Practice (Fastpitch Softball) Drills Suitable for Eleven & Twelve Year-Old Girl’s

Note: Commands given by coaches are in bold.

 

1.      Point Drill

·        Player’s starts in the fielding ready position

·        Coach is directly in front of the players and points left or right, and 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.

2.      Player in the middle

·        This drill is a lot of fun.

·        Requires five players and a coach.

·        Four players form a square simulate the four bases.

·        Fifth player is in the middle.

·        Give ball to the player representing home base.

·        Coach commands

·        Roll the ball

·        As ball is rolling, coach 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!

3.      Tennis ball fly balls

·        Gives pop fly practice to players

·        Equipment: one racquet and a few tennis balls

·        Up to three players at a time with coach.

·        Player closest to popup calls for the ball.

·        Alternatively, if three players are simulating the three outfield positions, then the center fielder can “overrule” the other outfielders in calling for the ball.

·        Practice infield and outfield.

·        Also good for catcher.

·        If player forgets to cover the ball with her non-gloved hand, the tennis ball is likely to pop out.

·        This drill gets the player’s use to getting underneath the ball without the fear of being hit in the head or face with a hard softball.

4.      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.

5.      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.

·        This drill is particularly useful in short throws to first base from the second baseman or from the pitcher.

6.      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.

7.      Towel drill

·        Entire team can do at once.

·        One player with towel, the other sticks out her hand (with or without glove) and assumes a catchers squat.

·        Player with towel

·        Marks her starting position.

·        Shuffles (we demonstrate this).

·        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.

·        This drill is very hard to describe in writing. Try to have a coach that is familiar with this drill demonstrate it to you.

·        This is the best drill I’ve found to improve a player’s throwing mechanics.

8.      Base running

·        Player’s are lined up by home plate, and begin their run to first.

·        A coach is stationed at first base (also third base…see later in #8) and the commands are:

·        Run through first (pointing toward right foul line),

·        Make sure they turn towards the foul line when returning to first.

·        Take the turn, OR

·        Player should go approximately one third of the way towards second

·        First base coach should then command player to either

·        Go to second

·        Come back

·        Go to second (pointing toward second)

·        Up to you (command given to experienced base runners only).

·        Third base coach directs all girls given the green light to go to second. Third base coach is responsible for runner’s who are half way to second and beyond.

·        Player’s must learn to look at the third base coach when half way to second.

·        Advanced runners may wish to pick up the third base coach only when the ball is hit behind them (such as into right field).

·        Commands are primarily hand signals, a stop sign meaning stop at second and a wave meaning advance to third.

·        If the third base coach sends a player from third base to home plate, it is critical to make sure player runs on the foul side of the line.

·        Watch for efficiency when running. If running to second, for example, foot should hit the inside (fair side) of first base as the turn is made, without substantial loss of speed.

·        Player’s in sneakers should be cautious when rounding the bases.

·        The bases must be anchored for this drill (or, for safety, use no bases at all).

9.      Look-It-In Drill

·        Requires the balls to be marked with prominent stars, circles, diamonds, squares, or other figures.

·        Show these to your players and tell them that you will be hitting them ground or fly balls.

·        Player fields and throws to first base, but not before yelling out what the figure on her ball is.

·        Players must “look the ball” into the glove.

·        Not allowed: looking while in the act of throwing.

10.  Throw for points

·        Players stand 50 to 60 feet from each other.  Receiver keeps throwers score. Receiver has a bag and is the first baseman.

·        Thrower is encouraged to take two or three shuffles toward receiver before throwing.

·        Scoring

·        Right at chest is 5 points.

·        Head = 3 points

·        Anywhere where first baseman is not forced off the bag = 1 point

·        Anywhere else = -1

·        One-hops are OK and are scored as above, according to where they bounce.

·        More than one hop = -1

·        Alternatively, receiver can be any position that normally accepts long throws.

·        Examples are the cutoff man, the catcher, etc.

11.  Move the runner

·        Purpose is to emphasize offensive play execution to” move the runner.”

·        Game played with a live pitcher and full defense.

·        The players are partnered weaker with stronger.

·        One player starts on first and the other bats.

·        Object of game is to score your partner in less than 3 outs.

·        Batter does not run.

12.  Over the Line.

·        Purpose is to concentrate on pitch selection and hit placement.

·        A tee may be used in this drill.

·        Player’s are divided into two teams.

·        Hitter attempts to hit a line drive “over the line.”

·        “Lines” may be simulated with cones.

·        If over the close line on a fly, it’s a single.

·        If over the far line on a fly, a home run is scored.

·        Outs are recorded in the following manner.

·        Fielder catches the ball on the fly (unless outfielder is over the home run line).

·        Ball bounces before the close line.

·        Ball lands outside the field of play.

·        Taking too much time, as determined by the coach.

·        Three outs retire the side.

·        See drawing below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Run

 

 

Single