5 Tips for Efficient Winter Indoor Baseball & Softball Training
Tips for how baseball and softball teams can organize indoor practices in the winter
How Coaches and Teams Can Maximize indoor Cage and Tunnel Time for Players
Even when the weather outside is frightful, the winter season is the time to take your baseball or softball player’s game to the next level. In Colorado especially, where the winter and spring can be full of snow and inclement weather, the opportunity to train indoors is essential for players of all ages and abilities to grow and develop so they can hit the ground running by the time games roll around.
Of course at HitStreak, a lot of teams take advantage of our indoor facilities for winter training to get ready for their spring seasons. However, we often see teams that miss the chance to maximize this time to the benefit of the individuals and the team as collectively. These include wasting time moving from space to space, having many players standing around and waiting to hit, a lot of down time and more while practicing indoors.
We’re here to help though! To assist players and coaches with making the most of the indoor time, here are a few tips on how to be more efficient in your indoor team trainings:
1) Set-Up Stations
Setting up multiple stations is a great way to keep players engaged and maximize training time. Consider having different stations for various skills such as hitting, pitching, and fielding. For example, you can use two batting cages, each with two tees, and rotate players through these stations. This not only ensures that everyone gets quality practice time but also encourages teamwork as players take turns feeding balls and hitting.
Encourage communication and collaboration among players at each station, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared responsibility. By incorporating diverse activities into the training regimen, you cater to different skill levels and preferences, making the overall experience more enjoyable and beneficial for everyone.
2) Open up the cages and work on throwing/defense
Utilizing retractable cages offers flexibility in training activities. At HitStreak our 19,000 SF of indoor space allows for a variety of functions on the turf and in the tunnels. Allocate time for hitting and seamlessly transition to defensive drills and throwing exercises such as incorporating ground ball work and long toss programs inside the cages, promoting a well-rounded development approach.
At HitStreak, we also regularly do our long toss programs inside the cages, We'll divide kids into 2-3 lines (depending on number of cages) and set a few buckets out at one end of the cage, have players funnel through the line, pick up a ball, and then throw into the opposite end of the cage. You can start slow, and progress into a jogging start and full throws into the other end!
By diversifying the training routine, players can work on multiple facets of their game, ensuring a comprehensive and efficient use of indoor facilities.
3) Have a plan of attack and mix up drills
With teams, it's a good idea to have a certain "plan/idea" for the session. Identify specific areas of improvement or strategic aspects of the game, such as a two-strike hitting night, a focus on moving runners and situational hitting or maybe a bunting night. This will give you good focus topic, and then you can look up good drills that correlate to incorporate into your rotation or plan for the night from there!
Research and incorporate relevant drills that align with your session theme. This not only adds variety to the training routine but also allows players to work on specific skills in a purposeful manner. If you’re in the middle of a couple months worth of indoor practices before the team gets repeated reps outside or in game situations (ie. thing January/February in Colorado), you’ll want variety throughout the practice times to help keep everyone engaged. Having a plan of attack ensures that each training session contributes meaningfully to the overall development of the team.
4) Start with more tee/front toss work, then progress to more live situation closer to the season
A lot of teams will come out of the gate hitting live pitching from a full length of the cage. While getting live reps is never a bad thing, sometimes players need time to get the "swing" of things and fine tune before transferring their swing to a live situation. Starting off the winter training with a focus on tee and front toss work to help players refine their fundamentals. This gradual progression allows players to build confidence without discouraging them early on from failing so much and fine-tune their skills before transitioning to live situations. Emphasize the importance of mastering the basics before introducing the complexities of live pitching.
It also allows a player to take many more swings in a night when they are mixing in tee and front toss work! By incorporating tee and front toss work early in the season, players can benefit from more repetitions, enhancing muscle memory and overall technique. This approach ensures a smoother transition to live situations as the season approaches, minimizing frustration and maximizing player development.
5) Work in small groups
Try not to have the full team doing one drill at once. This usually leads to a lot of talking and messing around while they are inactive…especially with younger players. Dividing the team into smaller groups fosters a more focused and dynamic training environment and can help keeps kids focused and moving. Instead of having the entire team participate in a single drill, create 3-4 smaller groups with specific tasks or rotations. This not only reduces downtime but also allows coaches to address individual needs within smaller, more manageable settings.
Groups provide an opportunity for players to bond and support each other. Coaches can easily monitor progress and make adjustments based on the performance of each group. This approach promotes accountability and engagement, ensuring that every player remains actively involved in the training process.
By implementing these strategies, teams can make the most of indoor training sessions during the winter, setting the stage for a successful and prepared spring season. If a player can leave each training session with just one takeaway lesson, new skill or focus, imagine the progress over the course of a few months. If you would like more indoor practice ideas or group training, contact our team today.
Also see: Indoor Throwing Routines for Colorado Baseball Players
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