Many children have the type of motor skills necessary to enjoy playing baseball by the time they are 10 years old. Many children of this age are capable of running very fast, following a moving object to grab it, and throwing rather accurately. Many children this age, nevertheless, are still learning. Let us know ‘Baseball Drills For 10-Year-Olds : A Complete Guide’.
Baseball Drills For 10-Year-Olds : A Complete Guide
The best baseball drills will put newbies to the test while still being enjoyable for kids with some expertise. These 7 baseball workouts for kids are perfect for this age group since they feature game-like surroundings and a fair dose of healthy competition.
Baseball drills that kids 10 Years and under can enjoy
- Simulated Game
- Sliding Drill
- Knockdown Drill
- Contact Drill
- Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby
- Running Bases
- Knockout Drill
The drills listed above are designed to help you improve the following skills:
- Anticipation on the bases and the right angles to take
- Swing speed and power to drive the gaps
- Anticipation of the game and field awareness on defense
- Soft hands for fielding ground balls
- Contact and 2 Strike Hitting
Most kids enjoy swinging the bag, give them plenty of swings and fun drills to practice with! You can strive to get each kid at least 100 swings at a practice.
#1 Contact Drill
It’s common for us to have a lot of stations active during the part of practice where we are focused on striking.. In order to set up a hitting cage, tee station, waffle ball station, and heavy ball station, we divide the participants into groups of two to three players. The players switch between stations. After completing these training areas, we’ll add some entertainment with a contact drill. For this exercise, you can use baseballs or wiffle balls. I would suggest Wiffle balls with a variety of coaches to get the maximum swings.
The Drill’s Operation:
- Set up a number of stations with a number of coaches.
- Group the players into threes.
- Each group should send their first player to the plate.
- Check to see how many consecutive hits the player can connect with. Have the participants have competitions within their group, repeating this cycle for 5–10 minutes (foul balls do count).
- Decide who won each group at the conclusion, and bring their trophy to the main plate.
- Identify the winter for that practice and have each hitting cycle through twice.
Benefits:
- The athletes develop their contact skills.
- This makes it easier to concentrate on making contact even with an imperfect pitch.
- Players develop a straightforward, compact swing.
Skills Developed
- Both contact and two-strike hitting are developed skills.
- How to concentrate on making contact with a challenging pitcher.
#2 Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby
When we have concluded the hitting phase of practice at various stations on days when we don’t use the contact drill, we will practice hitting with some power. Wiffle balls will be utilized once more since they are easier for less experienced players to strike from a distance. Tennis balls are sometimes a great substitute for Wiffle balls, and not all waffle balls are created equal.
How The Drill Works:
- Set up a number of stations with a number of coaches.
- Group the players into threes.
- Set an appropriate homerun distance marker. Keep the first pitch shorter to encourage players and promote more home runs to be hit.
- Each group should send their first player to the plate.
- See how many home runs each player hits with 5 pitches.
- Run this cycle with the participants competing inside their own group for 5–10 minutes.
- Decide who won each group at the conclusion, and bring their trophy to the main plate.
- Determine the winner for that drill by having each hitting cycle through twice.
Benefits:
- Players can develop their driving skills.
- They also need to move quickly.
- Driving the ball while engaging in a contact drill aids in the development of both hitting fundamentals.
Skills Developed:
- Assurance in one’s ability to drive the ball
- Swing speed: In this practice, it’s OK to swing strongly and concentrate on driving through the ball.
#3 Knockdown Drill
It’s a throwing exercise. after warming up with some easy catch at the start of practice. To assist the participants get better at throwing the ball farther with some precision, we’ll set up a station or several stations. Field a ground ball or catch a fly ball with the intention of knocking down the target with a strong crow’s hop. We frequently use a cone perched on a chair.
Operation of the Knockdown Drill
- A chair with a cone set up on it.
- Players should rotate for 7–10 turns.
- Keep note of the person who successfully knocks the target out of all efforts.
Benefits:
- This exercise adds some excitement to practice while helping the participants stay focused on striking a target. Make sure to concentrate on good form, closing the front shoulder, and maintaining good balance with your feet under you.
