Purpose: This drill aims to develop players’ ability to track and catch fly balls hit over their heads, enhancing their outfielding skills. Setup: A player positions themselves either in the infield or outfield. The coach stands in front of them with a ball, ready to simulate a fly ball hit over the player’s head. Instructions: The coach throws a fly ball over the player’s head, prompting the player to backtrack and make the catch while tracking the ball’s trajectory. Coaching Tips: The key in this drill is for the player to choose the proper line to follow when going back on the ball. Many ..read more

Purpose: Players practice making the play on a short chopper when they have to rush to get a player with speed out at first. Setup: Players line up near third base. Coach sits with a bucket of softballs near pitcher’s circle. Player charges in to make the do or die play. Instructions: Coach throws a short chopper toward the player, who rushes forward and tries to field the ball as fast and as cleanly as possible. In this drill, players only field the ball. They do not throw it to first. Coaching Tips: The key for the fielder is staying low, trusting their glove and going out and sticking it ..read more

Purpose: This drill emphasizes fielding mechanics and being able to execute on demand. It is also a great conditioning drill. Setup: Coach sits near third base with a bucket of softballs. Players line up to the outside of third base. Instructions: Coach rolls the ball toward third base. Player fields the ball on the run. Fielder runs by coach and drops ball in bucket, then runs to back of line. Repeat as desired. Coaching Tips: Watch for good fielding form. Make sure players are hustling throughout the drill for maximum conditioning benefit. Also, be sure to reverse the drill and go the op ..read more

Purpose: This drill focuses on improving players’ ability to field the ball on the run, using either their forehand or backhand. Setup: Players position themselves 15 feet apart on the field. Player ranges to her right to field the ground ball with her forehand. Instructions: Players roll the ball to the side of each other, requiring them to run a few steps to field it. They practice using both their backhand and forehand to field the ball. Coaching Tips: Ensure players stay low with their bottoms down to field the ball effectively. Tips for Younger Athletes: Emphasize the importance of e ..read more

Purpose: Teaches players how to properly field balls that are to their right or left using their backhand. Setup: Players line up 15 feet apart in pairs. Players roll the ball back and forth, alternating sides. Instructions: Players roll the ball back and forth and field it using a backhand technique. Players simulate beginning to move to a ground ball at their side. Coaching Tips: Players should do this drill both with their glove side foot forward and with their glove side foot back. Players should have a deep knee bend, back flat, and their bottom low. Tips for Younger Athletes: Encour ..read more

Purpose: Teaches the fielder to use two hands when receiving the ground ball. Setup: In this version of the drill, players stand up 15 feet apart from each other. They have a paddle on their glove hand. Player at right fields the ground ball and prepares to roll it back to player at left. Instructions: One player rolls the tennis ball to the other, who gets into a defensive position and catches the ground ball with both hands. Players then take turns rolling the ball back and forth. Coaching Tips: Watch that players are getting into proper defensive position – wide base, athletic position ..read more

Purpose: Players practice getting under control and using proper footwork to throw to a base. Setup: Players form a line. The coach draws a line in the dirt about 10-20 feet in front of the line.   Players work on their throwing footwork. Instructions: Coach says “Go” and the first player in line runs to the drawn line and gets in good fielding position. Coach says either “1” or “2” and the player fields an imaginary ball and then turns to throw to either first or second depending on whether the coach called “1” or “2.” Coaching Tips: When turning to throw, the player’s glove side foot an ..read more

Purpose: Players practice their backhand and forehand when catching ground balls. Setup: Two players set up about 6-12 feet apart from each other, standing. Players practice their backhand and forehand catches. Instructions: Players bend over to their forehand side and roll the ball back and forth to each other, fielding it with their forehand. Players then reverse and bend over to the backhand side, rolling the ball to each other to field it with their backhand. Coaching Tips: Stress to players the importance of keeping their head down and trusting their gloves. This can be challenging for ..read more

Purpose: Players work on getting their gloves out in front of their bodies to field ground balls. Setup: Two players set up about 5-10 feet apart from each other. They are on their knees. Players work on getting their gloves out in front of themselves. Instructions: The players roll the ball to each other and work on fielding ground balls. As the drill progresses, they also roll the ball to each side so they can work on their forehand and backhand. After rolling the ball, the players throw the ball close to each other so they have to work on fielding it on the short hop. Coaching Tips: Play ..read more

Purpose: Players practice transitioning from the fielding position into throwing position. Setup:   Players line up along a baseline. The coach stands in front of them. Instructions:   Coach says “Go” and the players quickly transition from fielding position with their glove on the ground out in front of their body into throwing position with the glove at their shoulder.   Players line up to practice fielding and throwing positions. Coaching Tips:   A right-handed player’s left foot would go where the right foot was as they turn their body and transition from fielding to t ..read more