Baseball practice is the backbone of a successful season. The most competitive teams don’t just show up—they show up prepared. If you’ve ever wondered how to organize practices that build skills, confidence, and game-winning habits, you’re in the right place.

In this post, I’ll walk you through my 10 Best Baseball Practice Routines. These aren’t just random drills; they’re tried-and-true methods I’ve used, learned at coaching clinics, and seen succeed on the diamond. With my C.A.R.E. Coaching Points—Consistent, Actionable, Repeatable, and Exact—you’ll have a solid framework for practices that work.

Why Routines Matter

The heart of any great practice lies in its structure. Routines aren’t just about repetition—they’re about building confidence. When players know what’s expected, they trust the process. And when players trust the process, they trust you.

So, let’s start with the foundation: The 5 Objectives of a Great Baseball Practice.

The 5 Objectives of a Great Baseball Practice

1. Throw Quality Strikes

2. Play High-Level Catch

3. Put the Ball in Play

4. Run the Bases Aggressively and Intelligently

5. Control All Situations

Every winning team excels at these. When you incorporate these objectives into well-planned routines, you’re setting your players up for success.

Building Confidence with Routines

Routines create rhythm. They eliminate wasted time, keep everyone focused, and ensure players get the reps they need to improve. Here’s how to structure a successful practice using individual, group, and team drills:

1. Warm-Up & Throwing Routine

   • Purpose: Get the body moving and reduce injury risk. Combine dynamic stretching with an arm-care program to prepare for high-intensity efforts.

2. Individual Drills

   • Purpose: Focus on specific skills each player needs to master. Cover everything from grounders to batting mechanics.

3. Group Drills

   • Purpose: Build chemistry between positions. Work on situational plays like double plays or relay throws, ensuring players understand their roles.

4. Team Drills

   • Purpose: Execute game-like scenarios with all nine positions. Create seamless teamwork with drills like bunt defenses or simulated innings.

Practice Design

1. Importance of Routines

2. Variations of Routines

3. High energy/tempo

4. Always learning, adding/subtracting, changing

5. Culture is always more important than the practice plan

6. Have fun

My Favorite 10 Baseball Practice Routines

Here are my 10 Best Baseball Practice Routines that consistently deliver results:

1. Individual Defensive Drills – Develop fundamentals with laser focus on specific skills on glove work, foot work, eye-hand coordination, and position actions.

2. Group Defensive Drills – Reinforce positional connections and situational awareness while also working on field awareness, quicker hands/throwing, increased field range, better/quicker reaction, and an increase in baseball IQ.

3. Alternate Defensive Drill Series – Keep things fresh while building consistency working the entire team on numerous situations all at the same time with no loss of practice time, no standing around, and all players are engaged.

4. Chaos Drill – Simulate unpredictable plays to sharpen fielding instincts including pitchers fielding practice, catchers fielding practice, rundowns, pick-offs, and bunt defenses.

5. Competitive Batting Practice – Add a layer of competition to keep hitters sharp.

6. Hit and Run Drills – Teach hitters and baserunners to execute in sync.

7. On-Field Batting Practice – Practice hitting under game-like conditions.

8. 21 Outs Simulation – Replicate pressure-filled defensive situations.

9. Live & Random Situations – Add realism to both offensive and defensive reps.

10. Bunt Carousel – Perfect your small-ball strategy with efficient bunt practice.

Plan Ahead to Maximize Your Practice

Great practices don’t happen by chance. Take at least 15 minutes the night before to sketch out your plan. Think through:

• Objectives: What skills or concepts need the most attention?

• Time: How long can you dedicate to each drill?

• Resources: Consider space, equipment, and coaching staff.

Start practice by reviewing the day’s goals with your players. End it by summarizing what was achieved and setting expectations for the next session.

COMING SOON

Bonus: Free Practice Plan PDFs

To save you time, I’ve put together 4 downloadable practice plans tailored to different levels of play:

• Youth Baseball Practice Plans

• High School Baseball Practice Plans

• College Baseball Practice Plans

• Practice Plan Templates

These resources are packed with drills and routines you can implement immediately.

Final Thoughts

Planning a great practice is more than just checking boxes. It’s about creating an environment where players can learn, grow, and believe in their abilities. By focusing on objectives, routines, and consistency, you’ll see dramatic improvements in both individual players and the team as a whole.

Now it’s your turn:

• Which routine will you implement first?

• Do you have a go-to drill or strategy that’s been successful?

Share your thoughts in the comments below! If you’re not already subscribed to Monday Morning Staff Meeting, now’s the time. I’ll send weekly insights, drills, and resources to your inbox—all designed to help your team win.

Let’s hit the field with purpose, plan, and confidence. Game on!