Fastpitch softball is a very competitive game. It is regularly dominated by pitchers who can throw the ball at speeds of 70 miles per hour, which is the equivalent of 95 MPH fastball in baseball. Many of these pitchers can also throw risers, drops, curves and changeups. It's important for teams to run drills in practice that hone their defensive skills so they don't "give away" any runs and offensive drills that allow batters to become more proficient with the bat.
Relay Drill
It's important to get the ball back into the infield quickly after a hit to the outfield. to drill this technique, line up five players in right field, five players at second base and a catcher. Have a coach drive a ball on a hop to right field. The first right fielder picks up the ball, fires it to the second baseman, who throws it home. Give each player three throws and have the coach time how long it takes to get the ball from deep right field to home plate. This will increase defensive efficiency.
Placing the Ball
Power hitting is a rarity in fastpitch, so hitters must learn to hit the ball to all fields. When the batter come to the plate at batting practice, the coach will call out left, center or right to indicate where she wants the batter to hit the ball. Having bat control is a must for all good hitters in softball. Have each hitter take ten swings to hone her bat control skills and hit line drives to all fields.
Bunting Drill
Since runs are so often at a premium in fastpitch softball, bunting is an essential skill. Place two large towels down on the infield, one on the first base side between the pitcher's mound and first base and one in the same area on the third base side. Have each batter bunt five balls to each towel. This will help each player's bunting ability and help your team advance runners into scoring position. This can be especially effective in late-game situations when one run can give your team the lead or tie up the game.
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