BATTING DRILLS

Self Toss Drill

This is a partner drill using whiffle balls. One batter one fielder, the batter self tosses the
ball and hits it to the fielder. Distance between the partners depends on how far the batter
can hit the whiffle. Give each girl about 5-10 wiffles, then switch.

Machine hitting:
Spray paint some balls blue and some red. Hide the balls when you drop them in the
machine. Batters must: Bunt the blue; Take the red; Hit away on the white balls.\

Hit whiffle
Golf balls with broom sticks. Use left hand only, then right hand only, and both hands
with full swing. Also put the broom stick behind your back and swing with the hips and
the elbows are holding the stick.

60 seconds
What you do is, get someone to time the player for 60 seconds and make them swing as
many times correctly as possible. While you are timing the player make sure each swing
is done correctly.

Front Barrier Drill:

Have the batter stand one bat length from a barrier (I prefer a net to prevent damage to
the bat, but you can use a fence). Have her take her normal swing. If she hits the barrier,
she is unlocking her elbows before her shoulders and getting wide on the swing.

Rear Barrier Drill:

Place a barrier directly behind the batter and have her take her normal swing. If the bat
hits the barrier, she is dropping her hands. You can use this barrier even when you are
using a pitching machine or live pitching for instant feedback to the batter that she is
dropping her hands.

Basketball Drill
This is a great drill for teaching follow-through. Get a couple of old basketballs and take
most of the air out of them. Place them on one of those orange cones you see at
construction sites. Have the batter take her normal swing and follow-through right
through the basketball. HAVE THEM WEAR HELMETS!!! Use regular sized bats for
this drill.
Batting Beam
Here's a drill you may find useful. Construct a batting beam with pieces of 2" x 4"s. The
main piece should be about 4' long. Two cross pieces about 18" should be nailed about
16" from each end of main piece. Have player stand on this during soft toss. The player
should remain on beam throughout swing. The beam encourages the batter to be on the
balls of her feet and to maintain a balanced swing. It also helps the batter to take their
timing step straight to the pitcher. The players don't like this beam at first, but it does
help.

Knee hitting drill

Set up a net with a mat in front of it. Place a medium size orange cone on the mat. Have
the hitter kneel on their back knee. The front leg should be straight out in front towards
the net. Place a ball on the cone and have them hit. This allows them to concentrate on
the proper hand and arm movement without worrying about the legs. I have one player hit
and the other feed the balls. This allows me to concentrate on the hitter and keeps the
players involved.

TWO-BALL SOFT TOSS:

Get two different color whiffle balls (say red & white), mark half of the balls with a
different color dot, or you can ask them to hit top ball or bottom ball. Use smaller whiffle
balls. It’s easier to toss smaller balls plus helps hitters in focus and coordination. Toss the
two balls at the same time (from same hand) and ask the player to hit one of them, either
red or white.

For the Dad’s

I have many fathers that think baseball swings and softball swings are the same. I had a
clinic and we had the fathers do this drill. I took nerf footballs and cut them in half, we
had the fathers place them under their shirts. We then had the fathers put their elbows up
and their hands high. The classic baseball type swing. We then had the dads swing at
wiffle balls on the tee. Most fathers knocked out the right half of the football. Their
elbows hit it every time. We showed the fathers that their girls have to swing around their
own body and it is useless to have a girl place her hands, elbows, and shoulders above her
center of gravity and power zone. We have the babies, so all of our power is in our hips
and down. The fathers finally realized there is an anatomical difference to hitting a fast
pitch softball.
 BUNTING DRILLS
3-man bunt drill ...
2 tossers, each with a ball, 1 batter. Alternate who pitches and bunter must bunt back to
the one that pitched the ball.

Bunting Game
Draw sections in the dirt in front of home plate. In each section, write a number
representing a point value base. For example, a two-foot diameter circle in that no-man's
area between the pitcher, catcher can be worth 1 point and ball bunted to either 1st or 3rd
base can be worth 2 points. Divide the girls up into teams. Each girl takes her turn
bunting. She is awarded the point value of the section that the ball stops in (not lands in).

