We use of piece of pvc pipe and you can even wrap a towel around it. A long stick will do also.  Have the player hold the stick behind her back with her arms curled up under it where it rests between the tricep and the forearm.  Have them start with feet square then have them put weight on right foot (for right hander) with left foot coming up off ground, pivot the foot then push off of the foot having the foot come all the way through like the follow through.  Keep doing this non-stop for 30 yards.  Then do it again.

The girls don’t think it is much fun but it really helps them develop the lower body technique involved in softball pitching.  Its also something they can do at home and takes no equipment.

Technorati Tags: softball team, softball pitching practice, softball drill, softball

Although this is from my fastpitch softball pitching drills, it is a softball tip that can be geared toward pitchers (both young and experienced, fastpitch or slow pitch).  Pitchers have a tendency not to step toward their catcher–to stray so to speak.

For this particular softball pitching drill, I have a 4 by 4 plank, pointing directly at the catcher, that the pitcher stands on. She goes through her regular motion but must stay balanced on the plank after the release (she must start and finish on the plank…balanced).

This softball drill helps pitchers realize the importance of staying balanced and in line upon release of the pitch. It helps secure the idea in their memory and their accuracy improves immediately.

The intent is for pitchers to transfer the importance of that direct step and balance when they pitch from the pitching rubber.

Technorati Tags: fastpitch softball pitching drills, softball, softball pitching drill, softball drill

From Wanda…
I am a very small town girls softball coach.  We only have four teams in our league this year.  I got the “job” because the girls begged me to coach six years ago!  The one thing I have tried this year is to have my pitcher pitch into an old tire I strapped to the fence.  This way she can practice her release and keep the softball in the strike zone.  I have only tried it a few times but it seems to be helping. ( This is a “redneck” way, but it helps!!)

From Melissa…
One of the softball drills I do with my girls at every practice is to have them stand in a line at home base, a coach at 1st.  Have them run as I say go, and tell them either take a look or your here.  It teaches them to listen and to help them make a decision quickly as to whether or not to go to 2nd as their running.

From Carol…
One of the drills that we do with our girls at all the levels is we put a stuffed animal on top of a box, create, what ever you have and have the girls try to knock it off with a throw.  We make it a little more interesting sometimes such as the coach has to run a lap for every time the animal is knocked off.  If no one knocks it off the girls have to run a lap.  The girls like watching their coaches run and egging them on.

Technorati Tags: drills for softball pitchers, softball coaching tips, softball coach, softball, softball drills

From Rey…
I coach my daughter’s coach pitch team. We do what’s called (Queen of the Swing).  All the girls line up with their bats, they get 1 swing, wherever that softball is pitched they must make contact. It’s a good last pitch drill. Past ball, they are out, foul ball they are out, fair ball they continue till only 1 girl is left. Last girl must hit the ball fair, or she is out too. Good softball drill for pitching coach. Last pitch always has more pressure.

From Ricky…
I currently have been coaching a Fastpitch/Coach Pitch Girls 6 & Under softball team for the last two years.
One fun and memorable softball drill/game that we do is play the softball version of HOT POTATO.

All the girls get in a circle and they have to pass the ball around in the circle and place it in the “pocket” of the glove of the girl seated next to her.  We have someone not in the circle, softball coach/parent etc. who turns their back to the game and calls time at random.  Eventually, someone wins by process of elimination.  I have found that this is a simple but fun game for young girls at the 6 & under level.

Of course the emphasis it to remember that the pocket of the glove not the palm is where the ball belongs.

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

From John…

A softball drill I do is one that allows pitchers to work on their pickoff moves, baserunners work on reading the pickoff moves and fielders to work on covering their base on a pickoff. Here is how it goes:
1. Add another pitching rubber about 5′ on each side of the existing pitching rubber on the infield.
2. Put a runner at 1st, 2nd and 3rd, along with a fielder covering that base.
3. Have the pitcher nearest 1st base working on pickoffs going to that base, with the baserunner working on his lead-off and getting back when the pitcher throws over to first, and the baserunner getting a good jump when the the pitcher goes home.

The Pitcher in the middle works to 2nd base and the pitcher closest to 3rd works that base.

After 10 minutes or so the pitcher rotates to a different rubber as does the baserunners.

Technorati Tags: softball pitching tips and drills, softball, drill, pitchers, baserunners, pickoff, fielders, pitcher

From Steve…
Here’s a softball drill I use:

For Pitchers –”Handkerchief Reach” –

Have the pitchers do their normal pitching motion, without any softballs.

While watching their mechanics, have a coach see where their front foot (delivery) foot lands and where their delivery hand lands.   Mark that spot.

Now take out a handkerchief (towel will do) and have the coach stand directly in front of the pitcher.  Tell the pitcher to do the pitching motion again, but this time to “hit” the handkerchief with their “pitching hand”. Repeat this activity, but each time, the coach moves a distance farther from the pitcher.

After about 2 -4 times, the pitcher has increased the “delivery distance” and “stretched further down/over”.

