Trying out for a softball team is often a tense time for players who want to play at the travel, high school or college level. Most players spend weeks preparing themselves and getting in top condition so they can be at their best when coaches are observing them and making judgments. Coaches running tryouts can give the players some enjoyable softball drills that allow players to have a good time while demonstrating their abilities.
Diveback Agility Drill
Players who are quick and agile on the base paths can help their team score runs late in close games. Base running is often an overlooked aspect of the game. In the diveback drill, you will not only get a good assessment of the players' speed, agility and ability to run the bases, but also they will have fun while doing it. The player starts out at home and sprints to first and turns for second. As soon as she gets eight feet past the bag -- an athletic cone will be set up to mark the spot -- she will dive back to first. She will pick herself up and then run around the bases, diving back into second and third before sprinting for home. Time each player in this event and ask other players to roar their encouragement.
Three Throws Drill
You have to get a good assessment on your prospective players' fielding ability. Have your players line up at the shortstop position. Hit a hard grounder in the hole. The player must pick it up and fire a strike to first. Then hit another hard grounder that the player must pick up and fire to second for a force play. Finally, hit a third ground ball that the player must pick up and throw home as if there was a play at the plate. The ground balls must be hit in quick succession and the variety of throws needed makes this a viable and enjoyable drill.
Pitching Drill
Coaches want pitchers with excellent command of the strike zone. Have the pitcher go to the pitching rubber and have a catcher take her position behind home plate. A batter stands in the batter's box. Get behind the catcher in the umpire's position and put up one to four fingers. One finger means high and inside; two means low and inside; three means high and outside and four means low and outside. Keep track of how many pitches hit the strike zone in the appropriate zone. This is a fun and challenging drill for all pitchers.
Scrimmage Game
This will make tryouts much more fun and challenging for players. Instead of having to do drills, players put their talents on display in an actual game. Divide the players trying out into two or four teams -- depending on the number of players trying out -- and play competitive games. Ask players to compete as if they are trying to win and use strategies such as the bunt and the hit and run to make this happen. You get to judge players in game situations and players get to have fun while playing.
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