From Danielle…
I am not sure what kinds of problems other softball teams are having but my 16 under team’s biggest problem is bunting. They think that if they get the softball in fair territory that they have been successful, not taking in to consideration the placement of the bunt.

SO I play a game with them. I divide them up into two bunting groups and draw out a point system for placement of bunts (ie. right in front of plate is -2 and so on, see attached drawing). I do this for three rounds (1 round of sac, 1 surpise bunt, and one for 2 strike bunt). The softball team with the less points has to run a real estate (the length of the entire field we are playing on).

This really motivates them to win because they hate running~!

From Rebecca…
To teach the girls how to use both hands when catching is to have them catch the ball with their gloved closed, not open.
That way they have to use their other hand to secure the ball.

Technorati Tags: softball coaching tips, softball team, softball

From Mike…
Softball tip when working out inside. the kids love this silly indoor softball drill when we practice inside on the artificial turf at our local indoor practice facility. I place a softball about the distance from home to first base. the player, on go runs in her stocking feet, performs a slide comes up to her feet picks up the ball turns steps and throws. In a small indoor facility, they sprint ,they slide, and turn step and through. The kids giggle and laugh when learning some fundamentals

From Allen…
A softball drill that I have had the most success with is to teach the outfielders to back up the infield and for the infielders to be looking for the ball coming in from the outfield.

So what we do, for example, is get a short stop and left fielder in place and split our kids in each line. We then hit a softball to the short stop, if she misses the grounder the kid playing left field is right there to backing her up. Then we hit a ball to left field, the short stop then plays the cut off. We have an 8u team and this really helps the outfield understand that no matter where the ball is hit they have someone to back up our to be in a position where they can help out on a play.

Technorati Tags: indoor softball practice drills, Softball tip, indoor softball drill, softball, softball drill

From George…
We have a softball drill we really like; it’s a 1234 drill.

We get everyone in a line and 1 girl at a time comes out. Then the softball coach hits the girl a ground ball, followed by a line drive. Next she starts running either way and gets another line drive hit at her but she is moving now. After she catches and throws that one back she takes off running and we hit her a catchable fly ball.

This drill has improved both our infielders and outfielders quickness to balls and their ability to catch balls moving and get planted to make good throws back in.

From Gaylene…
As a softball coach for 12 unders in California I love to reward the hard work with a field trip to a college game so the girls can see where softball can take them if they are willing to work hard and put in the time.

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From Julie…
Here is a softball coaching tip I’d like to share:

It’s not so much a “softball drill” as it is a helpful piece of equipment–a tennis ball machine.  If you’re able to purchase one (I got a used one from a local tennis club), you can customize it to work on several different areas.  For example, you can use the machine to “shoot” tennis balls at catchers to work on blocking drills.  It’s a nice way to help catchers work on moving to the ball and blocking several balls in repetition, without having them risk getting hurt by a hard softball, or a real ball shot out of a regular batting machine.  Plus, the catcher can set up the machine in a corner and work on her own (no partner required to feed; the machine shoots balls out automatically).

You can also use the machine to help outfielders track balls, and it’s a great tool for hitting.  One thing I like to use it for is bunting practice.  Since the balls are smaller and can easily bounce off the bat, it helps the team really focus on having “soft hands” and “receving the ball” with the bat (instead of pushing the bat out or trying to “hit” a bunt).  In other words, if you can bunt a tennis ball fair (and not pop it up), chances are you’ll really be prepared when it’s time for the real softball.

Another bonus for the tennis ball machine is for softball coaches/teams who find themselves practicing indoors a lot.  As a coach in the Northeast, I often find that our team is practicing indoors for the majority of our pre-season.  Tennis balls are a lot safer to use indoors, they won’t scuff or damage the floor or walls, and there is no need to set up a net or screen when using them.

Technorati Tags: fastpitch softball indoor drills, softball coaching tip, softball drill, softball, softball coach

From suzette…
I’m new to teaching clinics and giving softball lessons, however I have found something that has helped.  In my initial softball clinics I break down the art of swinging into 5 steps:
-Stance
-Stride
-”Squash the bug” (rotate on the ball of back foot)
-Karate chop (throw hands at the ball)
-follow thru

I’ve seen this on several sites and I like to break down the steps when I’m instructing. Then I have the girls go through the steps one by one.  I tell them the reason for this is so when I mention certain terms when I am critiquing their swing they know what they should be doing.

For example, when I say “squash the bug” they know they need to rotate on their back foot to open the hips fully.

This isn’t a typical softball drill but I’ve found that it’s been helping with my instruction.

Technorati Tags: softball coaching clinics, softball batting tips, softball, softball clinics, softball drill

From Nicole…
What a great idea, a softball coach can never have enough softball drills under their hat! Below are two softball hitting drills we have found helpful.

