Follow the Ball  
We start with a player at 1B, 2B, 3B and Catcher with a line of kids at shortstop.
We hit a ball to the shortstop who throws it to 1B.
After she throws the ball she sprints to 1B.
The girl playing first throws to the 2B covered by the second baseman, and she sprints to 2B.
The girl at 2B throws it to 3B covered by the thirdbaseman and she follows her throw, and the girl at 3B throws the ball home to the catcher.
She follows her throw to home.
The catcher catches the ball and flips to the coach and sprints to the back of the line at shortstop.

We emphasize hustle, moving to the ball and running.  It gets a lot of work done in a short period of time.

We also do the same thing with an outfield position.  The line of girls is in right field.   We hit a line drive to them and they throw it to 1B.  We do not have a 2B during this one and the SS is covering second.  The catcher sprints to the back of the line in right field.

Softball Duck Duck Goose
The game is played the same way as the children’s game except they have to slide into their spot and call “time out” before they can sit upright.

If they get caught then they go into the center and talk up a good game to the girls, cheering them on as they run, (and they do get loud).

This gets their speed up, sliding into the bases and cheering your team on as well as communication.

I do this about once every 5 or 6 practices and they love it.

Softball Coaching Tip:
A good fundamental drill that we use for kids who are afraid of the ball is to take their legs away.

We put the players on their knees and hit them softballs.  They can’t get out of the way,  so they are forced to keep their head down.  We do this for several reps and then give them their legs back.  This has worked at every age.

Red Rover Drill
Split the team into 2 equally skilled teams.
Set out 2 cones 15-20′ apart and then 2 more cones 40′ away, again 15-20′ apart.
Spread the girls out between the cones evenly.

Now you have 2 lines of players in between the cones facing one another.

Give 1 team a ball and they begin throwing grounders at the opposing team.

If a grounder gets through the opposing line then the girl who missed the ball is out.

If 2 or more girls go for and miss the ball then the throwing team chooses which one is out!

We play until 1 team is eliminated.  The losing team usually has to run (added incentive to try harder).

Hitting and Fielding Drill
To keep the drill organized, safe, and productive call out the number of the tee that you want the player to hit from.  This way the hitters only hit when you tell them to, there is only one ball in play at a time, and the hitters have time to put another ball on the tee.

Using three tees, put one at home plate (Tee #1), one on the edge of the outfield grass (Tee #2), and one in the outfield (Tee #3).

Each batter will hit 5 balls from each tee to players in the field, concentrating on one concept or principle at each tee, i.e. proper hitting stance, posture, touch step, opposite field hitting, etc., and then rotate to the next tee.

After hitting 15 balls total, the hitter becomes a fielder.

Vary the height of each tee to simulate pitches in different spots in the strike zone.

Players in the field are to call for each ball they intend to field (grounders too) to improve communication while playing the field in games.

For younger fielders have them rotate where they are playing so they can experience fielding on the dirt in the infield as well as the grass in the outfield.

Stealing Base Challenge
You need everyone but a 3rd baseman.  Put a runner on first.

The game goes like this:
The defense gets a point if they can throw out the runner.
The runners get 2 points if they can steal the base.
The pitcher tries to keep the runner at first, (working on his pick off move).
The runner tries to get an aggressive lead to steal the base.
The pitcher has to try to pick off, while still throwing strikes to the catcher.
But the runner has to try to steal second on the throw home (you have 4 or 5 runners) and 2 -3 catchers so arms won’t get to sore.

Thhe challenge begins. Everyone gets a great challenge and a workout. Try it; it works great and will make runners more aggressive when you want to steal bases.

Double Play Drill
I used a pitching machine and set it up to throw pop flies; the beauty of this is that it will throw the pop fly in the same spot time after time.  I usually use it to practice pop flies in the outfield but adjusted the spring down a few notches so that it would only throw it to the infield.

I had the machine set up at home plate, had a station of girls playing short stop, a station of girls at first base and 2 runners between 1st and 2nd  to simulate a girl on first taking a big lead off.  The idea was that once the short stop catches the ball the runner, halfway between 1st and 2nd has to turn and get back to first and beat the throw.
Now we missed about 6 infield pop ups during the game and each time there was a runner on 1st.  When you were done playing first you became the runner, when you were done running you then went to SS, when you were done playing SS you went to 1st base.

