We should try and split our players into groups for the biggest part of
our practice section. It is much easier for coaches to provide youth
baseball instruction with youth baseball drills with just a few players
instead of the whole team. It is also much better for the players,
they get more repetitions for each skill more quickly and their
attention span is held more easily.
After splitting your kids into groups and working on youth baseball drills we need a full situational youth baseball practice.
First, put a full defense on the field and have the extra players as base runners. It is a full situational practice time. Control the situation by putting base runners on different bases and hitting the ball to different spots in the outfield. We can also instruct tags and force outs here. This is also a great time to reinforce base running skills.
We want coaches or coach/parents working with the fielders on the proper fielding techniques, and where to go with the ball. The fielders should react just like it was a game situation. Outfielders moving when the ball is hit backing each other up. Infielders work on cutting the ball off, covering their base, and watching the ball to be sure and back up any bad throws or missed balls. This is also a time for the players to communicate to each other.
Be sure and rotate the players so all get a chance to be base runners. Create a competition to see witch baserunning group can get the most extra bases. This puts added pressure on the youth baseball defense and cause the runners to focus on being aggressive and taking what the other team gives them on the base paths.
This is meant to be a part of practice. Not your entire youth baseball drills.
