand quickly.
Time
8 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
2–10
Space: Small safe space
Equipment: 1 soft ball per pair
View drill: Catch and funnel
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
Left: receive a soft practice baseball toss with the throwing hand nearby. Right: secure the ball and bring it toward the belly before tossing back. Keep pairs well separated. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Partner tosses underhand to the chest.
Catch with the glove open to the ball and the throwing hand close by.
Pull the ball to the belly button, then toss back.
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: Use real balls and short-hop tosses once catches are clean.
Repeat a balanced swing that finishes through the ball.
Time
6 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
2–4
Space: Small safe space
Equipment: 1 tee per station, hitting net or safe fence, bucket of balls, batting helmets
View drill: Tee hitting into a net
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
One batter holds a bat. Keep the waiting line outside the swing area; stop before loading or collecting. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Batter sets up the right distance from the tee: bat can reach the ball with a slightly bent arm.
Five swings, then the next player.
Waiting players take turns loading balls only when the adult says the batter is set down.
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: Add a job: call the pitch location before each swing.
Time a moving ball and hit it back through the middle.
Time
6 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
2–4
Space: Half field or infield
Equipment: appropriate protective L-screen, bucket of baseballs, net or clear open field, batting helmets
View drill: Front toss behind a screen
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
Screened front toss in front of the mound: align the tossing hand toward home plate. Protect the head and torso behind the tall panel and use the open area above the low panel, never the mesh. Keep the bucket behind the screen. One airborne ball is shown; both foul lines follow dirt basepaths. Stop before collecting balls. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Adult shows the ball, then tosses firmly and underhand.
Batter hits the ball back up the middle.
Five swings per turn, then rotate.
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: Vary the toss speed slightly and add a take on bad tosses.
Time an easy underhand toss and make controlled contact with a Wiffle-ball.
Time
6 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
2–4
Space: Half field or infield
Equipment: Wiffle-balls, bat, batting helmets, waiting-area cones, clear open hitting area
View drill: Wiffle-ball front toss
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
Wiffle-balls only. Keep the adult beyond bat reach and waiting players outside swing and batted-ball areas; stop before collecting. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Adult shows the Wiffle-ball and makes a gentle underhand toss.
Batter makes controlled contact into the clear hitting area.
Five swings per turn; the adult stops tossing before the next player comes in.
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: Keep contact controlled and add a swing-or-take decision. 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.
Practice plate decisions: what to swing at with no strikes and with two strikes.
Time
6 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
2–6
Space: Small safe space
Equipment: location cards or a drawn strike zone
View drill: Count and swing decisions
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
Example discussion: call a 1–0 count and show a pitch outside the strike zone; ask each player to choose swing or take and explain why. Repeat with two strikes. Bats stay down; no balls are thrown. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Adult calls the count, for example "1 and 0".
Adult shows a pitch location.
Each player says "swing" or "take" and why.
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: Add the situation and the runner's job for each call.
Field a ground ball in front and make a controlled throw to a target.
Time
7 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
3–6
Space: Half field or infield
Equipment: bucket of balls, base or target net, gloves
View drill: Ground balls: ready, field, throw
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
Feed → field → throw to the receiver. Waiting players and rotation stay outside the active lane; rotate after the ball is dead. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Fielder starts in a ready stance.
Adult rolls or hits a ground ball.
Fielder moves to the ball, fields it out in front and steps to throw.
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: Mix hit ground balls and add a force throw to the correct base.
Know which base has the force and make a firm, catchable feed to the player covering it.
Time
7 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
4–8
Space: Half field or infield
Equipment: bases, bucket of balls, gloves
View drill: Force out: feed and cover
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
Example: runner on first, one out; the force is at second. Rehearse the shortstop’s short underhand flip and the second baseman’s cover without a runner until the feeds are controlled. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Adult calls the runners and outs.
Players say where the play is before the ball moves.
