Hitting Drill: Knockout Hitting (Baseball & Softball)

Set up hitting area with tee, soft toss, or live pitching depending on age and skill level. Ensure all players can see and hear the coach explaining each round's challenge. Gather all players and explain the progression of challenges for each round. Round 1: Bunt the ball in fair territory - Players must successfully bunt the ball fair to advance. Round 2: Hit a fair ball - Players must make contact and hit the ball into fair territory. Round 3: Hit the ball into the outfield - Players must hit the ball past the infield to continue. Round 4: Ball must land in the outfield - Players must hit a fly ball or line drive that lands in the outfield grass. Players who fail their task are "out" and sit to the side (can continue playing if desired or help coach). Continue with additional progressive challenges as needed for your skill level. Last player remaining wins. Can restart with all players and vary the challenges based on team needs.

• Adjust difficulty of each round based on age and skill level
• Keep the pace moving - each player gets 2-3 attempts per round
• Encourage eliminated players to stay engaged and cheer teammates
• Focus on proper mechanics even under competitive pressure
• Modify challenges for different skill levels (beginner to advanced)
• Make it fun and celebrate successes at each level
• For younger players, may need to adjust rounds (example: Round 1 - Hit off tee, Round 2 - Bunt, etc.)
• Consider having multiple "lives" for younger age groups