Back when I was a kid, baseball practice was boring (for the most part). Two hours of waiting for a turn to do something. We'd start by warming up our arms, but that was pretty much it. Then we'd take positions assigned by the coach, and he'd hit balls to us to simulate situations—runners at first and third, etc. After 45 minutes to an hour of this, we’d start some kind of batting practice. One or two players would come in off the field: one to hit, one to wait. Then rotate outfield to dugout, and so on.
I can still, three decades later, remember waiting all practice just for the opportunity to hit. The rest of practice was just waiting—punctuated by the occasional field or throw. Even when I played catcher and touched the ball more often, it remained a rather dull experience. And for the rest of the team, 8 or so kids were doing almost nothing for two hours. A wasted opportunity to build skills.
So, when I coach, I take a more methodical approach with rotating skill stations. But stations require supervision—not just for safety, but to ensure proper instruction. Repetition only helps if the technique is right. The problem is: many youth coaches lack the help they need to make this happen, despite having solid practice plans (which I highly recommend writing out in advance).
For those coaches with limited help, here’s a suggestion: most youth teams have 12 players—divide them into three squads of four. Then enlist three parent volunteers to help supervise. This breakdown makes practices more efficient and keeps kids engaged. With small groups, you can provide quick instruction, then let the kids work with one another or a volunteer to run the drill, allowing you to circulate and give guidance.
Uneven groups aren’t ideal but manageable. Just aim to reduce downtime.
Squads also foster competition—players strive to set or beat records. Most kids love to compete, and it helps you assess their progress quickly.
To wrap practice, we play a fast-paced game called Hustle Ball. The key is hustle (not just speed). Once learned, we can run a six-inning game in 30 minutes or less.
Equipment
- 4 Ball Buckets
- 1 L-Screen
- 1 Stopwatch
- 2 Coaches
Setup is pretty easy, empty 3 ball buckets into one, then place an empty ball bucket in foul territory behind first base; another behind second base; and one next to the catcher.
Place the full bucket of baseballs behind the L-Screen for a coach to throw. One coach will be the pitcher for both teams and one will keep time on the stopwatch.
Rules
- Standard baseball rules apply, with these adjustments:
- Start with generous time between pitches and innings (work toward 10 sec/pitch, 30 sec/inning).
- Hitters start with a 2-1 count.
- Catcher places balls in the bucket beside him, not thrown back.
- After a play, defense has 10 seconds to bucket the ball; offense has 10 to send in the next hitter.
- Countdown begins at 5 seconds: “5-4-3-2-1,” then pitch is thrown.
- Fielders bucket balls after plays—no returns to the pitcher.
- After the third out, 2B/SS bring their bucket to the mound and refill the coach’s bucket.
- Incoming fielders reverse the process. Failing this = automatic out.
To emphasize hustle, call outs if bats or helmets are left near the field, or players walk instead of sprinting on/off the field. My players keep helmets on when fielding to simplify transitions.
Try this approach. After 60–90 minutes of drills, players enjoy actually playing. And they’ll be excited for the next practice.