Skills Developed:
- Empower Accuracy
- Using good footwork before tossing the ball (typically the cause of off target throws)
#4 Knockout Drill
In this exercise, the players must not only cleanly field the ground ball but also complete the second element of the play, a precise throw. They continue to play in the game as long as they successfully complete the play. To keep the overall amount of reps high and dissuade people from merely standing about if they get knocked out, we usually have a secondary game going on.
How The Drill Works:
- Group the participants into 5–6 person groups.
- To the first person to rise, throw or hit ground balls.
- To continue in the game, the players must toss and make a good play.
- Continue until there is just one player remaining after completing the process through the line.
- Think about allowing players to continue fielding ground balls in a backup line.
- Fly balls can also be used to play this game.
Benefits:
- By having to field the ball cleanly and throw well, players learn to handle some pressure.
- Players take pleasure in competing and making an effort to win.
Skills Developed:
- A suitable technique, delicate hands
- Handling situations of pressure
#5 Simulated Game
The majority of teams will consist of 10–12 players. Have three players hit while positioning the other players. In order to keep the game flowing, I would advise a coach to pitch. Having the ball hit frequently, players run the bases, and fields make the right play in the field are the objectives. The players adore this game because it gives them the feeling of “scrimmaging” and gives them a chance to use all of their abilities at once.
One important thing to remember is to prevent any coaches from coaching during the last 30 minutes of this practice game. Let the participants converse and interact with one another. Without the assistance of a coach, let the players decide and evaluate their choices.
The operation of the drill:
- Choose 3 batters and tell them to get ready to hit.
- Other players should be placed on the field.
- Make use of a pitching coach.
- Do not utilize a catcher or omit an outfielder if you are low on players.
- Have the athletes run the bases before hitting.
- The right play must be made by the fields.
Benefits:
- Baseball games may move swiftly. Even athletes who excel at fielding the ball during practice may find it difficult during a game.
- The simulated game keeps it exciting and genuine!
- The participants relish the chance to advance bases!
Skills Developed:
- Excitement for the game
- Defense consciousness
- Baserunning consciousness
#6 Running Bases
This exercise is typically done towards the conclusion of practice. Players will start with a single, move on to a double, triple, and eventually a home run. Coaches may impart the skills of running through the bases on a single, paying attention to their instructions, and making the right turns. TheyThey won’t eventually catch one for months, but you may do this regularly to assist players become more conscious of where the ball is and what the coach is instructing them to do. Coaches should practice maintaining consistency in their verbal cues and arm gestures.
Using a timer to time each player’s journey to first base and second base is one approach to advance this exercise.
See if the students can cut back on their time over the season. They will be able to do this by running the bases accurately and taking the appropriate angles.
Although it might appear easy, high school teams also use this practice. Base running should be a regular part of practice, and it may also be utilized for conditioning.
The Drill’s Operation:
- Line up all players at home plate.
- Allow them to run the bases and imitate a swing.
- Before moving on to the other bases, start with a single.
- Runners can also begin on first and practice moving up to third on a base hit.
Benefits:
- Kids love to run bases and score.
- This is a great way to get rid of some energy.
- This helps keep kids in shape and most kids enjoy running!
Skills Developed:
- A suitable basis running route
- Anticipation
- Deciding after seeing the ball
#7 Sliding Drill
When there is a close play at a base, sliding is one approach to keep yourself safe. This is a chance to instruct players on how to slide properly and to exhort them to avoid sliding into first base. On a cloudy, rainy day, we’ll practice this drill. Alternately, you may bring a slip-and-slide to work on sliding.
The Drill’s Operation:
- Use damp grass or a slip-and-slide setup.
- Have players alternate safely sliding.
- Clearly explain the right method to slide.
Benefits:
- It reduces the fear of slipping.
- teaches the appropriate method.
- On a slip-and-slide or on damp grass, players enjoy fun.
Skills Developed:
- How to choose a side securely and take the initiative
- It’s great to see how children mature and become skilled athletes as they grow older. Keep your cool and assist children in becoming the greatest versions of themselves.
Conclusion
For many players, the 10th year is enjoyable. The children are still polite, but they are now able to drive the ball and pick out certain individuals on the pitch. Continue honing your skills and becoming more game-aware. When children reach a certain size and strength, they are prepared for the next stage if they have a firm foundation and situational awareness. When kids are 12 or 13 years old and can really drive a ball, that is when the game truly starts to pay off.
