12U · Printable practice plan
90-minute 12U baseball practice plan
A full-team session with hitting, defense, base running, and game situations.
Free to use. No account or email required.
Pack the bag
- Bats and helmets
- Tees and a safe hitting net or enclosed cage
- Baseballs
- Cones and bases
- Water
- Practice notes
Set up before players arrive
Make three groups of four or five. Assign one coach per station. Use a cage or isolated hitting lane. Keep running clear of throwing lanes. Review workload from other teams and upcoming games before throwing work.
Bring this to the field
Your practice, minute by minute.
Warm-up and throwing progression
Warm up and build partner throws gradually. Check readiness and give non-throwing roles to players who need them.
Say it simply: “Prepare for quality work.”
Team defense walkthrough
Walk through first-and-third responsibilities, or a simpler runner-on-first situation. Have players explain their jobs before adding the ball.
Say it simply: “Outs, runners, coverage.”
Three stations · 10 minutes each
Rotate every ten minutes. Hitting: short tee and front-toss turns with a contact target. Defense: ground balls, footwork, and throws to a ready receiver. Running: read a coach-delivered ball and decide whether to stop or advance under league rules.
Say it simply: “A useful rep has a purpose.”
Water and regroup
Stop for water. Have each group share one useful adjustment. Check throwing readiness before team work.
Say it simply: “Reset with a plan.”
Situational baseball
Use coach-delivered balls in play. Start with one out and a runner on first, then two outs and a runner on second. Ask for decisions before contact, rotate roles, and keep corrections short. No live pitching needed.
Say it simply: “Know the situation. Commit to the simple play.”
Compete as a team
Run a short sequence of situations. Give team points for decisions, communication, backups, and outs. Repeat a missed situation without singling anyone out.
Say it simply: “Compete, communicate, move on.”
Close with ownership
Ask what needs work next. Recognize perseverance, collect equipment, and name one game-day priority.
Say it simply: “Learn from it. Bring it next time.”
Make it work for your team
- With two coaches, use the 60-minute two-coach plan.
- If force plays are still new, stay there before adding advanced situations.
- Players limiting throws can help with decisions, scorekeeping, or supervised base running as appropriate.
What success looks like
Players know their jobs before contact and use a station adjustment during team work.
Ask before the team cheer
“Which decision got easier because you prepared before the pitch?”
Before you take the field
Follow your league’s equipment, supervision, weather, and player-safety requirements. Separate hitting and throwing lanes, keep waiting players clear, and pause for water or conditions as needed. Stop throwing when a player reports pain. Pitching work must fit that player’s workload, required rest, and eligibility across all teams—not just this practice.
Additional official resources: Little League coaching resources and MLB Pitch Smart guidelines. These original example plans are independent of those organizations.
The Dugout Dad™ · thedugoutdad.com/coachs-corner/12u-90-minute-practice