Slap Bunting/Hitting
This is a great weapon for left-hand batters. By positioning yourself towards the back of
the batters box, you approach the pitcher during delivery with many choices. Dink a little
bunt in front of the plate or towards third-base, drag bunt the ball towards first base, or
even slap it through the charging defensive infielders. Another great weapon is to slash
hard at the ball with an inside-out swing. Being careful to reach an outside pitch, this
slash bunt will usually produce a soft tailing hit over the third-basemen’s head falling
near the grass and heading towards foul territory. Most quick lefties can get a double out
of this type hit. Also, when this movement produces a ground ball, a left hand batter gets
a great jump towards beating out the play.
 Throwing Drills
MECHANICS SERIES DRILL

This throwing drill is used for warm ups and is done in a series. It allows the players to
focus on the "mechanics" of proper throwing techniques, using certain isolation drills.

1.) Indian style: have the players start across from their partners sitting Indian style.
Players should use only the wrist, no arm motion—this is the wrist snap.

2.) One Knee: Have the players proceed to the one knee position, stride leg in front
pointing glove towards their partners. The players should move back to approx. 15-20
yards. This focuses on upper body mechanics and accuracy. Again, the players should
follow through with their throwing elbows outside their knee.

3.) Standing: From the standing position. Again, emphasize using the glove hand to point
at the target as well as proper follow through (throwing wrist should brush the outside of
the knee).

4.) Crane: Players begin in the "crane" position. That is, with their stride leg raised in the
air (knee bent), their glove hand pointing at their target, their throwing hand in the launch
position (ball outside ear), players hold in this position for 2-3 seconds before releasing
the ball. To ensure proper follow through, the players then take one full step towards their
partner after releasing the throw. This helps the players focus on properly using their
glove hand for emphasis on shoulder hip and knee rotation. What I tell the girls is that (if
righty), their left shoulder, hip and knee point at their target and when they are done, their
right shoulder hip and knee should be pointing at their target.
5.) Tags: While partners are working their "Crane" positioning, the receivers set up in the
straddle position. When the throw comes in, they perform sweep tags. This allows the
receivers to train as well as the throwers.

6.) Throwing for distance: Once the series has gone through, continue to have the players
back up until they are able to make accurate, strong throws DIRECTLY to the receiver.
No lob throws. This allows arm strengthening.
WARM-UP DRILL
We use this drill to warm up before games and practices. Start with 10 wrist snaps (see
above), 10 throws on one knee (see above), 10 standing throws (see above), 10
grounders, 10 pop-ups. This is not a race—girls need to use the proper form or you
should go back to the Mechanics Series Drill above.
HIT THE BUCKET
Regardless of the name of this game you won't go broke. At the end of practice is the best
time to do this drill. Place a large container on its side (a 30-gallon trash can is perfect but
a ball bucket will work) at home plate with the open end facing centerfield. Have fielders
line up in centerfield (age of players are a factor in how deep you go to centerfield).
Players should be lined up to receive a hit ball. The first player fields an outfield hit from
the coach and attempts to throw the ball on target and one-hop it into the bucket. We
offer $1.00 or a treat to each player who is successful within three tries.
Diamond drill
Place 4 balls between each base, have 4 girls at the pitchers mound, on GO all girls run
and pick up one ball and throw it the next base. They then run to the center, touch the
pitchers mound and run to the next set of balls. Example for one girl: At the mound, I run
to the balls between home & 1st, pick one up and throw it to 1st; run back to the mound
then on to the balls between 1st & 2nd; pick one up and throw it to 2nd; run back to the
mound then on to the balls between 2nd & 3rd; pick one up and throw it to 3rd; run back
to the mound then on to the balls between 3rd & home; pick one up and throw it to home
and run to the mound to finish 1st. The fielders at each base are now the runners and the
runners have a break while a new crew fields balls at the bases.
Wrap around drill
1) Have two players stand 10-20 feet apart.

2) Player one throws a ground ball to player two. Player Two fields and throws back to
player
One.

