drills

FIELDING: BARNEY GAME I got this drill from our current Hitting Coach, Coach Burney. It is the most fun game we play and the players absolutely LOVE IT!!! You get a Barney (or any other stuffed animal, but Barney works the best because they hate him) and put him on a chair by 1st base. If you...

Eight Ball Drill 1) Player stands shoulder width apart, puts throwing arm up at 90 degree angle, holds elbow with glove, throws ball to partner just using her wrist action. 2) Player sits with legs spread and has arm in same position only this time she can use from her elbow up and throws the...

5X5 Drill Usually at the end of our practices we initiate the 5 x 5 drill. The drill is for infielders and outfielders including pitchers and catchers... Each infielders will get 5 grounders to play at their specific position..field a bunt or slap, field a grounder and turn two, field 3...

FIELDING: 1,2,3 DRILL Hello, my name is Coach Stacey Baker and I coach High School Girls Softball in Camden, Tennessee. One of my favorite fielding drill is what I call the: (1, 2, 3 drill). This drill is great for both infielders as well as outfielders. This is a line drive and pop up...

Blocking Drills 1) Shadow Blocking (No ball)-- Coach stands behind the catcher. Catcher assumes their stance. The coach tells the catcher what pitch is thrown and where. The coach will give the catcher a few seconds to get ready. When the coach claps their hands, the catcher will assume the...

CATCHER: Blocking Teaches catchers how to keep the balls in the dirt in front of them. Equipment: Catchers gear, tennis balls or safety balls. Catchers should have long sleeve shirts on to protect their arms. Procedure: The catcher assumes her stance. The coach or feeder throws the ball so...

Working on the Pickoff This is a good drill for all aspects of stealing. Put players at each of the infield positions. Have the rest of the team put on helmets and line up at 1st base. The baserunners will each run the bases in this pattern: lead off, steal. Only one runner on the bases at...

CATCHER: Throwing to Third Base Helps to improve a catchers throws to third base. Equipment: Balls and catchers gear if desired. Procedure: One catcher is behind the plate, one is on the mound, and one is at second base. The pitcher throws the ball to the catcher who steps and throws to...

CATCHER: Throwing to Second Base Helps to improve a catchers throws to second base. Equipment: Balls and catchers gear if desired. Procedure: One catcher is behind the plate, one is on the mound, and one is at second base. The pitcher throws the ball to the catcher who steps and throws to...

CATCHER: Throwing to First Practices catching a pitch and throwing to first base as in a pickoff situation. One catcher is behind the plate, one on the mound and one at first base The pitcher throws the ball to the catcher, she catches it, steps and throws to first base. You may want to place...

CATCHER: QUICK FEET Helps a catcher develop quick feet. Catchers assume their stance with runners on base. On command from the coach they jump with their feet so that they are facing 90 degrees to where they started. On each command they jump another 90 degrees. They never come out of their...

CATCHERS: Throwing Footwork Teaches the catcher to get to the proper throwing position quickly and with proper technique. Equipment: Catchers gear and ball. Catchers pair up. One throws and one catches. The catcher assumes her stance as if there is a runner on base. Feet spread , rear end...

CATCHERS: TENNIS SOFT HAND Teaches the catchers to catch the ball properly. Equipment: Tennis balls or safety balls, catchers gear if desired. Procedure: Catcher assumes her stance without a glove. The coach or partner throws tennis balls or safety balls close to the strike zone. The catcher...

CATCHER: STANCE Show the catchers how to crouch properly, give a sign, and position themselves the right distance from homeplate. Equipment: Homeplate, glove, bat and catchers gear if desired. Procedure: Pair the players up as a catcher and a hitter. The hitter should take her stance at home...

CATCHING: CATCHER'S CIRCLE DRILL I have briefly detailed one of these drills on the fourm (I will post more later). However, there is one rule that I use with my catchers: They will perform every drill with chest protector & shin guards on (sometimes a mask but it can get pretty hot.) The...

CATCHING: CATCHER'S PADDLE DRILL I am a catcher for my high school softball team and would like to share a drill that benefitted me greatly. Have your catcher stand behind a plate in full gear. I find that this drill works best in a gym with a backstop or wall behind the catcher. Instead of...

CATCHING: Cone DRILL One of the best catchers drills I've ever used is to stick a safety cone on its side next to second base(1st base side) and throw balls into the cones from homeplate. Then move cones to 3rd base, doing the same. When I first used this drill I used bigger targets.

CATCHING: HOOP DRILL You will need a hula-hoop and some softball. Place the hula-hoop upright over second base (a coach will hold it) and instruct your catcher to make her throw from homeplate through the hoop. This develops accurate throws. The second part of the drill, you can put a...

CATCHING: PING PONG DRILL I have been catching for 2 years now and I was taught the ping pong drill last year. The catcher is in FULL gear and the coach is at least 3 feet away throwing ping pongs at the catcher. The catcher does this drill first without a glove, then with a glove. It teaches...

CATCHING: POP-UP DRILL Here is a good catching drill that our catchers do at every practice. The catcher is in ready position with all the gear on. The player/coach stands behind the catcher. The person in back tosses the ball high into the air and yells "ball" and the catcher imediately throws...