From taking in a ballgame together to cheering on your young ballplayers in their own games – baseball gives families the chance to come together. Anything down to a simple game of catch can offers family members a chance to bond as youth baseball players build their skills. Baseball training does not need to stop when practice ends. Here are some great drills that parents can participate in with their young athletes.

Throwing Drills to Build Arm Strength and Accuracy

We all love a good game of catch but there are plenty of other exercises that will help your young athlete build up strength and accuracy. Once you’re warmed up, start adding distance between each of you to make longer and longer throws. If you have access to a diamond, you can give your child a feel for each position by having them cycle through first, second, shortstop and third while throwing across the diamond.

If both parents want to get involved – or if you have multiple young ballplayers – another great way to build accuracy and strength is to line up single file and throw the ball down the line. This helps ballplayers practice receiving and throwing cutoff throws while remaining accurate. 

*WARNING – With this drill, you may find yourself playing a game of Pickle-in-the-Middle. That’s ok, it just means you’re having fun.*

Hitting Drills for More Consistent Contact

Hitting drills can be a little tricky when it is just you and your child, but there are ways you can still help them get some cuts in without too much difficulty. If you have a bucket of baseballs, your child can face the backstop as you throw soft toss. This allows you to keep a good pace as neither of you will have to go far to gather your baseballs. 

You can work from – or in front of – the mound, provided you have a protective net. One drill you can do is the Two Ball drill. The pitcher sets up near the plate and soft tosses two baseballs simultaneously. As they release, they will call out ‘top’ or ‘bottom’ causing the hitter to react and swing at the ball that was called. This drill is great for contact and learning to track the pitch to the bat.

Fielding Drills to Build Comfort

Baseball is a game of angles and that means balls can come off the bat headed in any direction. Players must remain locked in at all times to not only make sure they record the out, but also to protect themselves. Getting some fielding work in will help them do both.

Whether they are focused on a position or are still trying to pick one, all you need is a bat, a glove and a couple of baseballs to get some work in. If they are focused on an infield position, have them stand at it while you pepper them with grounders and pop flys. For outfielders, focus more on fly balls and line drives. Regardless of position, mimic as many different types of hits as possible. This will help them learn how to adjust to a ball coming toward them at their position and know what to do next.

Show off Your Skills in the Gopher State Baseball League

If your young ballplayer is ready to show off their skills, sign them up for a team in the MYAS Gopher State Baseball League. With members from certified associations and schools across Minnesota, the GSBL offers a chance to compete against the very best. Make sure your team is enrolled today.