As a high school baseball coach, you’ve probably lost games not because your team lacked talent, but because players made mental mistakes in key moments. That’s where situational awareness comes in.

In this post, we’ll break down:

• Why situational awareness is the hidden edge in baseball

• How to coach it daily (without adding more practice time)

• Simple drills to raise your team’s Baseball IQ

What Is Situational Awareness in Baseball?

Situational awareness means a player understands the game situation before the play begins and can anticipate what’s likely to happen next.

It’s knowing:

• How many outs are there

• Where the runners are positioned

• What pitch is coming in the count

• What defensive play is expected

A player who has this awareness makes faster, smarter decisions without waiting for the coach to yell instructions.

Why Coaches Struggle to Teach It

Most high school coaches focus on reps, such as fielding ground balls, taking swings, and throwing bullpens. But sometimes, mental reps often get overlooked.

The problem is that a lack of situational awareness doesn’t show up in practice, but it shows up in games. That’s when a runner hesitates between bases or an infielder makes the wrong throw.

The Good News: It Can Be Taught

Situational awareness is not something players are just “born with.” It’s a skill. And like any skill, it can be developed if you incorporate it into your daily practices.

Here’s how:

3 Ways to Coach Situational Awareness

1. Use “Pause and Predict” Drills

• Stop live practice before a pitch is thrown.

• Ask fielders, “What’s your job if the ball is hit to you?”

• Make base runners call out their read before it happens.

This forces players to think ahead, not react late.

2. Rep Situations in Small Chunks

Instead of full scrimmages, break down scenarios:

• Runner on 2nd, 1 out → practice 3 defensive looks.

• Bases loaded, 2 outs → practice outfield throws.

Repetition of real situations builds automatic responses.

3. Film and Reflect

• Record short clips of games or practice situations.

• Watch with players: pause, ask “What should happen here?”

• Give them ownership of explaining the decision-making.

Players learn faster when they can see themselves.

The Payoff: Smarter Teams Win Close Games

When your players anticipate situations, the results are dramatic:

• Fewer errors in high-pressure innings

• Quicker defensive reactions

• More aggressive (and correct) base running

• A confident, composed dugout

Situational awareness doesn’t just save runs. . . it wins games.

The best way and the fastest way my teams improved their situational awareness and baseball IQ was Intra-Squad with a Purpose 2-3 times a week.  

Get creative and meet your team’s needs.  

In a baseball class, you can complete  2 rounds of the intra-squad with a purpose, and then the next day get the other two rounds.

After school, you can spend 30 minutes a day and expose your team to hitting situations, baserunning situations, defensive situations, rundowns, pick-offs, reading the ball, reading the base coach, and communication (verbal and non-verbal).

That's a lot of coaching for only $7.

Final Takeaway for Coaches

Your team’s Baseball IQ can be the difference between finishing .500 and making a playoff run. If you want fewer “why did he do that?” moments, start building situational awareness into practice every day.

👉 Looking for ready-to-use drills, games, and practice plans to build Baseball IQ? 

👉 Check out all the resources in Kretzfiles backed by 30 years of successful coaching experience. 

👉 What you see in Kretzfiles is what turned around a 4-win team to a 20-win team in two years. . . the resources were also created to turn a last-place team into a District Champion in one year, plus winning another 20+ games.

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More Articles on Baseball IQ

7 Baseball IQ Drills Every Coach Should Be Using

How to Teach Situational Awareness at Practice

Baserunning IQ: Teaching Aggression Without Mistakes

Why Baseball Is 90% Mental (And How Players Can Train Their Minds)

Coaching Resources to Help You Teach Baseball IQ

• Pitching Program for High School Players

• Complete Program Manual

• Baseball Strength and Conditioning

• Intrasquad With A Purpose

• Defensive Drill Series Bundle