After an hour of this practice my girls were all catching that routine infield pop fly, shifting their feet towards 1st making a great transfer of the ball from mitt to throwing hand and firing hard to 1st and turning double plays like pro’s.

It was simply showing them what they needed to do and then the repetitive motion of doing it over and over.  When practice was over they were upset as they were having so much fun.

My girls all had a blast and loved the practice.  It was new and they had fun learning something new and something that beat us the last game.  I feel confident that with practice a few more times, they will never blow an infield pop fly and possible double play.

“Coach Says” Drill
I have the children stand in a line facing me.
I show them the techniques for “show me the ball” and “invisible bat”.
Then they have to do what I say, if I say “coach says” (just like a game of simon says).

I have asked them to roar like lions, to jump on one foot, to meow like cats, act like monkeys, etc anything silly really.
Within the mix of all the funny things I will throw in “show me the ball” or “batter stance”, “swing”.  At this time I go down the line and adjust if need be and we keep playing.

The kids LOVED this exercise!!  It put a smile on my face, their faces and the parents as well, all the while we were learning some fundamentals of throwing and hitting the ball.

Runner Bucket Ball Drill
Equipment:
Infield area with bases and a bucket or bag of balls and helmets for the runners.

Setup:
All infield positions are used except for the pitcher.

Execution:
This is a team drill where you’ll split your team into two groups. One group will play defense and one group will run the bases.

Start with a player at each position, except second base and pitcher. Empty the balls near home plate and count them before the drill starts or keep track of errors. Place the bucket in foul territory next to 3rd base. Have runners at home, 1st base, and 3rd.

* Start the drill by hitting a ground ball to the shortstop and have him throw to 1st. Runner at home and 1st will run on contact. Runner at 3rd will hold until the ball is thrown to 1st and then will break for home. 1st baseman will then throw to the catcher who will attempt to tag the runner going home.
The runner who started at 1st will always attempt to make it to 3rd base. Catcher will throw it to 3rd and the 3rd baseman will attempt a tag on the runner and then put the ball in the bucket.

* Keep track of any errors that occur or don’t place the ball in the bucket. The goal is to make it through the drill without any errors.

* If you have two players at each position you can have two teams and compete between the teams.

Coaching Notes:
* Like all the drills this can be adjusted for the level of the team and what you’d like to work on. For example if you are rotating players with a younger team you may have the ground balls go to the second baseman so the initial throw is shorter.

* Make sure your baserunners are helping the drill by not leaving too early. You want to simulate game type of situations and you can’t do that if the runner from home is leaving before contact. One way to prevent this is to have the runner at home turn her back and run when she hears the ball being hit.

End of Practice Relay
Here is how you play:
1. Pick your teams. Try to make it as even as possible.

2. Have 1 team line up at 2nd base, and the other team will be at home plate. Each team will have 1 ball.

3. At “go” team 1 at 2nd base will go from 2nd all the way around the bases back to where they started. Team 2 will start from home plate and run the bases in order.

4. When the runner gets back to their base they have to make a clean hand off and give the ball to the next runner in line.

You have coaches at each base to ensure that the girls touch the bases. If they do not touch the base then they have to come back to touch it.

First team that has all players run wins.

Cone Drill

•  Divide your players between short stop, first & third.
• Short stop & first play in normal positions but the third base stands well back as a back up.
• Place a cone at third where a runner from second would be sliding.
• Coach hits a ground ball to short stop where they field & hold an imaginary runner on second then play first to get the out.
• First then tries to hit the cone placed at third.

This simulates the runner on second (that was held up by the short stop initially) going to third on the throw & sliding into the base. The players at third base act as a back up to the throw & all players are constantly rotating position in a clock wise manner.

This drill creates great excitement in trying to hit the cone & the coach can even offer a prize for anyone who is successful.

It can also be used with a ground ball hit to third who plays second & second tries to hit a cone placed at home. Great overall conditioning and training drill.  Give it a try!