Real-world examples of team communication drills for baseball

If you want examples of examples of team communication drills that instantly expose quiet defenders, start with chaotic fly ball work. This is where players learn that silence equals confusion.

Set up three outfielders and your shortstop and second baseman. The coach stands at home with a fungo bat and a bucket of balls. On each rep, the coach hits a fly ball between two or three players – never right at anyone. The only rule: the ball must be caught, and someone must loudly call it early and often.

You’re looking for a clear pattern of communication:

• Outfielders use, “Ball, ball, ball – I got it!” and keep talking through the catch.
• Infielders echo information: “Tag! Tag!” or “One! One!” depending on the situation.
• Nearby players back up the call: “Center’s got it!” or “Short’s got it!”

The best examples of progress are when players start calling before the ball reaches its peak, not as it’s dropping. You’ll also hear fewer collisions and see fewer last-second pulls-off. For younger teams, start with softer tosses; for older teams, mix in line drives and tough angles.

This drill is a textbook example of how you can use a simple defensive rep to demand constant, useful chatter.

Bunt Defense Scramble: An example of communication under pressure

Another strong example of a team communication drill is a live bunt defense segment that forces everyone to talk and move at once.

Place a runner at first base and sometimes at second. The coach or a hitter squares around and bunts. Your corner infielders, pitcher, catcher, and middle infielders all have jobs – but the focus is on who says what and when.

Things to emphasize:

• Catcher calls the play early: “One! One!” or “Two! Two!” or “Get the lead!”
• Pitcher yells, “I got ball!” or “Third’s got ball!” depending on who fields it.
• Corner infielders communicate charges: “Charging!” or “Staying!”
• Middle infielders and outfielders shout coverage: “I got one!” at first, “Cut two!” from the outfield.

The best examples of improvement show up when players stop thinking silently and start talking their jobs out loud. You can even pause mid-drill and ask each player, “What did you say on that play?” If the answer is, “Nothing,” you’ve found your teaching moment.

Because bunt defense is fast and messy, it’s one of the most realistic examples of team communication drills you can run. It mirrors real-game stress and forces players to organize themselves verbally.

Cut-Off Relay Calls: Classic examples of communication drills that win close games

Cut-off and relay situations give you clean, repeatable examples of team communication drills that directly save extra bases.

Set one fielder in right field, a cut-off man at short or second, a fielder at third, and a runner at first or second. The coach hits a ball to the outfield and sends the runner. The outfielder’s job is to:

• Yell the fielder’s name: “Jake, cut!”
• Add the destination: “Four! Four!” or “Three! Three!”

The cut-off’s job is to repeat the call loudly and clearly. The third baseman or catcher finishes the chain with more information: “Four! Four! Tag!” or “Cut three!”

Over time, you can add layers:

• Outfielders decide when not to use a cut, yelling, “Through! Through!”
• Infielders adjust based on score and inning – and say it out loud: “Keep the double play!”

Some of the best examples of communication show up in the small details: the outfielder yelling the cut-off’s name, the cut-off screaming, “Hit me!” with hands up, and the final fielder giving a loud, simple direction.

If you want real examples of game impact, watch any high-level tournament or college game: relay communication is often the difference between a triple and an out at the plate. USA Baseball’s coaching resources often highlight relay communication as a key defensive skill, not just a throwing drill (https://www.usabaseball.com).

Infield Priority Pop-Ups: Everyday examples of avoiding collisions

Pop-ups between infielders are where communication – or the lack of it – becomes painfully obvious.

Put your full infield in their spots. The coach hits short pop-ups between pitcher and catcher, between corners and middle infielders, and in no-man’s land. Before you start, review your priority system (for example: outfielders over infielders, infielders over pitcher, catcher over everyone in front of the plate).

Then, run a series of reps with two points of focus:

• The player with priority must call early and loud: “Mine, mine, mine!”
• Everyone else must respond: “You, you, you!” or “Take it!”

This is a simple but powerful example of a communication drill that stops the classic “I thought you had it” blame game. You can even layer in consequences: if nobody calls it, or two players collide, reset and repeat the rep until the calls are clean.

Some of the best examples of growth come when your pitchers stop drifting under pop-ups and start yelling, “You, you, you!” to defer to infielders or the catcher. That’s when you know the priority communication is sinking in.

Base-Running Talk: Examples of communication from the offensive side

Team communication isn’t just a defensive thing. Your baserunners and coaches can run their own examples of team communication drills to sharpen awareness and cut down on outs.

Set runners at first and second base with a live hitter. On each ball in play, the runners must say what they see:

• “Down!” when a line drive might be caught.
• “Back!” when they need to return to the bag.
• “Through!” when the ball gets past the infield.

