Get Better This Summer

The Backyard Is Your Training Field

You don’t need a turf field or a private coach to get better this summer. You just need a little space, a little effort, and a love for the game.

If you’ve got a backyard, a front yard, a driveway—or even just a wall—you’ve got everything you need to train.

Make the Most of What You Have

Every baseball skill can be practiced in creative ways at home. Here are five drills that require almost no equipment but make a big difference.

1. Wall Ball Fielding

   • Use a tennis ball or soft baseball

   • Throw it against a brick wall or garage

   • Work on:

     • Glove hand quickness

     • Ground ball footwork

     • Reaction time

   • Do 3 rounds of 15 throws

   • Practice both glove side and backhand

   
   

2. Mirror Swings

   • Stand in front of a full-length mirror or reflective window

   • Practice your stance and swing mechanics

     • Hands high

     • Swing hard

     • (for parents: have your boy swing as hard as he can without falling down/losing balance -- be aggressive!)

   • Watch your:

     • Balance (be athletic)

     • Bat path (to it and throw it)

     • Finish with power (stacked)

   • 25 dry swings per day

     • Expert tip: get in the grass with no shoes on

   • Takes 5 minutes or less

   
   

3. Soft Toss Into a Bucket or Net

   • Use wiffle balls or tennis balls

   • Have a sibling, parent, or net toss to you

   • Focus on:

     • Contact point

     • Staying inside the ball

     • Hitting line drives

   • 3 sets of 10 swings

   • Tip: If you don’t have a net, set up a plastic tote with a towel inside

     
     

4. Hand-Eye Drills

   • Bounce a tennis ball off a wall

   • Catch it with your bare hand or a glove

   • Try one-hand catches, double bounces, or tracking with one eye closed

   • 3–5 minutes of fast reps

   • Challenge yourself to beat your high score

     
     

5. DIY Speed Ladder

   • Use sidewalk chalk or masking tape to make a ladder pattern

   • Do quick feet drills: one foot in each square, two feet in each, lateral hops, etc.

   • 5 rounds of 30 seconds

   • Gets your feet fast and heart pumping

Create Your Own Training Routine

Day	Focus Areas
Mon	Wall ball + mirror swings
Tue	Soft toss + hand-eye drills
Wed	Core workout + ladder drills
Thu	Incorporate everything together
Fri	Combo day – pick 3 drills
Sat	Competition Day – time your ladder or count catches
Sun	Practice intentional rest

Track Your Progress

• Use a notebook to write down what you did each day

• Set goals (e.g. 200 clean catches this week)

• Celebrate small wins

You’ll be surprised how much progress you can make when you just show up every day.

Do It With All Your Heart

• “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord...” – Colossians 3:23

• Training at home may not seem glamorous. But when you work hard, stay faithful, and give your best effort, you glorify God with your talents.

Final Thought

Your backyard, your garage, your driveway—they’re all part of your training field. You don’t need a perfect setup. You just need a plan, a purpose, and the passion to keep going.

This summer, let’s get better—right where God has us.