In order to prepare a softball team for game situations, coaches like to give their players drills that will sharpen their skills. These drills involve hitting, fielding, throwing, base running, and pitching, and often the best drills will contain one or two important movements that will help a player stay focused on the play she must make or the swing she must take, and that will allow her to improve.
Pitcher Covering First Base Drill
This is one of the most important fielding drills for pitchers. Once the ball leaves the pitcher's hands, she must become an alert defensive player. That includes covering first base when the first baseman fields a ground ball and she is not close to the bag. In this drill, the pitcher stands on the rubber and throws a pitch to the catcher. At that point, the coach hits or rolls a ball to the first baseman. As soon as the pitcher sees the ball roll toward the first baseman, she must run hard to a spot about 3/4ths of the way up the first base line. At that point she turns and runs parallel to the first base line and gives the first baseman a target to throw the ball. The first baseman tosses the ball in front of the pitcher so she can catch it in stride and touch first base and make the out. Repeat this drill three times with each pitcher.
Lob Toss
This is a great drill for helping softball hitters learn to wait on the ball and hit it at the appropriate moment. Many softball hitters are anxious and swing early. This prevents them from being able to have any chance at hitting a change of pace. In this drill, the coach is behind an "L" screen and tosses high lob underhand pitches to the batter. The batter must wait until the ball is midway in her stance before swinging the bat. In order to hit it hard, she must develop quick hands. In order to help the batter wait long enough in the drill the coach issues a verbal cue by saying, "Let it get deep." This should help the girl wait long enough and it will help develop quick wrists and an ability to hit the changeup.
Infield Drill
In this drill, the infielder will learn to react quickly and throw the ball to the appropriate base. The coach will hit four ground balls to each infielder. On the first ground ball, the fielder will pick up the ball and throw it to first base. On the next ball, the coach will shout out where she wants the ball to go. The fielder will square her body to the target and throw the ball. On the third ball, the fielder will throw the ball to second base as if to start a double play. On the fourth ball, the coach will tell the fielder where to throw the ball. The point of this drill is that the fielder must know where to go with the ball before the ball is hit. However, at times she will have to change her plan in the middle of the play. By reacting to the coach's instruction, she will show she can make the appropriate throw.
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