Here are a few Tips to help you conduct a more productive Batting Practice.

Divide groups into 3 or 4 players. If you are going to throw bullpens during BP, let your catchers bat first. Or if that doesn't work for you, bat your catchers last and give them extra swings. Extra swings for their hard work with the pitchers.

Each group bats three or four rounds of decreasing number of swings; such as 10,7,4,3. These are swings, not batted balls. No extra swings for misses.

The batters in the group not batting should be taking practice swings, tee work or soft toss off to the side. The batter in the cage steps out to his right and the next batter steps in the left side of the cage.

Call NEXT GROUP! as the next to last batter begins his last round. The next group must hustle. They should run to the foul line and go in. Do not let them run onto the infield.

Get in as many ground balls to your infielders as you can during BP. (Very good use of practice time.) One coach is on the third base side and hits ground balls to the SS and first baseman. A coach on the first base side hits ground balls to the third and second basemen. It is done this way to approximate the angle the ball will come off the bat from a hitter.

Ground Ball Guidelines:

The fungo hitters wait for the batter to swing before hitting a ground ball.

The infielders let any batted balls go by them and concentrate on fungoes only.

The infielders field each ball and throw it back to the fungo coach so that it lands on one hop and the coach can field it bare handed. This is done not only to save arms but to keep things moving at a brisk pace. With this method you don't need to waste a player by having him catch the returned balls. This one-hop toss is a skill in itself and takes practice. (Put some air under the ball.)

The fungo coach hits three types of fungoes only. (The slow roller puts the infielder in jeopardy as he is running toward the hitter. You can hit a slow roller as they change batters.) Hit routine ground balls at the infielder, balls to his left and balls he backhands.

The batting practice pitcher waits a beat before throwing another pitch so that the infielder can field his ball without fear.

The infielders jog back to their positions after every ground ball. This serves as conditioning as well.

If you have a screen in front of second base you can work on double plays also. (Footwork only.)

Spread outfielders around the outfield- don't let them congregate in bunches.

Have a bagman in center field. All balls are thrown to him. Another skill, the players are practicing-throw and catch.

The outfielders "break" on all batted balls. They move only a step or two. The idea is to get them used to seeing the ball off the bat and to track fly balls.

After a pitcher retrieves a ball in the outfield he may throw his change up grip to the bagman. This requires full arm speed and helps develop his change up.

Coaches must see the entire field during this BP. He must require conformity and instruct the players at every turn the first few weeks. BP will then become routine and coaches can then concentrate on teaching technique.