Baseball drills for 8-year-olds at home.

You do not need a field, a bucket of 200 balls or a two-hour practice to help an 8-year-old get better at baseball. You need a little space, a soft ball, one adult and a plan that ends while your player is still having fun.

What you need

• A foam, tennis, plastic or other soft training ball
• A glove
• A bat and tee, if you have a safe hitting space
• Two to four cones, shoes or towels
• About 15 minutes

Before you start, make the space safe. Move cars, windows, pets and little siblings out of the line of play. Use a park if the yard is tight. Save hard balls and full swings for a properly protected space.

The 15-minute 8U baseball routine

1. Ready-feet race — 2 minutes

Put two cones or shoes about five big steps apart. Have your player start athletic: knees a little bent, feet under them, hands ready. On “go,” they shuffle to one marker, touch it, shuffle back and freeze.

The goal: finish balanced and ready, not just fast. Give one point every time they can freeze without falling forward or standing straight up. Five points wins the round.

2. Partner target toss — 3 minutes

Stand close enough that your player can make an easy, successful throw. For many 8-year-olds, that is 15 to 25 feet—not the longest distance they can possibly throw. Make a target with your glove, a bucket or a towel.

1. Catch the ball first.
2. Point their feet toward the target.
3. Throw through the target, then finish balanced.

Score one point for every catch and one more when the throw reaches the target area. If throws get wild, move closer. Success builds a better movement than repeatedly missing from too far away.

3. Grounder goalie — 3 minutes

Put two shoes a few feet apart to make a goal. Roll a soft ball toward your player. Their job is to get in front of it, use two hands when they can, and keep the ball from rolling through the goal.

Start with easy rollers. Then roll one a little left or right so they have to move their feet. One point for stopping the ball; two points for fielding it cleanly and making an easy toss back.

Simple cue: “Beat the ball to the spot.” Do not spend the whole drill correcting glove angles. At 8U, get them moving, getting in front and learning that a ground ball is something they can handle.

4. Five good swings — 4 minutes

If you have a safe tee area, use it. Put the ball in the middle of the plate and ask for five controlled swings. The goal is not a huge swing. The goal is a solid ball and a finish they can hold for two seconds.

Give a point for a hard line drive and a point for a balanced finish. No tee? Use five dry swings. Let your player freeze at the finish and ask, “Could you hold that if another ball came right now?” If not, make the next swing smaller and more controlled.

See five youth hitting drills you can do at home →

5. Run, stop, decide — 3 minutes

Make first base with a cone, towel or backpack. Start your player at “home.” Roll or toss a ball into open space and call one of three choices: go, stop, or turn.

On “go,” they run through first base. On “stop,” they take two quick steps and get back under control. On “turn,” they run through first, make a smooth turn in foul territory and find you with their eyes.

This teaches something young players need more than another sprint: how to listen, move and make a decision while they are moving.

Keep the routine fun enough to repeat

The biggest mistake parents make is trying to fix everything in one session. You do not need a lecture after every rep. Pick one cue for the day: “Ready feet,” “Find the target,” “Beat the ball to the spot,” or “Finish balanced.”

That is enough. Young players learn when they can feel a small win, repeat it and come back for more. If your player is having a rough day, make the game easier. Move closer. Roll slower. Use a softer ball. A drill is supposed to help a kid build confidence and skill—not prove that they are behind.