T-ball is many children’s first introduction to organized sports—and it’s a critical time to build confidence, teach fundamentals, and most importantly, keep things fun. The best drills for T-ball focus on movement, basic mechanics, and keeping players engaged in short bursts. Here are five tried-and-true T-ball drills that are perfect for young beginners:
1. Bucket Toss (Throwing Accuracy)
Purpose: Teaches throwing accuracy and proper form
How it works:
Set up a few buckets or hula hoops at varying distances. Have players take turns throwing soft balls into the targets. Start close and move them back as they improve. You can also make it a team competition for added excitement.
Pro tip: Emphasize stepping toward the target and pointing the front shoulder at it before throwing.
2. Alligator Chomp (Fielding Ground Balls)
Purpose: Helps players learn to field grounders with two hands
How it works:
Roll soft ground balls to each player and instruct them to “chomp” the ball between their glove hand and bare hand like an alligator mouth. Use a fun voice and chomp sound to keep it light.
Pro tip: Remind players to get their bodies low and in front of the ball.
3. Batting Tee Circuit
Purpose: Builds consistent swing mechanics
How it works:
Set up multiple tees in a line or triangle. Each player takes a swing at one tee, then jogs to the next station. You can assign each tee a focus: stance, eye on the ball, follow-through.
Pro tip: Focus on one swing tip at a time and keep rotations quick to avoid boredom. You may need extra tees, and if so–they’re pretty cheap on Amazon.
4. Base Running Relay
Purpose: Teaches base running and direction
How it works:
Split the team into two groups. Have players run the bases relay-style—first one sprints around all the bases and tags the next runner. First team to finish wins.
Pro tip: Use cones or signs at each base to reinforce direction (first to second to third to home).
5. Freeze Ball (Red Light, Green Light)
Purpose: Reinforces listening and body control
How it works:
While players throw, catch, or run, yell “freeze!” randomly. Players must stop immediately. Great for developing awareness and quick reactions.
Pro tip: Add silly poses or challenges (like freeze with one leg up) to make it extra fun. This is a great game for the end of practice.
Keep T-Ball Practice Short and Simple
At the T-ball level, drills should be short, simple, and full of movement. Focus less on perfection and more on developing a love for the game. Keep practices upbeat and finish with a water break or team cheer to build camaraderie.
Looking for more coaching tips and youth baseball resources? Check out YouthPlaybook.com for practice plans, game day checklists, and more!