One of our most useful hitting drills is to place a cone out with a slightly deflated soccer ball or basketball on the top of it.  Have girls hit the ball off the cone.  This softball drill helps girls swing the bat with more power because it takes strength to make the ball fall off.

One other useful hitting drill is to place a string where you want the kids toes to line up at the plate. Then you can place another one going from that string across so they know how big of stride they should take.

From Paul…
Just a simple drill to have players focus on hitting line drives up the middle: set two tees up one adout 2′-3′ apart line the player up on first tee hitting the ball trying to hit the second ball off of the tee. This is showing the players that adjusting in the box will impact where you hit the ball.

Technorati Tags: softball coaching tips, softball coach, softball drills, softball hitting drills, softball drill

From Mike…
A pitching drill that I like to do with my daughter is a one-hop softball drill.  Utilizing the width of a gym, she throws the ball as hard as she can keeping the ball low and hitting the floor in front of the catcher.  This softball pitching drill teaches the pitcher the proper release point and cuts way down on high pitches.

From Frank…
I have coached softball at many levels in my career, but currently I am coaching jr. high girls and 12 year old boys in the local Little League. One of the things I was having trouble with was, during batting practice the kids were not reacting to fly balls.

As many times as I would tell them a fly ball was a gift from heaven, they would just let them fall in front or behind them, then go over pick the ball up and roll it back to the pitcher.  I now tell them that whoever catches the most fly balls during batting practice will get a free ice cream of their choice after practice.  If they drop one, it is deducted from their totals.

They now react properly to fly balls during practice and more importantly during the games. This drill has made batting practice fun and very competitive for the kids who are in the field.

Technorati Tags: softball practice for 12u, softball coach, softball drill, softball pitching drill, softball

From Anthony…
We do exercise ball drills as warm ups prior to softball practice. (20 minutes). It is a fun way to accomplish building the core and stretching.  Here is one of the softball drills we do.

We use an extremely light ball (1k) to do the drills.  We have 3 teams of 4, each in a single line.  Everyone lies on their back.  The first person in line has the ball and he does a sit up with the ball in his hand and gives it to the next player in front, who in turn grabs the ball behind his head and does a sit up and gives it to the next player in front.  Each player that hands off the ball runs to the front of the line and the entire process repeats itself until the teams move 80′ down the field.

Exercise & stretching are accomplished in a fun way.

From Duke …
Pre season softball drill for strength and conditioning:
After the girls have jogged and stretched, have the team run half speed the length of the gym and sprint back. Immediately go to  a strength exercise such as push ups, crunches, lunges, etc. Then repeat the run phase, strength phase.
This will do a whole body work out in a short time frame.

Technorati Tags: strength conditioning for softball, softball, softball drills, softball drill

From Darren…
I like to work a softball drill where there are 2 softball coaches on each side of home plate.

Coach A hits grounders to girls at SS who flip to a girl at second who fake a throw to 1B as to simulate a double play.  Coach B hits grounders to 3B who throws to 1B.  Coach A then hits grounders to 2B who Flips to SS and fakes throw to 1B.  Coach B hits grounders to 1B who throws to 3B to get lead runner.  Coach A hits to SS who throws to 1B. Coach B hits to 2B who throws to 3B.  Coach A hits to 2B who throws to 1B. Coach B hits to SS who throws to 3B.

This drill is great to get fielders a lot of ground balls and make them work on getting their feet in proper position to make different throws they may encounter during a game.  I use this with intermediate to advanced levels.

Which ever girls are making the last catch drop balls into a bucket.
ex.  When hitting to SS to 1B, 1B drops ball into bucket.

Equipment needed: Two buckets, balls and infield.

Technorati Tags: defensive softball drills, softball coaching tip, softball drill, softball coach

From Tim…
Here is pre-game softball warm up ritual that our Predator girls fast pitch softball team does. A great softball drill to get ready for the game at hand is grounders to all softball players in single file line, no gloves allowed.

Obviously this will help at least 2 things: eyes on ball all the way to hands, and a ton of confidence when they put the gloves on for the game! Simple yet affective softball tip.

From Frank…
I’ve only been coaching 2 years (girls U12), I haven’t come up with any real secrets but one thing I have been doing is holding a skills day 3X per season.
The girls don’t compete against each other; they are competing against themselves.  Small prizes are given for the first 2 rounds and awards with certificates are given as a final.

1. just after team selections - to determine each girls level
2. midway - to asses progress
3. end - to show each girl the progress they have made

Technorati Tags: quick and easy softball drills, softball, fast pitch softball, softball drill, softball tip