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Snow Day? Here are a few indoor baseball drills for kids

With snow expected across the Colorado Front Range tomorrow — forecasts calling for temperatures dipping into the 20s and fresh flakes from Louisville and Superior up through Boulder — it’s officially indoor-practice season.


When the Colorado temperatures drop and the wind starts howling off the Flatirons, getting meaningful baseball reps can feel impossible. But winter doesn’t have to slow your young ballplayer’s progress. With a little creativity—and the right safe, indoor-friendly drills—kids can stay sharp, build confidence, and enter the spring season already ahead of the game.


Here are 5 simple, low-impact baseball drills you can do right in your living room, basement, or hallway. Each one boosts hand-eye coordination, timing, balance, and overall athletic feel… without breaking a lamp.


1. Balloon Tracking aka "Keepy Uppy" (Ages 3–10)


Great for: timing, vision, balance, fun factor


Balloon drills are perfect when you’re stuck inside on a snowy day. Kids love the floating motion, and it creates an easy win for hand-eye development.


How to do it:

• Blow up a balloon and tap it back and forth with your player.

• Challenge them to keep it in the air using one hand, then their glove.

• Play standing or add variation: from the knees or seated with knees up + feet flat.


2. Mini Popper Tee Work (Ages 4–10)


Great for: contact skills, barrel awareness, hand-eye training


Mini poppers or “pop-up tees” shoot small foam or wiffle balls into the air, giving kids controlled, repeatable contact reps indoors.


You can now find Mini Poppers at most Dicks Sporting Goods locations. You can also purchase one online at Platecrate.com




3. Soft Toss Into a Couch (Ages 5–12)


Great for: timing, contact points, confidence


A parent soft-tosses a soft/indoor training ball into a couch or cushion or basement wall. The ball stops safely, and the hitter gets tons of comfortable repetitions.


You could also purchase a hitting net and place that in the garage or basement or wherever you have enough space to swing a bat.


GoSports 5FT Net: https://amzn.to/4oyxPGG



There a few softer training balls available at Dicks. You can find variations of foam or wiffle-style balls at Walmart as well. We prefer these:


GoSports mini foam baseballs (Amazon): https://amzn.to/4axoyLw





4. Velcro Bull's-Eye Target Toss (Ages 5–12)


If you’ve got an indoor Velcro dartboard or soft bull’s-eye target, you’ve got one of the most fun precision-training tools for young ballplayers. This drill turns accuracy work into a game—and kids don’t even realize they’re sharpening their baseball mechanics while playing indoors.


  • Boosts throwing accuracy

  • Reinforces release point consistency

  • Promotes quiet feet and stable balance

  • Adds pressure-free pitch or toss location training


Here are a few recommendations for velcro dart boards. We have the huge 6 foot inflatable in our basement.


GIANT inflatable dart board (Amazon): https://amzn.to/44BTd6J


Large Velcro Dart Board for Kids (Amazon): https://amzn.to/3McLZ2Y




5. Painter’s Tape Footwork Ladders (Ages 4–12)


Great for: agility, balance, coordination


Painter’s tape lets you create a footwork ladder on any floor without damage.


Build a Coyote Quick-Feet Course right in the hallway. Kids jump, hop, shuffle, and zig-zag through the tape ladder, turning cold Colorado days into indoor agility workouts.”


You can buy painters tape at Home Depot.



Why Winter Reps Matter


Indoor drills help kids maintain their baseball rhythm when the weather isn’t cooperating. More importantly, they build the three pillars of early athletic development:


1. Hand-Eye Coordination


The more a growing athlete tracks moving objects, the better their swing and glove control become.


2. Timing & Rhythm


Even slow-speed drills develop the internal clock needed for hitting and fielding.


3. Confidence Through Reps


Consistent success indoors translates into confidence outdoors when spring arrives.



Final Thought


Colorado winters aren’t a setback—they’re a built-in training season. With a few simple items and a little space, your player can sharpen key skills, burn off energy, and stay excited about baseball all year long. Keep it light, keep it fun, and enjoy those snow-day reps.



 
 
 

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