My son is presently baseball-mad and so went to training day with some Blue Jays last January as part of their Winter Tour. I have no idea how to coach baseball to kids, so I took some notes. They’ve been floating around the basement since then so I’m de-paper-ing them by putting them here.

  • Stretches
    • butt kicks
    • side strides
    • long steps
    • frankensteins (high kicks)
    • flamingos (balance on one foot, lean forward)
    • circles with arms
    • fall, then sprint
    • cross legs, then up without using arms then sprint
    • watch the pitcher, then sprint
  • Batting
    • Use a tee
  • Bunting
    • line up with the front of the box so if the ball drops straight down it doesn’t hit the plate; if it does its a strike
    • pinch the bat
    • rotate feet (into ‘athletic position’)
  • Base Running / Paths
    • touch at the front of the bag
    • run straight!
    • lean when crossing the plate to make it seem like you are further ahead than you actually are
    • game: relay where half run from home and half run from second
    • the high-5 at the bag is important
    • when going multiple bags, start running in the shape of a banana halfway to first
    • take two steps from the bag, square them, then two side steps to be in optimal position
  • Infield Fielding Drills
    • direct grounder
    • glove side
    • throwing side
    • random side
  • Outfield Fielding Drills
    • routes to ball
    • glove positions (above or below hips)