Softball Drills & Coaching Tips

Special thanks to Danielle and Rebecca for sending these  in.  If you’re searching for softball coaching tips, give these a try!

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

Coming up with new ideas for girls softball coaching can sometimes be a challenge.  Here’s a softball drill that one of my subscribers sent to me.  Give this one a try to liven up your practice!

From Frieda…
I changed up one of your softball drills and made it a game; my girls loved it!

Thankfully I have enough girls to almost fill two full squads on the field (we utilize the softball coaching staff to make up the missing positions).  Once we have the teams set, the girls get into position, the team up to bat line themselves up in a batting order they think will work the best. (This makes them see the bigger picture, on the importance of a line-up.)

Once the girls have made it to a base safely they jump of the base and come back to the line-up. This helps so the players are only concentrating on one play at time.  The girls up to bat hit off of a tee.  If they get to first they get one point, if they get to second it’s 2 points, and so on and so on.

Now the girls in the field are battling back by trying to get the girls out before they are safe at any base. Throw out at first is one point, throw out at second is 2 points, and so on and so on. They only need to achieve three outs and then the teams switch spots. I play this like a softball game, inning wise, depending on the girls intensity.

The girls have a blast. This softball drill encourages them to be aggressive on the bases and helps the fielders understand the importance of fielding the ball clean, making a catchable throw, and challenging themselves to catch everything possible.  Most importantly they had a blast.

Technorati Tags: girls softball coaching, softball drill, softball drills, softball coach, softball

This is a girls fastpitch softball drill that one of my subscribers sent to me. Try this out with your players tonight!

From Warren…
A really cool softball drill that has been working well for our team is the “catcher’s toss”.

I put a softball on home plate or where home plate should be, and tell the girls to focus on the softball on the plate/ground.  Someone kneels down a few feet behind them clearing the bat’s path in the area of the catchers position, then toss tennis balls, softballs or wiffleballs across the strike zone over the softball that is on the plate or ground. When the batter sees ball cross the softball they have to react quickly, then hitting the ball into a hitting net.

This is a fun and challenging softball hitting drill for all age groups and it’s main purpose is increasing bat speed and explosiveness.

Technorati Tags: girls fastpitch softball drill, softball drill, softball, softball hitting drill

I received these free softball youth practice drills from Heather, one of my subscribers. I’ve included it here for you to try!  Keep ‘em coming!

From Heather…
I am coaching a 9 and 10 year old softball team and am new to the coaching bit although I have played softball for many years.  Here is a softball drill that I am teaching girls that are just learning:

Set up the 6 infield players at their designated infield positions.  Since I have a fairly new pitcher, allow her to pitch 3 balls to a batter.  The remainder of the girls are also batters standing on the side.

Have one of the softball coaches stand near the batter ready to bat the ball if the batter does not get a hit after three pitches.  Have another coach on the field directing the infield player as to the play.  Have two base coaches one at first and one at third to work with the batters on running during the session.

Start with the first batter and the infield ready for a play to first.  The batter gets three pitches, if after the first pitch they do not get a hit then the coach hits a random ball.  The infield has to field the ball, the batter runs to first when the ball gets hit by the coach and a play is made.  If the infielders do not get the runner out then let the runner stay on first.  The infield coach works with the girls on infield plays, the base coaches work with the runners, and the next batter gets up to bat.  Keep repeating the activity.

We go for about 25 minutes with this because we are teaching softball playing strategy for plays and also base running.  Plus the girls get a chance to bat.  Once the 25 minutes of this group has batted then swap positions and let the batters become the infield and the infield go to bat.  This works well because everyone gets to learn an infield position but the drawback is somebody on the team may be put in a position that you really are not intending them to play but they are learning.  This usually happens at third base because at this age it is hard to find a strong person to be able to throw that far to first.  Anyway, I think it works well and you try question the girls to get them to think with each batter coming up to bat.

Technorati Tags: free softball youth practice drills, softball, softball drill, softball coach, softball playing strategy

One of my readers actually suggested this idea for defensive softball drills. I’ve included it for you below.

From Chris…
One of our favorite softball drills is  the “4 corner drill”.  I have players at 4 corners base length apart (doesn’t matter what position they play) then we throw counter clock wise working on right-handers stepping to the ball and throwing glove hand side.  Then counter clock wise for the left-handers.

Each softball player takes a throw and throws to the next corner then gets back in line.  We then have players mix it up by the first player throwing to a corner then the next player throwing diagonally to a corner.  This gives all players a chance to throw to every area (Every Base). We work on having our hands up and ready to receive the ball as well as catching with our hands together to be quick with the exchange for the throw. Foot work is very important in this softball drill as well.

We then close the 4 corners in to work on close underhanded exchanges.  Each player catches the toss then walks towards the corner she’s throwing it to and tosses it and goes to the end of that corner’s line to go again when it’s her turn.  Then she will catch the next toss and toss to the next corner following the toss and going to the end of the line of the next corner.

This works on close exchanges and works on showing the softball to the player your tossing the ball to.  Our throwing has improved tremendously doing this daily for 5-10 minutes!

Technorati Tags: defensive softball drills, softball drills, softball, softball drill