I have had pitchers add between 2 & 4 feet to their delivery motion and “end-up” distance. This has increased velocity,  improved mechanics, etc.

Technorati Tags: youth softball pitching drills, softball, drill, pitching, coach, pitcher

When looking for free girls softball fastpitch drills, you want a set of drills that cements the fundamentals of pitching while pushing your pitcher to achieve a new standard of speed and precision.  For the first girls pitching drill, have your pitchers stand in a line next to a wall or fence with their pitching arm in.  Their feet should be angled approximately 45 degrees from the wall, and they should be standing anywhere from 4 to 6 inches away from it.

Each girl is to go through all the motions of whichever pitch they prefer, the slingshot or the windmill, or they may practice both.  By practicing beside the wall I find my girls to be less likely to drop their shoulders and lapse into the swooping motion that can be damaging come game time.

The next of the free girls softball fastpitch drills can be performed either with a catcher or against a backstop, whichever is easier.  This drill is all about pitching from a distance and working on improving throws from afar.

The pitcher starts with a bucket of balls at her side standing at her usual pitching spot.  She is to throw a ball with the goal of crossing the plate.  If she is successful, she moves back 5 feet (or one giant step) and throws another.  For every successful throw over the plate she moves back until she can no longer throw over the plate.  The best aspect of this drill is that pitchers will notice an improvement on their distance throwing skills after only a few short weeks of practice.

Technorati Tags: free girls softball fastpitch drills, drills, pitching, pitcher, pitching drill, softball, fastpitch, drill

One very successful softball throwing drill is called the Triangle Drill.  Divide the team into three groups.  Group one will stand between 1st base and 2nd base, group two will stand at short stop, and group three will stand at home plate.  You, the assistant coach and a catcher should stand to the side of home plate.  You should hit the ball to group one.  Someone in group one should catch the ball and throw it to group two as their group runs to group two’s position.  The catcher in group two should throw to home plate while group two runs to that position.  Basically, the team will be practicing their throwing skills as they rotate positions.

Another softball throwing drill is Long Ball and it helps to develop arm strength and to improve the distance of throws.  The team should partner up and line up about ten feet from one another. Instruct the pair to toss the ball back and forth; when both players successfully throw and catch the ball, they should take two steps back.  Have them continue to do this, gradually getting far enough so that they can practice fast overhand throwing.  Stop the drill when the 1st pair gets far enough from one another that their throws no longer reach the other.  Before starting the drill, emphasize on position and on stance; also, the form of the throw is very important.  Display high elbow above your shoulder, palm down, and snap wrist on the follow through.

This next softball throwing drill is a game called Hit the Bucket.  Hit the Bucket will increase throwing accuracy and it’ll also help with footwork in the infield.  Divide the team into two groups. Position half at short stop and half at second base.  At home plate, put two bins down, stacked on top of each other.  Mark a point where the girls should stand until the ball is tossed to them.  The groups will alternate by fielding the balls thrown to them and then throwing it at the bins.  If the ball hits the top bin on a bounce, the team gets one point.  If the ball hits the top bin without a bounce, the team gets two points.  Instruct the players to throw the ball at full speed.  The 1st team to ten points wins.  You can make the losing team run a couple of laps to make the game more interesting.

You should do multiple softball throwing drills at each practice to make sure that every player is comfortable with their throws.  It is always a good idea to combine throwing, catching and running in one drill for better conditioning.  Having a good arm is necessary for players in every position, even if pitching is not their focus.

Technorati Tags: throwing, softball, drills, coach, catcher, drill

I’m coaching a girl’s 10u fastpitch travel softball team with only 2 returning players.  The following drill to help the girls to learn each others name and to re-enforce the using two hands when catching.

Have your team line up in two lines, facing one another approximately 10-15 feet apart with 8 – 10 feet between one another and staggered–8–10ft between and 10–15 ft apart for this drill.

Have the first girl underhand toss the ball to the girl across from her while saying that girls name.  The girl catching the ball catches on the back side of her glove, the back of the fingers and uses her throwing hand to hold it to the back of the glove.  If a girl drops a ball they do not pick it up.  The last player drops the ball in the bucket. 

Count the number of dropped balls.  Have the girls switch places so they are throw to someone new.  Give incentives for a perfect round, no dropped balls.

Technorati Tags: fastpitch softball pitching drills, fastpitch, softball, drill

From Denise…
Two players are back against the backstop about 3 or 4 ft away from the back.  Standing about 40 ft. away from these two players is the softball coach hitting balls at these two girls, working on reaction backhand and forehand. 

The object is not to let a ball touch the backstop.  Make sure the player gets a chance to field from both sides.  Make this a great competition.  And the coach can take out a few frustrations also!!!

From John…
One line of people at first base and one line at second base.  After the player throws the ball he runs to the back of the line and the next player runs up to the base and position’s themself to catch the ball from the person who just caught the ball at the other base.
  
I emphasize to them this is not a drill to see how hard you can throw the ball but work on hitting the other person’s outstretched glove.

Technorati Tags: drills for fastpitch, softball, coach, drill