10-Minute Base Running Drill
Base running is the most undertrained skill in youth baseball. Teams that run the bases well score more runs — period.
The routine
| Time | Drill | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 2 min | Home to first | Sprint through first base. Run through the bag, not to it. Touch the front edge. |
| 2 min | Rounding first | Full speed, banana turn past first as if looking for second. |
| 2 min | First to third | Start at first. On “go,” run to third. Touch inside corner of second, wide turn at third. |
| 2 min | Home to home | Full loop. Sprint, round all bases, slide into home. Time it. |
| 2 min | Sliding practice | On grass only. Feet-first slide into a base. Start slow and low. |
Key cues
Run through first on infield grounders — never slow down. Round the base on hits to the outfield — always look for the extra base. Touch the inside corner of every base when rounding. Slide feet-first until your coach teaches head-first (many youth leagues ban head-first).