For a team to truly be successful, they must be able to perform in both the top and the bottom of the inning. While it is of course incredibly helpful to be able to put big numbers up on the scoreboard offensively, a team needs good defensive skills in order to win the game. Spending practice time on fielding drills can often be the difference between winning and losing a game. Try these fun, yet effective fielding drills to help get your defense in top shape.
Elite Softball Fielding Drills
The USA Throw Around – Softball Fielding Drills
This drill requires a full infield. Outfielders will be used for hitting and baserunning. The infield should take their positions. The outfielder will hit the ball; they must purposefully keep the ball in the infield. The infielders should treat the play as normal and field the ball with a throw to first base. The first basemen must then throw the ball to the second basemen. Second should proceed and throw to short, followed by third, the catcher and the pitcher.
While the ball is making its way around the field, the outfielder should be running the bases. The goal is to complete the throw around and return the ball to the pitcher before the outfielder completes a home run. The goal of this drill is to improve speed and accuracy among the infielders. They must become proficient in getting the ball out of their glove and quickly and accurately throwing the ball. When the drill is run at full speed, the infield should be able to send the ball around the field twice before the runner returns to home plate.
Cut Off Relay Competition – Softball Fielding Drills
Our players obviously like competing, so turn their drills into a competition and see how much effort they put in! Line players up in lines of three and leave at least 10 feet between players. The balls should all start on the same end. On the whistle, the player at the end of the line throws to the middle or cut off position. The cutoff pivots and throws to the player at the other end of the line. That player should throw back to the cut off who must pivot in the other direction and throw back to the starting player.
To indicate that the relay has been complete the entire line should take a knee. The first line to complete their relay earns a point and players rotate through the line. As a variation, increase the line size. Perhaps put the entire team on two lines and see which team can complete the relay first.
Bump Out – Softball Fielding Drills
As we all know, fielding errors can cost major runs in a game situation and can also mean the difference between a perfect season and miss the playoffs. To perform this drill, set up your defense in a game like situation. Have back up players for each position waiting on the sidelines. The coach may either hit or throw softballs into play. The defense should field the ball as if in a game situation. Any time a fielding or throwing error is made, the player that made the error is bumped out, and the waiting player takes their place. Players should rotate every time their counterpart makes an error. Players must keep track of how many times they have been bumped out. The coach should call out different base running scenarios to cause players to throw to different bases.
Using these as well as other fundamental fielding drills during your practice can help your defense be ready for any game situation. What are your favorite fielding drills to run during your practice? Comment below and let us know! If you have any questions or need clarification reach out at coach@elitesoftballdrills.com
Get out there and play ball!
Help us keep this blog going by visiting our sponsored links! Thank you so much! 🙂