Adult rolls a ground ball; the fielder feeds the covering player.
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: Add a turn at second where the division's defense lesson covers it.
Call the ball early, give way by priority, and back up the catch.
Time
7 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
3–6
Space: Full field
Equipment: tennis or soft balls for younger players, baseballs for older players, gloves
View drill: Fly balls: call it and back up
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
Name the positions and priority before each rep. One player calls for the ball; the other answers, gives way and backs up. Start with soft practice baseballs and stop if two players converge. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Adult names the positions and their priority.
Adult throws a ball between two players.
The player with priority calls loudly; the other answers and moves to back up.
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: Baseballs and longer throws; add the infielder going back.
Move the ball quickly and accurately through a relay player.
Time
7 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
3–6
Space: Full field
Equipment: 1 ball per lane, cones for lanes
View drill: Relay lines
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
Outfielder → relay → receiver. Keep lanes separate and stop throws before players change positions. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Outfielder throws to the relay player's glove side.
Relay turns to the glove side and throws to the receiver.
Receiver catches and tags the base.
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: Full relay alignment toward the base the lesson names.
Run hard from the batter's box through first base and look for the ball.
Time
6 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
3–14
Space: Half field or infield
Equipment: bases, cones
View drill: Home to first: run through the base
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
Shown: touch first while running away from home. Keep running through the bag, then slow down beyond it and return outside the running lane. One runner at a time. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Dry swing, drop the bat safely (no throwing it).
Run hard, touch the front of the base and run through.
Break down after the base and look toward the infield and the coach.
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: Add the turn toward second on a ball in the outfield.
Leave the base at the moment this division allows, then read the ball.
Time
6 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
3–10
Space: Half field or infield
Equipment: bases
View drill: Leaving the base on time
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
Paused setup before the simulated pitch; this picture does not show when to leave. Read this division’s Base Running lesson, then practice its permitted departure timing. No ball or bat is used. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Read Lesson 6 (Base Running) for this division's leaving-the-base rule first.
The adult simulates a pitch.
Runners leave only when the division rule allows.
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: Add secondary movement where the division's base-running lesson allows it.
Decide when to tag up and when to go halfway on a fly ball.
Time
6 min
Approved adults
2
Players / group
3–10
Space: Full field
Equipment: bases, soft balls for younger players
View drill: Tag-up reads
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
Deep-fly example with fewer than two outs: stay in contact with the base while watching the catch. Leave on the catch when the base coach says go; the shallow-fly read is different. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Runner stands on the base with the outs called.
On a deep fly with fewer than two outs, tag and watch the catch.
Leave on the catch when the base coach says go.
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: Add the shallow fly and the two-out case.
Hold a balanced stance, catch the ball quietly, and block balls in the dirt.
Time
7 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
1–4
Space: Small safe space
Equipment: full catcher's gear, soft or foam balls for blocking
View drill: Catcher stance, receiving and blocking
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
Left: balanced stance and a quiet receiving target. Right: knees down, glove low, chest over the soft ball to keep it in front. Full gear for tossed balls; use short sets and soft balls for blocking. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Stance: feet wide, weight balanced, glove out front.
Adult tosses to the glove; catcher receives quietly.
Adult bounces a soft ball in front; catcher drops to the knees and keeps the ball in front.
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: Add the quick transfer and a throw-down footwork pattern without a full-effort throw.
Run the runner back toward the last base with as few throws as possible.
Time
7 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
4–8
Space: Half field or infield
Equipment: bases, soft ball for the first reps
View drill: Rundown decisions
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
Home-to-third example, walking rehearsal: guide the runner back toward third, then throw only on the partner’s call. Begin with a soft ball; tags are gentle and below the shoulders. Check base distances for your division. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Fielder with the ball runs at the runner with the ball held up.
Throw only when the partner calls "now".
Tag the runner with the ball in the glove.
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: Full speed once the walk-through is clean.
