Infielder fielding games are designed to improve your skills as well as your footwork. While the dimensions of a softball field and baseball field are different, many infielder fielding drills and games can be applied to both sports. Infielder fielding games range from double-play drills to infield-fly competitions.
Around the Horn
This game is designed to improve your throwing accuracy and ability to get rid of the ball. Break up your team into groups of five, having each player in your group take a position in the infield except pitcher. Give the ball to the catcher and have your coach stand a few feet from home with a stopwatch. On his mark, have the catcher throw the ball to third base. From here, have the third baseman throw a grounder to second base. The second baseman will field the ground ball and flip it to the shortstop who will tag second before throwing to first. The coach stops timing when the first baseman throws the ball to home plate. The group with the fastest time wins.
Triangle
This triangle game is designed to improve your fielding, throwing and catching skills. Divide your team into groups of three. Take your group and spread out to form three points of a triangle. Players one and two make up the two base points of the triangle and the third player stands at the top point of the triangle. Have your coach hit a grounder to player one, who fields the ball and throws it to player two. Player two will throw the ball to player three to complete one rotation. After each throw, follow your ball to get into the next position. So if you were in position one, after your throw, move to position two. The game is complete when you have been in all three positions.
Double Play
This drill is designed to improve your ability to execute a double play from first base to second and back to first. Break up your team into groups of three, with one player standing at first base, one at shortstop and one at the pitcher's mound. Have your coach hit a grounder toward the first baseman. After she fields it, have her throw the ball to second base. The shortstop should catch the ball at second and throw it to first, where the pitcher is covering the base. Each time a group makes a mistake, it is eliminated from the game. Continue to repeat the drill until there is only one group left.
Over the Head
The game's purpose is to improve your ability to catch fly balls hit over your head. Have your team line up in a straight line at second base. The first player in the line stands at the shortstop position. Have your coach throw a fly ball over the head of the shortstop. If you are playing shortstop, backpedal with your glove down until you are directly under the ball. Bring your glove over your head at the last second to catch the ball. Continue to rotate through the players, eliminating those who drop the ball. The last player left wins.
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