Softball Outfield Drills
Here’s a great video from Gina Vecchione – former All American outfielder at UCLA and current assistant coach at UCLA. Inside, she shows us three of her favorite softball outfield drills for developing young players:
- Two Ball Chase Drill: A great conditioning drill that improves your players’ “quick burst” agility, for a quicker jump on the ball and better range in the outfield
- Barehand Drill: How to train your outfielders to see the ball right into the glove, improving eye-hand coordination and eliminating costly errors!
- Gap Communication Drill: Helps establish your outfield “hierarchy” for playing balls into the gap, so your players work together likely a finely tuned machine!
Looking For More Softball Outfield Drills?
This clip is a sample from the new online video clinic, “Total Outfielding.”
Lots of coaches have been writing in for more details, so here’s a quick summary.
It’s around 57 mins long. The first part covers the fundamentals and mechanics of the position – stuff every coach should know. The second part gives you 18 killer drills to develop better throwing, fielding, relay, and communication skills.
I’d highly recommend this resource if you’re looking to eliminate those costly outfield errors, limit extra-base hits, and upgrade your defensive performance. Click here to get the full product info.
Before you go, don’t forget to let me know what YOU think!
Leave a comment in the box below the video and tell me if this is something your girls would benefit from. Share it on Facebook on Twitter!
Or… share YOUR favorite outfield drill with the rest of our community!
This was a good video
Like the barehand drill alot along with the two others. Going to put them into my practic tonight.
Thanks for sharing!
Coach Therese
These drills are a perfect example of what my outfielders need to mimic in a game. Thanks!
Perfect, it always helps to learn new drills to keep the practice fresh.
Thanks for the video,it does help me alot. I enjoy the video’s and find it easier to learn from and it helps to be able to show my assist.coaches and girls exactly what is exspected of them. Thanks again. Keep them coming.
Coach,John
Thanks for the drills, especially the barehand drill. On the communciation drill, I normally teach my girls to call the ball if it’s on their glove side, and have the center fielder backup the play. Why do you select the center fielder?
Hi Tina, I think that giving the center fielder priority removes some of the ambiguity or confusion that can happen with other methods. The center fielder is often your fastest, most reliable fly ball catcher as well.
I’m curious if other folks have used the “glove side” strategy successfully. Coaches, any input?
I love the two ball drill. I have used a similar drill with the infielders, but never considered just throwing the ball to the outfielders, always hit to them. I also do the bare hand to my outfielders, we call it the reciever drill. For the other coaches out there, bare hand works great for infielders as well, in fact we rarely use gloves untill after spring training, then they really love there mits by then.
Good simple drills for younger ages too.
These are Great Drills! They are active drills that will improve outfielders skills.
These were excellent outfield drills. There are many elements of learning involved and several skills at work. Thank you for posting!!!
The barehanded drill looks like it would give the girls alittle more confidence in fielding for my U10′s. Thanks
I love the barehanded drill. Thanks for all your tips!!!
Absolutely love the “Barehand Drill”!!! I’m going to put that into my practice tonight!!
Thanks for all the tips they will be very helpful!
I will definetly use the barehanded drill with my girls to get them to focus without a glove.Thanks!
Hi Coach.
These are excellent drills they really teach to watch the ball into your glove, and good side to side movement and comunication between fielders.
Good video. I like the what you are doing with the site. I tried to click the link for the full video but it wasn’t working for me?
Hi Dayna – Sorry, not sure what happened but it is working fine now: http://www.softball-spot.com/softball-outfield-drills/
The gap communication stuff is great – I think it will help my team handle fly balls a lot better, especially the tricky ones in right center and left center.
Hi Becky,
What age group would you recommend the Total Outfielding video for?
Hi Rey,
The skills are all taught in a progression, from basic stuff (like throwing and fielding mechanics) to more advanced stuff (like playing a ball off the wall, tracking foul balls that slice etc.) It’s probably too advanced for kids under 8, but should work great for age 9 all the way through varsity high school.
Good summary of the skills involved and coaching tips to teach them. Enjoyed this video very much.
Becky – thanks for posting this. The 2 chase ball drill looks like an excellent way to get my girls moving in the outfield. It’s sometimes hard to find drills that also build up cardio while working on important skills, so this one looks great!