Everyone makes the right decision for the called situation: where the ball goes and who covers.
Time
15 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
6–30
Space: Full field
Equipment: bases, bucket of balls, batting helmets for runners
View drill: Situation scrimmage
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
Paused example: runner on first, one out. Name the play and who covers before the coach rolls one ball. Walk through first, then rotate positions after discussing one improvement. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Adult calls the situation, for example "runner on first, one out".
Every fielder says where the play is.
Adult puts the ball in play; players make the play.
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: Hit balls and full base-running reads.
Practice balance and direction toward the target with no throwing load.
Time
6 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
1–6
Space: Small safe space
Equipment: small towel per player (optional)
View drill: Pitching mechanics without a ball
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)
Right-handed example, no ball: left frame holds balance on the right leg; right frame strides onto the left leg toward the target and finishes over it. Left-handed players reverse the sides. Move slowly with adult feedback. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Balance position, hold for a count of two.
Stride toward the target and finish over the front leg.
Repeat slowly; the adult checks direction.
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: Add the full motion slowly with the towel.
Name one thing each player improved and one thing to practice at home.
Time
5 min
Approved adults
1
Players / group
1–30
Space: Small safe space
Equipment: None
View drill: Closing huddle
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.
One win and one next step: let each player name an improvement, then agree on the team’s next goal. Remind players to report pain or injury and confirm approved pickup before dismissing them. Generated setup illustration; check your field and equipment. Open image for a larger view.
Steps:
Each player names one thing that went well.
Coach names one team goal for next time.
Remind players to tell an adult about any pain or injury.
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: Link the goal to the next lesson in the dugout.
My practice plan
Choose a ready-made practice or start a blank plan to see your run sheet here.
Coach reference
Kept separate from the plan. Labels show what is law, league policy, a rule, or coaching practice. Check the current rulebook and your league's written local rules before a game.
Safety at practice
Coaching practice
Before practice: the site and the plan
Know the field address and where an ambulance would enter. Carry a charged phone.
Bring a first-aid kit and know where the nearest AED is, if the site has one.
Decide who calls 911 and who meets responders before anyone gets hurt.
Keep emergency contacts where your league keeps them. This planner has no place for names, medical details or phone numbers, and none should be typed into it.
Safety guidance
Weather and heat
Thunder or lightning: stop, and move everyone into a substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle with the windows closed. A dugout is not shelter.
Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back out (National Weather Service guidance), and follow your site plan.
Heat: plan water breaks and shade. Stop a player who looks dizzy, confused or unusually tired and get help.
California law and CDC guidance
Head injury, fainting and emergencies
California Health and Safety Code 124235 applies to youth sports organizations in California: a player suspected of a concussion or other head injury, or who passes out or faints, is removed from the activity for the rest of the day.
That player does not return until a licensed healthcare provider gives written clearance. After a concussion or head injury, return follows a graduated protocol of at least seven days under that provider. The coach never clears a player.
For a suspected head injury the organization notifies a parent or guardian of the time, the symptoms seen and any treatment given.
Call 911 for anyone who is unresponsive, not breathing normally, or having a seizure. Start CPR and use an AED if trained and one is available.
Coaching advice: stop activity for chest pain, unusual shortness of breath or a racing heartbeat during exercise, and tell the parent or guardian.
Coaching practice
Arms and throwing
Any arm pain stops throwing for that player that day. Tell a parent or guardian.
Game pitch limits are maximums for games, not targets for practice. A practice plan never counts as pitching eligibility.
Breaks between throwing blocks are part of the plan. Do not shorten warm-up or throw more to fill time.
Coaching practice
Lanes, bats and loose balls
Every throwing line throws the same direction; nobody walks between lines.
Only the batter holds a bat. Waiting players stand behind a marked line.
Balls are collected on an adult's call, never while someone is swinging or throwing. Players do not chase balls into another station.
Helmets for batters and runners, and any other equipment your rules require.
