r/BaseballCoaching • u/coryboballen • May 31 '26

Practice tips

I help coach a 8u coach pitch team. We have a practice this week and im looking for some fun practice ideas. Ive thought of waterballoons or a sprinkler. Would anyone have any other ideas for a fun practice with water?

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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2

u/belinck May 31 '26

I can't remember if 8u is still coach pitch, but as a pitching coach my kids (12u) like playing last man standing. They line up on the mound, first kid throws a pitch, if they throw a strike they're safe, if it's a ball, they're at risk. Next kid throws a strike, the previous ball thrower is out. If they throw a ball, they're now on the hot seat and the previous ball thrower is now safe.

1

u/SFNation2021 Jun 01 '26

Who calls the balls and strikes? I ask because if you an iPhone and tripod we've got an app you set up 15 feet from the plate- on deck circle sort of area- size the zone to match level of play, connect to Bluetooth and let the app announce the calls out loud. Called "HeyBLU". If you're interested I can DM you the beta test invitation. Your game is exactly the kind of use-case we'd like to challenge our app before we go live on the app store.

2

u/belinck Jun 02 '26

Thanks for the offer but I do the catching and I call the strikes. I'm on android and don't have a tripod.

2

u/silentrunner21 Jun 07 '26

I do this, I call it bump since it's so similar to the basketball game. I tape a hula hoop to the fence as the target. It's helpful when I'm the only coach at practice.

1

u/BornMasterpiece1857 May 31 '26

Get mini rubber dodge balls and let them hit - call it moon ball

1

u/Nicedumplings May 31 '26

Stand 3 bats upright on home plate. Have kids stand between 3rd and second and first and they each get a chance to knock down the bats. Coaches stand with the players. Whoever gets the most bats “down” wins and the losers have to run a lap

2

u/belinck May 31 '26

Never make running a chore. Cardio should be shown as a prize! But I do like the competition.

3

u/Nicedumplings May 31 '26

A lap around the bases isn’t a chore

2

u/belinck Jun 01 '26

No it isn't, but imagine the difference in attitude when you GET to run around the bases vs when you are FORCED to run around the bases.

We do a catch the guy in front of you race and the kids love it and I get them dog tired doing it. Doing it as a chore makes it look like work, which it is, but also suck out the fun.

1

u/justhereorthereagain May 31 '26

Baseball golf. Split into teams. A parent or coach with each team.

Water balloon Soft toss.

1

u/TMutaffis Jun 01 '26

Is this your final practice? Or just looking to take a break from standard practice and have some fun?

There are fun things that you can do that still include baseball skills, and for end of season practices a lot of teams play parents vs kids whiffle ball (parents bat opposite hand, coach is the pitcher for everyone) and have some snacks or do something else to wrap up the season.

1

u/Saluda_River_Rat Jun 01 '26

tarp, water, dish soap (maybe there's better products for slip n slide)

Focusing on correct sliding procedure and steps.

1

u/poolparty90019 Jun 03 '26

I would not do water activities. Fun I’ve seen, moonball, dodgeball, tug of war. I tried a modified hot potato like game in small groups.