As players get bigger, stronger and older, they will naturally get stronger. Softball players will throw harder as the natural maturation process takes place, and the ability to throw the ball with more speed will make players far more effective on the defensive end. Softball players need to work on their technique to make sure they are getting the most out of their abilities. Drills and exercises can help softball players throw with more speed and velocity.
Step 1
Play long toss with your teammates. Before every practice, you will warm up by playing catch on the sidelines. In softball, you will be throwing from a normal distance of 60 to 90 feet. After getting warmed up, both players can move back and increase the distance to between 120 and 150 feet. Throw from this distance for about 10 minutes to increase velocity.
Step 2
Line up six players down the left-field foul line. They should be spaced equally from home plate to the foul pole. Line up six players down the right-field foul line. They should be spaced equally from home plate to the foul pole. The players at home plate start off with the ball. On your signal, the catcher throws to the next player in line, that player catches the ball and throws to the following player. Keep on going in this manner until the ball has reached the last player. That player begins the return of the ball to home plate by reversing the relay. The team that gets it back to the catcher without dropping the ball wins, and all players improve arm strength.
Step 3
Line up all players in deep right field. The first player goes to the standard right-field position and you hit a one-hop line drive. That player must field the ball on the run and throw the ball to third base. The ball must come in on a line or on one hop. Each player should get three attempts in practice at this throw, which is one of the longest throws a player can make in the game. It will help you throw the ball longer and harder.
Step 4
Work the speed-throw drill to increase velocity. Pair off your players so they are parallel with each other and about 60 feet apart. On your signal, the first player will throw as hard as she can to her partner while keeping the throw accurate. The second player will do the same. Each time time you blow your whistle, each player will move back by a step. The team that can keep their throws going with both players catching the ball and making accurate throws wins the drill.
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