Tips for Youth Baseball Players

Kids baseball coaches should take 5 or 10 minutes at the beginning of each practice for the kids baseball players to stretch and get!

Here are three pre-game kids baseball stretching exercises.

Kids Baseball Stretch Drill #1 - Running the Bases At Half Speed
Helps loosen up the legs and lets the kids break a sweat

1. Form a single line behind homeplate
2. Stagger the start of each player
3. When the runner has finished one cycle around the bases they go back on line
4. After a few cycles speed it up
5. Make sure the kids touch the bases correctly.

You can improvise by speeding the pace.

You can also emphasize the art of baserunning by having them stop on a particular base.

Get creative!.

Kids Baseball Stretch Drills #2 - Touch the Toes

You know this exercise, it helps to loosen the hamstrings and back

1. Form a line
2. Standing up, cross the left foot over the right foot
3. Slowly bend over and touch the toes
4. Hold the pose for 5 to 10 seconds
5. Stand up again, switch the feet and repeat

Kids Baseball Stretch Drills #3 - Arms and Shoulders

Prevent arm injuries, loosen the shoulders with the following exercise:

1. Form a line or circle Keep a good distance between
each player
2. Extend the arms out at your side (like your "flying")
3. Make small circles with the fists
4. Stop and reverse the direction of the circles
5. Use your discretion on the duration of the exercise
6. Now while the arms are still straight out - pull them
both backward at shoulder height
7. Hold it for 5 seconds
8. Now, position your arms at your side
10. Lift the left arm up and stretch it across the body
11. Lift the right arm under the left (form letter "L")
12. Cradle the left arm just above the elbow with the 'L"
of the right arm
13. The young baseball players should pull back gently on
the left arm with the right
14. Drop your hands, reverse the arms and repeat

One more more great kids baseball stretching tips:
Empower the kids baseball team members by teaching them to do it on their own as they arrive. I ask the players to show up 10 minutes to get the stretching done before the official practice starts.