Indoor Baseball Drills - Defeating Bad Weather

 Indoor Baseball Drills, although possibly not as preferred as the outdoor environment, can still be quite beneficial if they’re well planned, and besides that, nothing deflates a team, anxious and biting at the bit to begin, than canceled baseball practices due to weather conditions.
Let’s learn some basic indoor drills which can be informative and fun as you build your team’s skill level.

Fielding Mechanics Drill:

Being forced inside can have its advantages, because of the lack of field area, the players are in closer proximity to the coach, which provides an unrushed, good teaching environment. 

There’s no better time to teach the basic mechanics of how to field a ground ball.

Have the team form a semi-circle in front of you while you demonstrate the proper form of fielding a ground ball.

(a.) Glove on the ground….

(b.) Knees bent staying low ….

(c.) Both hands out in front of you ….

(d.) Eyes directly on the ball all the way into the glove.

Throw ground balls to each player, stopping and correcting any mistakes in form or mechanics.

Indoor Baseball Drills - Learning To Field Ground Balls

  Throwing Mechanics Drill:


One of the best methods of building arm strength and proper upper body mechanics for throwing, is to eliminate the lower body from the equation.

(a.) Divide the team into pairs ….

(b.) Begin the throwing distance at @ 20 feet, then increase as the drill continues.

(c.) Have each player throw while kneeling on 1 knee, a variation is to require both knees, and have them play catch.

This drill teaches the player how to become square to his target, use only the upper half of his body and strengthen arm and shoulder muscles.

 Speed Throw Drill:

The Speed Throw Drill is designed to teach players to field, grip and throw the ball as quickly as possible, in order to eliminate those “close play safe calls.”

For this drill divide the team in half, positioning them facing each other spaced at least 40’ apart, using their regular glove and throwing an age appropriate regulation size baseball.

If a player is strictly a catcher and wants to use his catchers mitt, that’s fine. If he can speed catch  and throw with a mitt, he can with a glove.

 The coach starts the drill by yelling “Start” , “Go” or by blowing a whistle. Within a minute, the players are to catch and return throw as quickly as possible, accuracy being important, but increasing speed being the ultimate goal.

After completing the cycle, have one side of the team shift to the left or right, making a new pair of players, performing the drill as long as you deem necessary or until everyone has had a different partner and is now back with their original partner.

Indoor Baseball Drills - Catcher Tag Out Drill

  Bull Pen Work:

Throwing, or Bull Pen practice as it’s sometimes called, besides being easily performed inside, can actually be more beneficial than being outside throwing should the weather be too cool or damp.

(a.) Monitor your pitchers and demand they complete a stretching routine before any throwing begins, as this is imperative in preventing injuries.

B.) Have your pitchers work on mastering location, then learning different pitches, being careful they don’t overthrow the number of breaking pitches.

C.) Encourage communication between the catcher and pitcher as they practice, which develops a bond between the two, and allows the catcher to become familiar with a pitcher’s tendencies and abilities.

Define areas where the pitching is restricted and if need be place a spotter to protect them from an errant throw from another drill area.

Indoor Baseball Drills- Bull Pen Work

 Base Running Drill:

 Players of all ages need to be reminded to  Run Through  First base when trying to beat out a hit, teaching younger players they do not slow down as they approach first base, nor do they hop or try to time their steps to hop onto the base.

 (a.) Have each player stand at the plate assuming their batting stance, then either imaginarily swing, or using a bat swing, and begin their run to first….

(b.) It’s important to use the motions of swinging, in order to assimilate real life actions…..

(c.) Stress this exercise is a drill to increase speed from home to first base.

Catcher Drill:

With the use of a few basic training aids, a catcher can practice his mechanics of Blocking Wild Pitches.

(a.) Have the catcher, in full equipment, assume his position behind the plate…

(b.) Throw balls in front of the plate simulating a wild pitch….

(c.) Because you’re indoors you must use a rubber coated hard ball or hard rubber ball in order to not damage the floor. Ironically, because of the increased bounce of these balls, the catcher must perfect his form of smothering the ball, restricting it from bouncing too far away from him

Indoor Baseball Drills- Back Hand Practice

One on One Hitting:

Indoor practice is a great chance for that specialized one on one hitting coaching, and can be accomplished in one of three methods.

(a.) Use a batting tee and watch the player’s swing and hitting mechanics…

(b.)  While seated on a bucket or knee, on the opposite side of the plate, toss balls into the air over the plate and have the batter hit them ….

(c.) Use a pitching machine to give BP….



Indoor Baseball Drills to Baseball Skill Drills

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