First of all, we run our [tag]softball practices[/tag] with stations. Thankfully we have enough volunteer parent’s. We always seem to have enough to do these [tag]softball practice drills[/tag], so the kids are always moving and not getting bored.
One of the toughest things we have found coaching 8 and 9 yr olds is beginning to teach them on pop ups and soft hands. The players typically hated this [tag]softball drill[/tag] (minus the few naturals) and you could see they weren’t into it and afraid of getting hurt.
We tried something different this year–basically taking a tennis racquet and tennis balls and using that for pop ups. Usually in groups of 3-4, it forces them to use two hands or the balls easily bounce out, it gets them plenty of repetitions in the small group.
Now later in the season and the girls being more consistent. We make it fun by letting them compete for most in a row as a team (their group of 3-4).
We do the same for the other [tag]softball[/tag] drills to promote them working together and announce winning groups at the end of practice giving the winning group a prize (candy usually).