3) Player Two then runs toward Player one. She will circle player one, returning to her
spot. Player one will throw fly ball as a quarterback to a receiver. We also throw short
and long and to right and left.

4) Then after player two gets the ball she throws it back to player one. Then player one
throws back to player two. Then player two gives the ground ball to player one repeating
the process
 Infielding Drills
Four Corners
Purpose: To work on conditioning and on making accurate throws to first and third.

Procedure: A hitter hits to an infielder at second base, who is first in a line that players
have formed there. One fielder is at first base. The fielder fields the ball, throws to first,
and sprints to third base to receive a return throw from the player at first. The fielder must
be at third in proper receiving position (left foot against home-plate side of third), where
she catches the ball and applies a tag. The fielder then sprints home to give the ball to the
hitter and runs behind the hitter on the way to first, getting there in time to catch the
throw to first on the next hit ball. The fielder catches the ball at first base, throws back to
the next fielder at third base, and goes to the end of the line at second base to wait for her
next turn. Use no more than five players so that there is not a lot of standing around.
Have an extra bucket of balls at home and first in case of errant throws.

BreakDown Drill
On their knees they role each other the ball. While fielding with bare hands (enforce soft
hands, paddles can be good for this) they lift their feet off the ground behind them. This
forces them to see the ball all the way in. After they have done about twenty have them to
put their gloves on. Do about twenty that way. Then have them work forehand and back
hands the same way. When they are done with that tell them to stand up and do the same
things while standing. Start with their gloves off and go back through the rotation. When
they do backhands and forehands make them start with their feet already in the position
they would be in when fielding the ball and make them concentrate on soft hands.

Cone Drill
Set out some small cones in an arc in the outfield and then hit grounders to the
outfielders. They must round the cones before reaching the ball. This teaches them to go
to the path of the ball and not directly at the ball.

Paddle Drill
For this drill we made paddles with straps out of ping pong paddles and stapled a strap on
to the back of the paddle. Have the players strap on the paddles and hit them tennis balls
on the ground. This teaches them to go to the ball with both hands and also to have soft
hands. It also teaches them to watch the ball all the way to the glove.

Line Drill
Take the fielders and line them up in a straight line. With plenty of space in between each
one, line them up one behind the other away from the coach. Number each player such
that the first person is number one, second is number two, and so on. To execute the drill,
the coach hits a hard grounder and calls one of the numbers at the same time. That
number must field it, while the others step out of the way. The coach should randomly
vary the numbers, so that each fielder has a chance to field a grounder and none can
predict whose turn it is. This drill teaches quick reflexes and clear thinking under
pressure.
Coach Marty’s Drill
Using Marty’s Special Ball (a spherical bunch of balls randomly put together like a
bunch of molecules. It bounces every which way and very good for eye hand
coordination and reaction), get the athletes in a small circle and they call the ball and
must catch it on the 2nd bounce (it bounces funnier on the 2nd bounce).Very good for
those rainy day practices indoors.

Flip Drill
Each player has their glove and a ball. Place the ball in a snow cone position in the
glove. Player 1 flips the ball to player 2. Player 2 catches the ball and immediately flips
it back to player 1. This drill helps young players control their glove.

2-glove drill
Have a player get into ready position with their feet spread just wider than should width.
Place a glove next to each foot inside the player’s stance. Roll a ball directly at the
player and they will learn to field the ball with their feet spread. The fielder will field the
ball without her glove, this helps her to focus on the ball.

Bat-in-front drill
Player starts in ready position, place a bat about 6 inches in front of the player on the
ground. The coach rolls a ball at the player who must field the ball in front of the bat.
This helps the player field the ball in front of their bodies for balance and vision. Can be
done with or without a glove.

Chicken Drill
Players face each other about 4 feet apart, each with a glove and softie. They get into
ready position and try to quickly throw the ball through their opponent’s legs while trying
to keep the ball from going between their own legs. This helps develop a players
quickness.

Stationary ball drill

When fielding a ground ball, approach it like an airplane landing on a runway. The
fielder should get lower as the ball get’s closer. Balls are positioned on the ground
around the infield, the player approaches each ball working on lining up their belly button
with the ball. By eliminating ball movement, the player has a greater chance of executing
the drill for fielding the all correctly.

