Girls softball players need to understand the importance of hitting drills. To score runs and give your team a chance to win, they have to be able to make solid contact and move baserunners around the diamond. And to be able to solid contact they have to have lots of practice. The old saying you [...]
The purpose of the short game in softball is to advance runners from base to base without the necessity of getting hits. There are a number of ways to play the short game. Here we’ll take a look at three different types of bunts that players can use to play the short game. We’ll also [...]
In this article, we are going to take a look at the mechanics of slap hitting, explain how to teach it to youth softball players, and provide some useful drills to reinforce the skills in practice. The result of slap hitting is exactly what you would think from the title. The batter is going to [...]
After learning the basic mechanics of the pitching motion, it’s time to teach your pitchers how to throw some offspeed pitches. Below are 4 basic pitches that every softball coach should know how to teach. Change-Up The change-up is a pitch that looks like a fastball but is actually about 30% slower than the pitcher’s [...]
When teaching softball pitching mechanics, the best way to avoid injury, develop consistency, and see results is through repetition and attention to detail. Even a slight change in style can dramatically affect the accuracy of the pitch, so pitchers and coaches should watch for any changes due to fatigue, injury, compensation, or desire for better [...]
The great Ty Cobb once said 90% of sports is mental, the other half is physical While good ol’ Ty’s math might have been a few percentage points off, his idea rings truer than ever today. Hitting especially, is very much a mental game. Without adequate preparation, even minor errors or changes in routine can [...]
All softball players have pitches that are historically better for them to hit than others. An important part of becoming a better hitter is to learn what works for the batter, and coaches play a huge role in working with players to define those pitches. The Favorite Pitch The first way to define what pitches [...]
The following softball pitching drills are designed to help players master the components of the pitch before putting the whole pitch together. It is absolutely essential that pitchers understand the details and the movements making up the entire pitch instead of launching straight into learning a drop or curve ball. By taking things one component [...]
In this article, I’ll cover two of my most effective fastpitch softball drills. You can use these activities with teams of all ages. Make sure to start by demonstrating the skills in slow motion, and feel free to stop the drill at any time to reinforce key coaching points. Enjoy! Fastpitch Drill #1: Quick Plays [...]
If you’re looking for new softball practice drills, you’ve come to the right place! Here are two of my favorite drills for improving fielding skills, teamwork and communication. Softball Practice Drill #1: Rapid Fire Double Plays The purpose of this drill is help your middle infielders turn double plays. How it Works: For this drill [...]
I coach at a middle school and I’m unable to get to the field exactly when the players are ready so they do these every day to start. These drills work great for handwork, glove work, footwork, technique, and conditioning. Warm Up Plan Two players lead the stretching, normal types of stretches. Next they start [...]
This is a softball drill we officially call “The Last Man Standing” 5 in a row, unofficially, we call it “The Buckner Drill” 5 in a row. The Last Man Standing OR The Buckner Drill The drill works like this: Place 2 cones 10-12 feet apart. The players all get in a line. The first [...]
This drill is perfect for coaching the batter the basics of hitting the ball. Softball Batting Practice Drill 1. Grip: Players must be able to grip the bat properly. The bat grip resembles that of an axe. 2. The bat must be held across the base of the fingers. 3. Light pressure on bat is [...]
One of my goals as a coach is to make sure I use fun softball practice drills. I always end a practice with a 15 minute fun game for the kids. While it is fun, it is also working on throwing, fielding, and moving in front of the ball. The Baserunning drill keeps them guessing [...]
I have a drill that is great for outfielders. It is JUST a catching drill; no throwing involved. It goes pretty quick so if you have 10 or 12 girls there isn’t much standing around. Catching Drill for Outfielders Basically you can do this drill a couple of ways. Put your first girl in left [...]
One drill we do often in practice for my 10-12 year old team is a fly ball/pop up drill. This drill works on their coordination and technique on how to run after a ball that is “over their head” or beyond their reach. Fly Ball Pop-Up Drill We begin with one ball and the kids [...]
We use a drill we call Red Rover. It teaches them to work as a team and the importance of backing each other up. It’s a lot of fun and the girls love it. Red Rover Drill Split the team into 2 equally skilled teams. Set out 2 cones 15-20′ apart and then 2 more [...]
One of the things I stress in my softball practice is throwing accuracy. Two of my favorite drills to work on this are the Relay Drill and the Tag Out Drill. Relay Drill Line up from one of the lines with three girls stretched out across the diamond about 50 -75 feet apart. Make throws [...]
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