Rainy Day Blues? 10 Indoor Baseball and Softball Drills To Try At Home

Is your ballplayer getting cabin fever, as another atmospheric river rains out games and practices? ☔ 😥

If you are struggling to keep your child active and engaged with baseball and softball on a rainy day… look no further!

Here are 10 creative and fun ways your child can stay active with baseball and softball, and take their skills to the next level, even when the weather isn’t cooperating.

These indoor drills and activities are perfect for a rainy day, and will help your child stay sharp and improve their skills, no matter the weather.

So grab a ball and some gloves, and get ready to have some fun!

1. Use a blanket to create a DIY pitching net. Encourage your child to drape a blanket over a door or frame to create a makeshift pitching net. They can then practice their pitching, focusing on proper technique and accuracy, without the risk of damaging property or hurting others.
2. Practice their bunting. Bunting is a useful skill in baseball and softball, and your child can practice their bunting at home by using wiffle, tennis or nerf balls to simulate pitches and work on their bunting technique. You can setup laundry baskets or cardboard boxes as targets for them to simulate bunting it down the 1st or 3rd base line.
3. Create a home workout routine to improve their strength and endurance. There are many bodyweight exercises that your child can do at home to improve their strength and endurance, such as push-ups, squats, and lunges. Encourage your child to create a workout routine that they can do at home, using things like resistance bands, jump ropes, and other simple equipment, to improve their overall physical fitness.
4. Use a paper plate and a pencil to create a DIY strike zone target. Encourage your child to draw a strike zone on a paper plate and use it as a target for their throwing practice. They can then toss a ball at the plate and aim for the strike zone to improve their accuracy and precision.
5. Use a laundry basket to practice their fielding skills. Set up a laundry basket on the floor and have your child practice fielding ground balls and pop flies, and throwing them into the basket. This is a fun and challenging way for your child to improve their fielding skills.
6. Use a cardboard box to create a mini-fielding course. Cut holes in a cardboard box and place it on the floor, and have your child practice fielding ground balls and throwing to the appropriate base. This is a fun and creative way for your child to practice their fielding skills in a confined space.
7. Use cardboard boxes to create a DIY batting cage. Encourage your child to gather some cardboard boxes and create a makeshift batting cage in their bedroom or basement. They can use a foam bat and ball, or even a tennis ball or ping pong ball, to practice their hitting and work on their swing.
8. Heavy bat swings. Use a bat weight or donut to practice their swing. A bat weight or donut is a device that attaches to the end of a bat and adds weight, making the bat heavier and more challenging to swing. Encourage your child to use a bat weight or donut to practice their swing, focusing on proper technique and building strength, power and bat speed.
9. Use a mirror to practice their stance and swing. A mirror is a great tool for your child to use to practice their stance and swing. Encourage your child to stand in front of a mirror and practice their stance and swing, focusing on proper technique and making adjustments as needed.
10. Watch and learn from others. There is a lot to be learned from watching experienced players and coaches. Have your child watch games and instructional videos on YouTube to learn from the best and see how the skills they are practicing are applied in real-life situations.

Hope you found some of these fun and helpful! Stay dry. Stay safe and hope to see you at the field soon!

-Captain Fun

Image Credits: MidJourney under a CC BY 4.0 license.