Softball Drills & Coaching Tips

I see young players often freeze during a softball game when they field a ball.  I use these beginning softball drills to get them  used to fielding, and throwing to first as their immediate reaction.

Drill: Roll and Go
Level: Beginner (mostly with 4-7 year olds)
One player is stationed at home plate with a softball, one player is stationed at the pitcher’s spot, and one player at first base.  The player at home plate rolls the ball to the pitcher, and then takes off for first base.  The pitcher must field the ball, and throw to first to get the runner.

Goals: For the child in the pitchers spot, the rolled ball should be easier to field, and the focus is on picking up the ball and getting rid of it to first base.  The first baseman gets to work on receiving throws at first.  The runner should work on running THROUGH first base.

Variations: In the very beginning stages, the coach may want to tell the runner, “Go” a few seconds after the roll to make the plays close at first base.  As the kids improve throwing to first, they can move back to shortstop to start rather than the pitcher’s spot.

Also, you can make this an outfield drill by moving the fielders to the outfield, and having 2nd basemen and shortstop positions.  The outfield should focus on getting the ball to second base (using a cut-off man).  In this version, a coach at first base can instruct a baserunner to run through first or round first and go to second.  This gives the runners practice at looking for the base coach.

Kids seem to really like this one.  Several are engaged on one play, and there is a slight competitive aspect to it.

Technorati Tags: softball game, beginning softball drills, fielding, softball

Give this old school softball drill a try with your team. Use a “Rope Ball” or “Frozen Rope” to help your players’ hitting, especially their timing. My players’ hitting improved so dramatically, that I recommend these softball batting drills to everyone.

Simply drill a 5/8″ hole in an old softball then thread a 12′ long rope through the hole and tie a knot at the end to hold the ball. Swing the rope around in a circle and have them swing on the third pass.

This way they have to follow the ball and hit it at the right time in order to make good contact. You can use it practically anywhere, can change speeds and location of ball, and it’s a fun game for the players (They keep hitting until they miss.)

Technorati Tags: softball drill, softball batting drills, softball

This is a softball sliding drill that can be added to the other “feels like” softball mechanics, but seems to be somewhat more simple to do on the floor of a gym.  It provides the feeling of what sliding feels like for those who are fearful of  it in the first place.

This is especially easy for older softball  players (girls that are fearful), softball coaches in training, and demonstrators who may be uneasy about performing the bent knee slide on a gym floor.

1) To be done in sock feet.
2) Start in the push-up position.
3) Bring both feet forward through arms
4) Bend one knee up in the process, so side of foot is under the other knee.
5) When your “bottom” is through arms lie down while bringing arms up towards head

Technorati Tags: softball sliding, softball mechanics, softball, softball coach

When weather is interrupting your softball practices, you have to be very creative with your practices and try to develop fun, challenging things to do inside. This is one of the softball coaching aids I like.

One of my favorite tools is a Penn Tennis ball machine that I use with hitters as well as every defensive position on the field.  The most fun comes with the catchers, where you can set the machine use to practice framing and soft hands drills.  (We all know how that tennis ball seems to want to jump out of the glove at higher speeds)  The machine is not adjustable in speed, but very accurate.

Place the machine about 40ft away to start, and gradually move closer to the machine to create catchers that are smooth and hands that are soft.  Create blocking softball drills in seconds, or move it to a pitch location that gives your catcher trouble.

I promise you, you catcher will love the time spent honing her skills instead of just getting  work in when pitchers are throwing.  Throw the catchers some love once in a while.

Ask around if you’re coaching at a school; the tennis coach may not be using his and can supply you with the balls that his team have “used up” as well.

Technorati Tags: softball practices, softball coaching aids, softball drills

Here is one of my favorite basic softball drills. I like to use this softball drill to work on the short underhand toss.

•  Form 2 – 3 lines depending on how many softball coaches you have to volunteer
•  Have players line up in front of one of the coaches approximately 15 – 20 feet away with no glove (cones are the best and have the players line up behind their cone)
•  Coach rolls the softball to the first player in the line.  They field the grounder and underhand toss the ball back to the coach (coach should have a glove and position it shoulder height for a target)
•  After releasing the ball players should focus on following thru with the tossing hand by giving a high five to the coach as they run past them
•  Player runs back in line and coach rolls a grounder to the next player in line.

Technorati Tags: basic softball drills, softball drill, softball coach, softball