Softball Drills & Coaching Tips

It requires three softball coaches to manage this high energy softball drill.  It creates game-like intensity while promoting an aggressive approach to hitting.  These fun softball drills will become the favorite of every team you coach.

Coach #1 pitches from the front of the mound.
Coach #2 manages the hitters
Coach #3 manages the transition of hitters and fielders.

• With a 12 to 14 man roster, put a full defensive team in the field (minus a pitcher)
• Create a lineup of your remaining 4 to 6 players
• Coach #2’s job is to manage the dugout and lineup which without leadership can become chaotic
• With Coach #1 pulling balls from a bucket, pitch to the first batter.

o   All batters start with 2 strikes on them
o   A strikeout ends the batters term as a “hitter”
o   Every hit is live and the defense is trying to end each batter’s term as a “hitter” by getting them out
o   If the batter hits safely, she remains in the lineup at the end of the line
o   Batters can stay in the lineup as long as they continue to hit safely

• If the hitter is out in any way (strikeout or in the field), she rotates back to the field (sprinting at all times)
• Coach #3 walks the field and upon any “hitter” getting out, he taps the next fielder on the head and they spring in to the dugout to get a helmet and a bat.  They then take their place in the end of the lineup.  They are replaced in the field by the softball player that last got out.

This softball drill re-creates “game like” intensity for both fielders and batters.  It also promotes a very aggressive mentality in your hitters while promoting a good eye and dramatically reduces your called third strikes throughout the year.

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One thing I have found is with the fielders–outfield or infield, young or older–is when throwing in the softball from the field, they’re not sure where the ball is going. SO, I have come up with these softball throwing drills.

1) I, or another softball coach, hit or throw the softball to them.
2) Set up a large trash can to throw the ball back to.
3) The goal is to throw the ball into the can while the can is lying down on its side.  To make this softball drill more difficult you can start using smaller cans as they get better.

Make a game out of it and the players like the sound of the ball hitting inside the can.  They are always “awing” and “oohing” each other!  It makes them focus on throwing the ball straight and to the object they are throwing at.  Works great.

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My goal as a softball coach is to teach the fundamentals and help the girls have fun.  If we win, it is a major plus, but certainly not the focus.  Try these easy yet effective softball coaching tips.

For batting, I like this softball drill. I line up the girls and have them get into their batting stance, without a bat in their hands.  I then go to each and show them the proper stance and have them practice swinging without a bat, extending their arms and “squishing the bugs” as they rotate their hips.  I teach them to practice in the mirror at home, of course without a bat, so they can see what they are doing.  Sometimes I will put a coin under their back foot to keep them from picking up the back foot as they swing.

We have another softball drill to help kids that are having trouble with the grip on the bat and turning your hands over. You need an axe handle and small whiffle balls. You do soft toss using the axe handle as your bat. The skinny part of the handle forces you to put your knuckles together properly. Plus, if you don’t roll your hands at contact, it is hard to hit a small whiffle ball with the skinny side of the handle, and you also have to aim small.

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Here are two free softball practice drills to try with your teams. I have found very little on warm ups for pre-practice softball drills yet they are very important especially in the younger players development.

My youth softball team loves the drill of Bucket Knock Off.
We set up 2 buckets at home plate and have 3 players stand at pitcher’s mound. Give each of them 14 balls to throw at the bucket, 5 points for every time one of them knocked it over . It made them try so much harder and they could not get enough of it.

Here is the pre-practice routine that we use for the teams that I coach:

Each one of these are 10 reps each and the walks and jogs are between the foul line and 2nd base in the outfield
Arm Swings (hands behind head)
Side Bends
Trunk rotate (full upper body rotation)
Alternate toe touch
Leg Swing
Jog in place pump arms
The next drills are between foul line and second base in the outfield
Walk on toes
Straight leg kick
Knee hug
Butt kick
Lunge walk
Back pedal
High knee skip

I hope these give some ideas to pre-practice and pre-game work outs to get the body going.

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If you’re looking for softball infield drills, give this one a try. This one is great and works on the one of the tougher parts of the infielders, the mental game.

There is no time for day dreaming with this one or watching the other players.  To really get the pace going have your softball coaches pick up the pace of the hitting.  Emphasize all aspects here: the throw, good and sharp, the fielding with the emphases on the quick release, two hands.  We will time our players and get them to release the softball within 2 seconds.  The best part is about 5 minutes to each position and it keeps all players working and thinking:

Infield softball drill: (2 hitters) all fielders at bases and SS

Hitting coaches should take a position with one to the right of home plate and one to the left of home plate:

1st round: 1st coach hits to 3rd who throws to 2nd with 2nd baseman covering
2nd coach hits to SS who throws to 1st

2nd round: 1st coach hits to 3rd who throws to 1st
2nd coach hits to 2nd who throws to SS covering 2nd

3rd round: 1st coach hits to SS who throws to 2nd with 2nd baseman covering
2nd coach hits to 1st who throws to 3rd

4th round: 1st coach hits to 2nd base who throws to 1st
2nd coach hits to SS who throws 3rd

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