WebBall.com - Practice Anywhere

Baseball Indoors - in Tight Spaces

While some regions bask in early Spring weather, most of us suffer from too much snow or too much rain or both. So, some suggestions on running an indoor practice in a gym or community hall (art galleries and museums not recommended).

Limitations (very few)

You can't do full-field B.P., but that's a waste of talent and time anyway.
You can do outfield drills - even cut-off relays - using the walls to bounce balls off of. (Use those walls to teach warning-track flyball catches, too.)
Sliding is out (but diving on mats is in.

Dealing with the space

Field' Size
Ideal may be a 400' square of grass, but a lot of the game happens in the 90' diamond in the middle, and by using half-diamond techniques, you can run a practice in only 100' x 50'. Outdoors that means a corner of a school play field. Indoors the best you can hope for is the size of a basketball court with good sideline space - a double court is ideal!)

Indoor Drills
Many regular outdoor drills are actually run in only a portion of the field - the D.P. Drill for example.

Here are 3 drills specifically adapted for indoor use...

Indoor Drills

Here's a baseball drill that was originally designed for basketball...

Criss Cross Drill

Special Equipment

This is baseball, but some concession have to be made to hard floors, walls, backboards and ceiling lights.
Recommended are...

Court shoes. Cleats are an obvious no-no, but players not used to indoor practice may need a reminder to bring good court shoes or cross-trainers.

Whiffle balls. For B.P. (travel distance 30-50')

Polysoft balls. Baseball size and feel but soft polycore. (Look for names like 'safety ball' or 'crusher' - ask your local sports retailer what they've got.)

Floor hockey nets. For B.P. Also look at other 'on-site' gym equipment like pylons to define hitters' targets.

Pipe bats. Made of regular plumbing PVC. (Straight grip size pipe makes hitting more of a challenge and is easier on whiffles than aluminum bats.)

SwingAway hitting machines and other ways to practice hitting. ('T's can be used even without a ball on top - just graze the top edge for contact.)

Pitching Mounds. Portable, synthetic mounds are available. (They're often used with catching bags, but you've got catchers in gear for that.)

Your Imagination. Walls, mats, low balance beams can all have a place in indoor skill development. (What will you come up with?)