League policy
Adults at practice
Drill adult counts are station minimums. Follow the organization's supervision, screening and reporting policies. California youth-service policy requires at least two mandated reporters to be present to the greatest extent possible when adults contact or supervise children (BPC 18975).
Only league-approved adults who have completed the required screening and training lead stations.
Keep adult-player interactions observable and interruptible: no one-on-one time out of sight.
If there are not enough approved adults for every station, run fewer stations. Never leave a station with bats or thrown balls unsupervised to make the numbers work.
Game management for PONY Pony (13-14)
Practice Design
The 90-Minute Practice Machine
The enemy of player development isn’t a lack of talent: it’s a line of kids standing around waiting for a turn.
A high-efficiency Pony practice is built from short, parallel stations rather than one whole-team drill at a time. Time-block the session before you arrive, assign each league-approved, screened helper a visible station with a clear job, and rotate small groups on a timer so reps-per-player stay high. The goal is regular turns for every player, with water breaks and ball collection planned in, not constant throwing.
Actionable Management Takeaways
Oversight Checklists
Write a minute-by-minute plan and physically bring it to the field.
Plan exists in writing before warm-ups start.
Run 3-4 stations of 4-5 players; rotate every ~12 minutes on a whistle.
Each station has ≤5 players and a defined drill.
Give each league-approved helper one observable station and a brief safety script.
Required screening and training are complete; interactions stay observable and interruptible.
Give waiting players supervised jobs outside swing and batted-ball lanes, such as calling pitch locations or checking a cue. Load or collect balls only after swings and feeds have stopped, the bat is down, and the adult gives the signal.
Every station gives each player regular turns, with planned water breaks and ball collection on an adult’s call.
Close with a team conditioning game tied to one teaching point.
Practice ends on time with a clear takeaway.
Coaching points
Time-block on paper; a written plan is the single biggest driver of practice quality.
Stations beat lines: four kids hitting off tees beats twelve kids watching one live BP hitter.
Coach one cue per drill. ‘Throw to the glove side’ lands; five corrections at once do not.
Use only league-approved helpers who have completed required screening and training. Keep every station observable and interruptible by another adult.
Common mistakes
Whole-team drills where 11 kids watch 1: the classic rep-killer.
No timer, so the first station eats 35 minutes and you never reach baserunning.
Over-coaching: stopping every rep to correct erases the volume kids need.
Ending late and losing the field: respect the next team’s slot.
Other ways to see it
Stations vs. team reps: stations maximize volume, but some game situations (cutoffs, first-and-third defense) genuinely need the whole team on the field at once. Budget one team segment per practice rather than choosing one philosophy for everything.
Fewer helpers, simpler plan: if you can’t reliably staff 4 stations, 2 well-run stations beat 4 chaotic ones. Match the plan to the adults you actually have, not the ones you wish you had.
PONY Pitch Rules
Pitch Count Compliance & Rest Thresholds
On a Pony bench the manager (not the scorekeeper, not the umpire) owns the count: tracking pitches, mapping rest days, and lifting a pitcher before an eligibility problem exists.
PONY Baseball Rule 10 uses the Pitch Smart pitch-count and rest chart by league age, but its same-day game permission differs from Pitch Smart workload advice. In Pony 14U the daily maximum is 95 pitches for ages 13-14 and 85 for ages 11-12 playing up. Required calendar days of rest scale with pitches thrown that day: for ages 13–14, 51–65 pitches requires three full calendar days, so a Saturday 52-pitch outing means Sunday through Tuesday off and Wednesday is the earliest next pitching day. A pitcher who reaches the daily maximum mid-batter may finish pitching to that batter before being removed. The figures below are quoted from the published PONY pitching rules: confirm them against your league’s adopted rules, which may be stricter.
Actionable Management Takeaways
Oversight Checklists
Track every pitcher’s count yourself; cross-check the official recorder each half-inning.
You can state every pitcher’s exact count on request.
