Softball and baseball are unique sports that overlap in certain areas. Both sports require advanced coordination and the unique ability to catch, hit and field a ball. Although most baseball and softball drills can be administered during practice, you can give players additional drills and tips to take home to practice in their free time.
Countdown Throwing Drill
Have the players on your team pair off and line up 20 feet across from each other. With their gloves on, hand a ball to one player in the pair. On your whistle, have the players throw the ball back and forth to each other. After blowing your whistle, count down from 30 seconds to zero. At zero, the player with the ball is considered "out." Without pushing your players, they will naturally throw the ball back and forth at a quicker rate as the countdown gets closer to zero. Coach Kevin Nickelson recommends this drill for players looking to develop a quicker releases and solid fielding skills.
The Colored Ball Hitting Drill
Take several regulation baseballs or softballs and paint them different bright colors. Place the balls in a bucket next to the pitcher's mound to avoid revealing the color of the ball. Choose a ball out of the bucket and hand the ball to the pitcher, making sure not to reveal the color of the ball. Have your pitcher call out a color; it does not have to be the color of the ball in his glove, and have him throw it toward the catcher. The batter can only swing at the pitch if the color of the ball corresponds with the color called out by the pitcher. According to coach Mike Cole, this drill helps batters with pitch recognition and quick thinking.
Lateral Movement Drill
Have your infielders and outfielders gather next to a part of the outfield fence. Stand 40 feet from the fence with a bat and hit line drives and grounders to one player at a time. Hit 10 balls to each player, making sure to hit them at all different parts of the fence. Tell your players they must keep the ball from hitting the fence. Whoever stops the most balls from hitting the fence is the winner of this drill. According to Davis Little League, this drill helps with a player's lateral movement as well as overall fielding skills.
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