Note: Commands given by coaches are in bold.
1. Ready position
· Off of heels and moving slightly.
· Coach must ensure player’s hands stay in front of her body.
· Players must think they will get their hands on the ball every play.
· Must insist players do this on every play.
2. Point Drill
· Player starts in the ready position
· Coach points left or right, then says “back.”
· Player takes one step and then goes back to ready position.
· If point to players right, left foot moves first.
· If point to players left, right foot moves first.
· Advanced: Two steps, three steps.
3. Fielding position
· Start with feet 1.5 times shoulder length, in ready position.
· Then go down with elbows on knees, and extend hands out in front and mitt on the ground.
· Player’s backs should be flat.
· Glove should be spread out and on the ground.
4. Roll ball back and forth between two players.
· Makes players confident they can field a ground ball.
· The two players should be positioned only a few feet from one another.
· Coaches commands:
· Ready position (to player fielding the ball)
· Fielding position (to player fielding the ball)
· Role the ball (command given to the player with the ball, DUH!)
· Then, switch from roll to one hop.
· Same as above but last command is one hop ball.
5. Catch, cover, cradle, and pop.
· Player with ball rolls the ball to the fielding player, who catches, covers, cradles, and throws the ball.
· Coach’s commands (The ready and fielding position commands are now assumed and no longer given verbally). Coach begins this drill with the roll the ball command.
· Coach then gives the following commands, quickly, one after the other.
· Catch, cover, cradle, and pop
· Pop definition - “Feet pop into throwing position with glove shoulder pointing at target and throwing hand foot perpendicular to target.”
· Ensure the throwing foot is perpendicular to the other player.
6. Player in the middle
· This drill can be found under “Lots of Fun” in Coach’s book (p46).
· Requires five players and a coach.
· Four players simulate the four bases.
· Fifth player in the middle.
· Give ball to the player representing home base.
· Coach commands
·
Roll the ball
· Yells out which base to throw the ball to.
· First, second, third, OR home
· Whoever receives the throw becomes “home”
· Players will find this game a little awkward initially, but also fun!
7. Tennis ball fly balls
· Gives pop fly practice to players
· Equipment: one racquet and a few tennis balls
· One player at a time with coach.
· Two or so “players” can be watching.
· Practice infield and outfield.
· Also good for catcher.
8. Batting stance and swing (by as many players at one time as there are bats)
· Always teach the lower body first.
· Selected parts of stance
· Feet: Back foot planted and pointed straight ahead (toward plate).
· Grip: Second knuckles must line up.
· Swing: Elbows should be in
· Balance: Players should not be off balance during or after the swing.
· Coach commands
· Ready (player in batting stance)
· Swing
9. Flip station hitting drill
· Equipment: Bat, whiffle balls and a fence or wall.
· Batter and partner to flip the balls to the batter.
· The flipper is parallel to the batter and flips the whiffle ball out in front of the batter.
· Batter swings and hits ball into the fence or wall.
· 25 swings each, each player does it twice.
10. Batting Tee hitting drill.
· Equipment: Bat, tennis balls and tee or substitute tee.
· Batter swings at tennis balls that are placed on the tee by her partner.
· Ensure tee is in front of the plate and not on the plate.
· Player’s belly button should line up with middle of plate.
· Or, front foot lines up with front of plate.
· The player’s toes should not be closer than one of their feet lengths, measured from the side of the plate to the toes.
· Batter swings and hits ball into the fence or wall.
· 25 swings each, each player does it twice.
11. Short feed throwing drill
· Player starts in fielding position, glove on ground, ball in glove.
· Distance simulates distance between second basemen (thrower) and first basemen (target)
· Coach commands: pivot: feet to target
· Player with ball steps and throws underhand feed to partner
· Coaches ensure there is follow through with the feet
· Almost shaking hands with partner.
12. Relay Game
· 3 players per team, lined up in a row.
· The game starts on one end.
· Player on one end throws ball to player in middle, who throws to player at opposite end.
· The player with ball throws to player in middle, who throws to the player at opposite end.
· Rotate the player in middle with the other two players.
· Remind players to turn gloved shoulder toward the target.
13. Long throw hat drill
· Do this drill only after players are warmed up.
· Determine what is a “long distance”.
· Two players per team.
· One player throws the balls
· Each player throws at least 20 times.
· Other player places her hat on the ground a “long” distance from the thrower.
· Other player stands behind her hat.
· Object is for throwing player to 1-hop the ball, trying to hit the hat.
· Throw back and forth between the pair.
14. Pitching bucket drill (slow pitch)
· Distance from mound to plate must be accurate (35 feet).
· Bucket is placed just on the catcher side of the plate.
· Catcher squats behind the bucket
· Object is for pitcher to toss the ball into the bucket, like Bozo’s circus!
15. Regular pitching practice
· With catcher and umpire (coach, calling balls and strikes).
· Catcher must hold up mitt as a target.
· Catcher must throw ball directly back to pitcher
· Bad throws gets pitcher out of rhythm.
16. Towel drill
· Entire team can do at once (if you have 5-6 hand towels).
· One player with towel, the other sticks out her hand (with or without glove).
· Player with towel
· Marks her starting position.
· Shuffles (we will demonstrate this, also see tape).
· Marks front foots ending position.
· Repeats to make sure distance is the same every time.
· From the ending mark, player does five heel-to-toes.
· This is where the other player’s hand is positioned.
· Towel is held in the middle
· Hold with the 3 inside fingers, the middle finger on top.
· Player shuffles and hits the other player’s hand with the towel.
· This step is the drill!
· Twenty reps
· Mechanics and balance are critical.
17. Simple catch
· Follows towel drill
· No wimpy catch
· Two players to a team
· Throwing motion and mechanics should be same as in towel drill
· Players must shuffle before throwing, then immediately move back to starting position.
· Players stand apart about the distance between shortstop and first base.
· Coaches commands
· Shuffle and throw (one command)
·
Back
·
Receiving players should be in ready position before
ball is thrown.
·
Receiving player now becomes the throwing player.
·
Repeat entire process twenty times or more.
18. Base running
· Coaches commands are:
·
Run through
first,
·
Take turn and
come back, OR
· Go to second.
· Change from last year regarding the last two commands above:
· Either foot can touch first base. Does not have to be the right foot.