Plan the week backward from rest days before you set a rotation.
Each pitcher’s next eligible date is mapped on a calendar.
Know the mid-batter exception: a pitcher at the limit may finish that batter.
You know the pitcher must come out when that batter’s at-bat ends.
PONY 10(E) permits pitching in both games within one combined daily maximum; Pitch Smart advises against pitching in multiple games on the same day, so plan separate pitchers when possible.
The legal cap is tracked across both games, and the health recommendation is explained separately.
Local leagues may adopt stricter caps or extra rest: know your adopted rules.
Your league’s local pitching rules are confirmed before the season.
Coaching points
Daily maximum for the Pony division (ages 13-14): 95 pitches per day (published PONY pitching rules / USA Baseball Pitch Smart).
Rest is measured in calendar days, not games: map it on a real calendar.
The rest threshold is set by the count at the start of a batter: a pitcher who reaches the daily maximum mid-batter may finish that batter, then must be removed.
Common mistakes
Letting the scorekeeper ‘own’ the count: the manager owns the pitching plan.
Treating PONY doubleheader permission as a recommendation to pitch twice; also forgetting the combined daily count.
Assuming short outings need no tracking: low-pitch days still stack workload, and the rest table only protects what you record.
Ignoring outside workload (travel/showcase) that stacks on the same young arm.
Other ways to see it
Limits are ceilings, not targets: a 14-year-old throwing 95 every outing is at higher cumulative risk than one averaging 50, even though both are ‘legal.’ USA Baseball Pitch Smart treats these as maximums; many coaches set stricter internal caps.
Local leagues may go stricter, never more lenient: your league or district can adopt lower limits or extra rest. Check your local rules: the number you must obey may be tighter than the national figure.
Pain trumps the chart: a pitcher under the limit who reports arm pain or velocity loss should still come out. The count is a floor of protection, not proof an arm is fine.
Playing Time
Inning-by-Inning Defensive Rotations
Mandatory play isn’t a hurdle to clear at the end of the game: it’s a plan you bring with you, written before the first pitch.
If the league has adopted a minimum-play requirement, every present player covered by it must meet it, and the cleanest way to guarantee it is to chart innings before the game. For Pony 14U, identify any adopted local minimum rather than inventing a national numeric requirement. PONY Rule 9(J)’s two-inning recommendation is for Mustang 10U, not Pony 14U. Record the actual adopted batting-order and participation policy before using it. Beyond compliance, rotate players through infield, outfield, and bench so development is balanced and no one is parked.
Actionable Management Takeaways
Oversight Checklists
Pre-write a defensive chart for the whole game before first pitch.
Every present player is slotted to meet minimum play.
Get bench players their defensive innings early, not in a frantic final inning.
No player is ‘discovered’ short in the last inning.
Balance development: rotate kids through infield and outfield over the season.
No player is parked in right field every game.
Never create a safety mismatch (e.g., an unready player at a hot corner).
Each defensive slot matches the player’s readiness.
Confirm whether your league uses a continuous batting order.
Lineup format matches the adopted local rule.
Coaching points
Chart it first. Compliance is trivial when planned and stressful when improvised.
Get reserves in early: innings banked in the first half of the game meet minimums with margin to spare.
Develop the whole roster; today’s right-fielder is next year’s shortstop if you give reps.
Match position to readiness for safety, then stretch players in lower-leverage moments.
Common mistakes
Putting the last reserve in for only the final half-inning: often just 3 outs, short of many adopted minimums.
Hiding weaker fielders and over-playing your best: legal exposure and bad development.
Assuming shortened-game participation remedies without checking the adopted rules.
Assuming the umpire tracks playing time: that responsibility sits with the manager.
Other ways to see it
What counts varies: leagues measure minimum play in outs, innings, or plate appearances, and definitions differ by adopted local rule. The requirement you must meet is the one your league adopted: confirm it.
