It is very easy for basketball, soccer, and football coaches to create practices that closely resemble playing the game. They are able to keep many players involved, because during virtually every play in their games, almost every player is active. The same cannot be said for baseball. Players have responsibilities on every play, such as knowing the situation should be ball be hit to them, or backing up a base, but with the exception of the catcher, pitcher, and first basemen, the possibility exists that a player may go through an entire game without touching the ball defensively.
Unfortunately, many baseball practices resemble this game play. As a result, baseball is perceived as boring, and athletes are choosing other sports. Quite frankly, if I came to a practice, took eight swings and fielded ten groundballs in two hours, I would be bored too. Creating a practice that resembles game play and keeps all players active is difficult and takes knowledge, skill, and planning. Rule number one for creating such a practice is to avoid lines in your practice. We use short lines (two or three players) to give our athletes rest between activities. If the lines in practice are much longer than three players, boredom will begin to set in and only those who truly love the game will continue playing.
Another option to keep all players involved is to employ the use of tactical games. These games teach baseball through competitive, controlled situations where players play a structured game to learn a skill or tactic. Below are two examples of tactical games, one for players of all ages, and one for players over 14 years old.
For all ages
Set up two sets of cones, each set is the same distance from each other. The distance between the sets can be adjusted depending on the age and skill of the player. A good starting distance for a 14U player would be between 100 feet and 150 feet. (see set up below)
X X
P T <-- 100-150 Feet --> T P
X X
This game can be played one on one, or in teams of two. Each team hits a ball off the tee toward the other team (it is a good to give each team gloves to field the ball as it comes at them). Their goal is to hit the ball between the two cones, or hit the tee. If they hit the ball between the cones, they get one point. If they hit the tee, they automatically win, and the game restarts. This game teaching a line drive, up the middle swing. You will be amazed how players who may be casting their hands and consistently yank the ball, adjust their swings in order to compete. Either play a specified number of swings, or to a point total.
Over 14 - Small ball game
Divide the team into smaller teams of four to six (no less than six). The numbers will dictate how you handle pitchers and catchers. One option is to have teams of six where each has a pitcher and catcher. Another option is to have a few pitchers and catchers who play on their own team offensively, but only pitch and catch on defense. Allow the teams to create their own signs and strategy. Each team will have players as base coaches (wearing helmets) and will coach themselves.
Teams will set up defensively with only an infield. The defensive team is not allowed to play any player closer to home plate than the baselines until the offensive team shows bunt. Any ball hit out of the infield on the fly is an automatic out. The offensive team can bunt, steal, hit and run (as long as they don’t hit the ball out of the infield on the fly), or squeeze bunt. Their objective is to get runners on, move them over and get them in. We usually give each offensive team six outs and clear the bases after the first three to keep the game moving quickly.
The only time we reward our players for hitting the ball out of the infield on the fly is if there is a runner on third with less than two outs, if they hit a deep flyball, they are still out, but we allow the runner from third to score.
Feel free to modify the rules to meet your needs. We have started with a runner on first or second with nobody out, but it is fun to watch them try to get on base by bunting for a hit or hitting a hard groundball through the infield.
This game gives athletes the chance to make decisions, stay constantly involved (we usually have three teams of six and have the team that is not hitting or fielding working on hitting drills), and work on all offensive and defensive aspects of the small game.
Incorporating tactical games is just one method you can use to keep practices fun and exciting while teaching players to compete and play the game. Coaches who complete Cornerstone’s Silver Certification will learn mores ways to incorporate tactical games into their practices, learn how to develop appropriate tactical games, and will have access to many age appropriate games through Cornerstone’s silver library.
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