The Youth Baseball Coach

Level: 2

Purpose: To give players lots of bunting reps. 

Equipment: Balls, bats, bases, paint or chalk, candy (optional)

Description:  This drill will allow for lots of bunting repetitions for your players.  Using chalk, paint or candy to mark out bunting targets makes the game more fun.

Execution:  Place a batter at each corner of the diamond using the bases just like home plate.  Have a coach on each side of the mound facing their respective corners.  Mark out "targets" for each of the bunters by drawing circles or squares in which the batter should try to bunt the ball.  I like to use four candy bars or packs of gum to mark out a square for the batter at home plate.  If the batter successfully bunts the ball into the square of candy, then when it is time to rotate they can pick up one of the packs and put it in their pocket.  Or the coach can just keep track and reward after the practice.   Give each player a certain amount of reps before they run to the next base.

Other options to get the competitive juices flowing include-  

** Giving players points for successful bunts and awarding something at the end of the drill to the player with the most points. 

** Dividing players into teams and keeping track of team points.

** Timing players or counting the number of pitches necessary for a player to complete the circuit. 

Just be careful if players are running around the bases with a bat in their hands.  Safety is of primary importance.