This is a very simple coaching drill that teaches your young Fastpitch softball players to move to the ball and solid conditioning drill for your older experienced softball players..
How it works
Set up 2 cones ( you could use gloves) approximately 7 to 10 yards apart on a foul line.
Have your softball player start in the middle of the 2 cones looking at you and in fielding position.
From here you'll toss a ball towards one of the cones the player will run to catch the ball on the backside of the cone, once they catch it and while still moving they will toss the ball back to you as they proceed around the cone, you'll then toss the ball towards the other cone and they'll loop around that cone to make the catch and toss the ball back to you making a figure 8 around the cones. You'll want to get them moving in that pattern running to make 10 catches.
The goal for your younger softball players is to get them running to the ball while pumping their arms and not running with the glove stretched out. Many younger players run with their arms extended towards the ball as soon as the ball is hit, this drill will teach them to get to the ball with their feet and only extend their arms when they are ready to make the catch. This is the fastest way to get to a ball, running with your arms extended will only slow you down.
For your more experienced softball players you can use two balls trying to keep both of them in the air making this a great conditioning drill. As soon as they make the catch on the first ball and begin to throw it back lob the second ball high enough that they can get to it but not so high that they can slow down, keep them stretching and reaching. Do this for a total of 10 tosses as well.
Make this drill part of your daily practice and you'll see vast improvement from all positions on getting to the ball. If you have 15 kids on your team breakdown in 3 groups of 5 and set up 3 stations, this will keep the pace of the drill exciting, once they finish one station have them jog to the next station, once they finish all 3 stations move onto the next part of your practice.
Its coaching drills like the Figure 8 that improve your players and keep Fastpitch softball practice fun particularly for the younger, developing player.
How it works
Set up 2 cones ( you could use gloves) approximately 7 to 10 yards apart on a foul line.
Have your softball player start in the middle of the 2 cones looking at you and in fielding position.
From here you'll toss a ball towards one of the cones the player will run to catch the ball on the backside of the cone, once they catch it and while still moving they will toss the ball back to you as they proceed around the cone, you'll then toss the ball towards the other cone and they'll loop around that cone to make the catch and toss the ball back to you making a figure 8 around the cones. You'll want to get them moving in that pattern running to make 10 catches.
The goal for your younger softball players is to get them running to the ball while pumping their arms and not running with the glove stretched out. Many younger players run with their arms extended towards the ball as soon as the ball is hit, this drill will teach them to get to the ball with their feet and only extend their arms when they are ready to make the catch. This is the fastest way to get to a ball, running with your arms extended will only slow you down.
For your more experienced softball players you can use two balls trying to keep both of them in the air making this a great conditioning drill. As soon as they make the catch on the first ball and begin to throw it back lob the second ball high enough that they can get to it but not so high that they can slow down, keep them stretching and reaching. Do this for a total of 10 tosses as well.
Make this drill part of your daily practice and you'll see vast improvement from all positions on getting to the ball. If you have 15 kids on your team breakdown in 3 groups of 5 and set up 3 stations, this will keep the pace of the drill exciting, once they finish one station have them jog to the next station, once they finish all 3 stations move onto the next part of your practice.
Its coaching drills like the Figure 8 that improve your players and keep Fastpitch softball practice fun particularly for the younger, developing player.
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