Win-now vs. develop-all: in a tight game it’s tempting to minimize reserves to the minimum. That’s legal, but a development-first program spreads reps wider; decide your philosophy before the pressure of a close score forces it on you.
Continuous batting order: identify whether the adopted format bats the whole roster. Use the applicable national and local/tournament provisions rather than assuming every tournament has the same substitution format.
Game Day
Game Day Dugout Management & Lineup Cards
A calm, organized dugout is a competitive advantage: the team that knows who’s on deck and where the helmets are plays faster and cleaner.
Game-day management is logistics plus discipline: an accurate lineup card, a clear grasp of your substitution and re-entry rules, an honest scorebook, and a dugout where players are engaged but safe. Bring two copies of the lineup, declare substitutions properly, and assign dugout jobs (on-deck, helmets, equipment) so the bench runs itself.
Actionable Management Takeaways
Oversight Checklists
Bring two legible lineup copies; exchange with the opponent and scorekeeper.
Official scorekeeper and umpire have your card pre-game.
Know your substitution & re-entry rules before you need them.
You can explain a starter’s re-entry without looking it up.
Keep (or assign) an accurate scorebook including pitch counts.
Book matches the official record each half-inning.
Brief players on dugout safety (helmets to retrieve bats, stay behind the fence).
No loose bats; no one in the field of play.
Coaching points
Two lineup cards: one for you, one to hand in. A lost-card scramble is avoidable.
Pre-load your substitution knowledge: mid-game is the worst time to learn re-entry rules.
A clean scorebook is your defense if a pitch-count or batting-order question arises.
Give every benched player a job; engaged kids stay safe and stay in the game mentally.
Common mistakes
Illegible or single-copy lineup cards that trigger confusion at the plate meeting.
Improvising substitutions and accidentally making a re-entry illegal.
An incomplete scorebook that can’t answer a pitch-count challenge.
A rowdy dugout with loose bats: a safety hazard and a discipline signal to the umpire.
Other ways to see it
Continuous batting order vs. standard substitution: confirm which format your game uses. PONY Rule 9(L) permits a starter to re-enter once in the same batting-order position; Rule 9(M) provides a specific emergency exception. Do not invent a universal local batting-order choice.
How much chatter is too much: energetic bench talk builds culture but can tip into distraction or gamesmanship. Set a team standard (loud for our hitters, quiet respect for the opponent) rather than policing case by case.
Who keeps the book: some managers keep the scorebook themselves for control; others delegate to a trusted parent to stay focused on coaching. Either works if pitch counts are tracked reliably: pick based on your bandwidth.
Warm-Up
The 60-Minute Pre-Game Warmup Clock
A repeatable warm-up does two jobs at once: it gets arms and bodies ready, and it settles nervous players into a familiar routine.
Treat the hour before first pitch as a countdown with named segments so nothing gets skipped and the starting pitcher peaks on time. The sequence moves from setup and dynamic stretching, through a throwing progression and long toss, into infield/outfield reps, the starter’s bullpen, and a final team huddle. Adjust the clock to your field time, but keep the order.
Starter finishes warm with time to spare, not rushed.
5-0 min: team huddle, lineup confirmed, energy and focus up.
Team takes the field on time and on the same page.
Coaching points
Build the arm gradually: warm muscles and a throwing progression before any hard throws.
Time the bullpen so the starter finishes a few minutes before first pitch, not at it.
Make the routine identical every game; familiarity calms nerves more than a pep talk.
Use the huddle to set one focus (‘first-pitch strikes’ / ‘run hard to first’), not a long speech.
Common mistakes
Skipping the dynamic warm-up and going straight to throwing: an injury setup.
A bullpen that ends right at first pitch, leaving the starter rushed or cooling off.
No I/O reps, so the first live ground ball of the day happens in the 1st inning.
A new routine every week, so players never internalize it.
