Softball Fielding Drills – The Cut Off Drill & Team Communication

This is one of the softball fielding drills that I do to get my players in shape as well as everyone to know where to go on cut offs and team communication.   I cal it the Cut Off Drill.

Cut Off Drill
With 15 girls on my team,I split up the players into 3 teams.
You have 2 in left, 2 in center, 2 in right.
2 at 3rd, 2 at short, 2 at 2nd (normal position not at the base) and 3 at home taking the throws from the specific “infielders).

The coach will hit a fly ball to left field who then throws the ball into 3rd base who throws the ball into her “catcher” so to speak.

The players will follow their throws which means left now becomes 3rd, 3rd becomes the catcher and the catcher has to run out to left field.

This is consecutive in all three groups. So as soon as the coach hits the first ball to left field and the throw is made, the coach will then hit the next ball to center to start that group. Then once the throw is made the coach then hits the ball to right.

All in all, 3 groups are moving all the time.

This helps the outfielders understand how important it is to hit the “cutoff” man or the bag they are throwing to as well as the infielders to understand how important it is to communicate where the cuts are.

It has also helped in our lining up the cut offs. This is great for conditioning as everyone is moving and the catcher position has to really work to get out to the outfield.