Softball Training Tips

These are a couple of the many softball training tips sent to me by my readers.  Try them out with your team tonight!

From Don…
Very early on in my career coaching softball, I found that quirky little incentives really motivated the players and kept the practices lively and enthusiastic.

One such incentive was to place an empty plastic milk jug on top of or just in front of the second base bag.  During batting practice, if any batter were to hit that jug with a batted ball, I would award a pizza to that player.

Similarly, in the batting tunnel, I strung a plastic jug from the top of the tunnel netting, adjacent to where the pitcher was tossing pitches.  If the batter hit a liner that struck the jug, I would award a prize.  Prizes, of course, are up to the discretion of the coach, and are especially well-received when the entire team benefits.

From Jon…
We just recently began our training for the upcoming season. As a newly organized program, we are in the beginning stages of development.

At the 1st practice session, our entire 1 ½ hour season was dedicated to the creation of “team rules” and goals. Each player was “involved” in the process to create the rules and the goals. We also discussed the daily evaluation and the “individual development plan”. By involving each player, the rules and goals took on an ownership approach for all involved – players and coaches.

Involving your players is essential for personal responsibility as well.

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Category: Softball Coaching, Softball Practice Plans, Softball Tips