Other ways to see it
Compressed field time: if you only get 30 minutes before first pitch, you can’t run the full hour. Prioritize the throwing progression and the starter’s bullpen, and move I/O reps into the previous practice rather than cramming.
Long toss for young arms: long toss is valuable but should be progressive and capped; an over-aggressive max-distance session pre-game can leave a starter’s arm taxed before the first pitch. Keep it controlled.
Static vs. dynamic stretching: current guidance favors dynamic movement pre-game over long static holds; save deeper static stretching for cool-down. Some coaches still mix in light static work: keep it brief if so.
Adversity
Managing In-Game Chaos & Broken Scenarios
Players take their emotional temperature from the manager: in a rain delay, a blown call, or an injury, your calm is the plan.
Things break: weather rolls in, a call goes against you, a player gets hurt, or your defense needs an emergency shuffle. Each has a sane protocol. Keep players safe and occupied during delays, address umpires through process rather than emotion, follow injury steps deliberately, and have a pre-thought plan for losing a pitcher or fielder mid-game. The throughline is composure.
Actionable Management Takeaways
Oversight Checklists
Lightning: stop play and move everyone into a substantial building with wiring and plumbing, or a hard-topped metal vehicle with closed windows. Dugouts are not safe. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder before resuming, following the site plan.
Account for every player in safe shelter and track the last thunder before a restart.
Umpires: ask calmly for a rule/clarification through proper channels, not judgment-call arguments.
You request clarification, not a re-litigation of a judgment call.
Suspected concussion or other head injury: remove the player immediately for the rest of the day, notify the parent or guardian, and require written clearance from a licensed healthcare provider before any return. If the provider confirms a concussion or other head injury, follow the provider-supervised return-to-play protocol for at least seven days. The coach does not clear the player.
Emergency alignment: have a ‘next pitcher / next fielder’ plan ready.
A backup pitching/defense plan exists before you need it.
Model composure; one steady voice resets a rattled dugout.
Your tone stayed calm and the bench followed.
Coaching points
Lightning/weather: use a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle, never the dugout. The National Weather Service advises waiting at least 30 minutes after the last thunder.
Disagree with umpires through process: you may ask for a rule clarification, calmly and at the right moment.
For a suspected concussion or head injury, remove the player for the rest of the day; return requires written clearance from a licensed healthcare provider. Stop throwing for arm pain and arrange appropriate evaluation.
Pre-decide your next-pitcher and emergency-defense options so a mid-game loss isn’t a panic.
Common mistakes
Keeping players in any dugout, bleachers or open field during lightning to ‘wait it out.’
Arguing balls/strikes or other judgment calls: it won’t change and it models poor behavior.
Pressuring a shaken or hurt player back into the game.
No contingency, so losing your starter to the pitch limit becomes a scramble.
Other ways to see it
Clarification vs. judgment: managers can generally request that an umpire clarify or correctly apply a rule (e.g., batting out of order, an eligibility question), but judgment calls (safe/out, balls/strikes) are not reviewable and won’t be changed. The exact conferencing process varies by league: learn your local norms and stay respectful either way.
How hard to compete in adversity: there’s a real tension between teaching toughness (‘play through it’) and protecting kids (‘sit when in doubt’). For weather and injuries, default hard toward safety; the ‘compete’ lesson is never worth a hurt child.
Resumption & pitcher eligibility: in suspended games resumed another day, a pitcher’s eligibility still depends on required rest: a pitcher who threw heavily may not be eligible when play resumes. Don’t assume your starter can simply pick up where they left off; verify against the PONY rest requirements.
Previous Coach's Dugout quiz
This page used to hold a quiz. Earlier answers and notes are kept as archived coach data: they appear in the dugout's training report and in backups, and they no longer count in player training.
The Practice Planner is a coach tool, not one of the 8 player lessons.
Example of separated supervised groups before practice starts. This is not your selected field layout. Check active ball paths, waiting areas and equipment on your field. Your groups and times appear above.