Base coaches add information: “Ball down! You’re scoring!” or “Halfway! Halfway!” The hitter can even call, “Get down!” on line drives.

This drill is an example of how offensive communication can keep everyone on the same page. It also teaches players to process game situations out loud, which can be especially helpful for younger or newer players who struggle with decision-making.

If you coach youth athletes, remember that communication drills like this also help with focus and confidence. Organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics note that structured, supportive sports environments can boost social and emotional skills in kids (https://www.healthychildren.org). Talking through plays is part of that structure.

Bullpen & Battery Communication: Quiet examples that pay off on game day

Not every example of a team communication drill has to be loud. Sometimes it’s about quiet routines between pitcher and catcher.

During bullpens, have your catcher talk through:

• Pitch type and location: “Fastball in,” “Slider away.”
• Situation: “0–2, waste one,” or “Need a ground ball here.”

After a short sequence, pause and have pitcher and catcher quickly review:

• “What was working?”
• “What did we go to with runners on?”

You can also practice mound visits as a mini communication drill. Give the catcher or infielder a 15-second limit to:

• Settle the pitcher.
• Give one clear focus point: “Pound the bottom of the zone,” or “Let your defense work.”

This is a quieter example of communication, but the best examples of strong teams often show up in how calm and connected the battery looks when things get tough.

Sports psychology research from organizations like the American Psychological Association highlights how clear, simple communication can support performance under stress (https://www.apa.org/topics/sport-exercise-performance). Your bullpen routines can build that habit.

Dugout Communication: Overlooked examples of building a talkative culture

If you’re hunting for examples of examples of team communication drills beyond the field, look into your dugout. That’s where your communication culture really lives.

Create a short practice segment where only the dugout is active. The defense or offense is on the field, but the drill’s goal is dugout talk:

• Players call out the number of outs and the situation after every play.
• Teammates echo pitch locations: “He’s missing up!” or “She’s pounding outside!”
• Bench players help with base-running reads: “Ball down!” “Tag!”

You can rotate roles: one player is the “situation captain” who has to shout the count, outs, and base runners after each pitch. Another is the “defense spotter,” calling where hitters tend to hit the ball.

These may not look like traditional drills, but they are real examples of team communication drills that build habits you’ll see on game day. The best examples of loud, locked-in dugouts always start in practice, not in the first inning of a playoff game.

How to build your own examples of team communication drills

Once you’ve tried a few of these, you’ll notice a pattern: nearly any baseball drill can become an example of a communication drill if you:

• Add clear verbal jobs to each player.
• Stop and replay any rep where nobody talks.
• Reward loud, useful information, not just volume.

For instance, a simple infield ground ball segment can turn into one of your best examples of communication work:

• Shortstop calls, “Going one!” before the pitch with a runner on third.
• First baseman yells, “Coming home!” when he sees the runner breaking.
• Catcher shouts, “Four, four, four!” to finish the play.

You’ve just taken a basic fielding drill and turned it into another example of team communication practice.

If you’re working with younger players, keep the language short and repeatable. Health and youth development experts often emphasize the value of simple, consistent cues for learning skills (https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children). Baseball is no different. Short, clear phrases stick.

FAQ: Short answers about examples of team communication drills

What are some simple examples of team communication drills for beginners?
Start with fly ball priority calls, infield pop-ups, and basic bunt defense. Keep the movements easy and focus on loud, repeatable phrases like “Mine!” “You!” and “One!” These are the best examples for teaching younger or newer players to speak up.

Can I turn regular fielding practice into a communication drill?
Yes. Any ground ball, fly ball, or relay rep can become an example of a communication drill if you assign talking roles and refuse to count silent reps. Make players call bases, ownership of the ball, and game situation.

How often should I run communication-focused drills?
Sprinkle short examples of team communication drills into almost every practice. Even five minutes on fly ball calls or bunt defense talk can pay off quickly. You don’t need an entire practice dedicated to it; just keep it consistent.

What’s one example of a communication rule every team should use?
Create a simple priority rule (outfielder over infielder, infielder over pitcher, catcher over everyone in front of the plate) and demand early, loud calls that match that rule. Then reinforce it in pop-up and fly ball drills.

How do I measure improvement in team communication?
Listen for earlier calls, fewer collisions, cleaner relays, and less confusion after balls in play. When players start talking before you remind them, and when they correct each other’s silence, you’re seeing real examples of progress.

If you treat communication as a skill you practice – not just something you yell about after errors – your team will feel more connected, more confident, and a lot more fun to watch. These examples of team communication drills are a starting point. Adjust the language, speed, and difficulty for your age group, and make “talking” just as normal as throwing and catching.