The Backhand Technique.

Only backhand what you can’t get around in front of
Use the cross over step, point the glove elbow at the target, bend both knees, field the ball
close to the ground and out in front of the front foot.
Using a tennis ball/whiffle—have the fielder face a wall about 4 feet away without a
glove. Someone stands behind her and throws a ball to the far right of the wall (if she’s a
righty) so that it bounces just out of reach—enforce the backhand technique to field the
ball. Once they get the technique down, you can try it with gloves.
 OUTFIELD DRILLS
RELAY THROW DRILL
Have the player’s line up in a line stretching to the outfield. Have the first player throw
the ball to the glove side of the second player in the line. Do the same for the rest of the
players. Once they get the drill, you can form teams and do a relay race.

This teaches the proper location for the relay throw and also teaches quick turn and
release of the throw.
STAR DRILL
The fielder stands about 20 yards away from the thrower. The fielder runs to the right and
makes the catch, then drops the ball and hauls it over to the far left, makes the catch,
drops the ball, then runs away from the thrower for the long ball, catches it, drops it, and
runs straight towards the thrower for the shallow ball and that's it.
THE BACK-UP DRILL
Place half the team in left field and the rest in center. The coach hits a fly ball in between
the first two outfielders. They both go for the ball with one catching it and the other
properly backing up the fielder. If the ball happens to get by both fielders then they will
use a relay throw to get the ball back to the coach. This drill has helped greatly in backing
up on all balls, and easy to do before games.
CLOCK WORK DRILL
A cutoff-approx. 50 ft. from the catcher. And 5 or 6 outfielders-each spread out from
right to left, approx. 50 ft. from cutoff. Start by hitting a ball to the girl farthest left, she
throws to cutoff, cutoff throws home. After throwing to cut off the fielder then runs to
take her spot, the cutoff after throwing home, runs home to become catcher, and the
catcher is to run to the open spot in the outfield. In a short amount of time fielders get to
field in all outfield positions, work on throws, and get some conditioning.
OUTFIELD HUSTLE DRILL
Using the batting machine at home plate. All balls are fly balls because of the rapid action and
because there is an infielder at each base. Everyone else is lined up in the left field out of bounds
area ... 1 gal in left field. With the machine, drop a fly ball to left; let her throw the ball to 3rd and
start running to center and drop a ball to center and another one to a new girl in left; let the 1st girl
throw the ball to 2nd and start running to right and drop a ball to right, center, and left; keep
dropping balls right, center, & left; until everyone is in the right field foul territory until everyone is
over there and we do the same thing coming back.
SELF TOSS DRILL
Player uses a softie and tosses the ball into the air themselves and practices catching the ball. It
is a very basic drill but it creates a safe and controlled environment for the player.
1,2,3 DRILL
This is a line drive and pop up fielding drill which teaches players to catch three types of fly balls.
1) a line drive right at them,
2) a line drive that they must stretch for,
3) and last a fly ball that they must sprint to catch.

Line your players up in a single file line, players should start on the fair line just behind first base
at the edge of the outfield grass. The coach will be in right-center field with a bucket of balls. The
players will be running in a straight line about 50 to 60 feet away from the coach. (Running from
first towards second.) One player at a time and they need their gloves.

The coach starts by throwing a line drive right at the players, the player catches it and while still
running the coach throws the second ball in front of the player making her reach to catch it, while
the player is still running the coach throws the third ball, which is a high pop fly out away from the
player that she must track down and catch it. After player one has completed her turn, she
gathers the balls, returns them to the coach sprints to the back of the line.

Key points:
1) Once the players starts running (she never stops nor hesitates) she sprints all the way,
catching all the balls on the run.
2) Once the players catches a ball she quickly throws it down and looks for the next ball.
3) After the player has finished she retreats and picks up the three balls and gets in the back of
the line.
4) The coach needs to be quick and accurate with his/her throws. A line drive right at them starts
it off, then the second throw must be where they reach out for, and the last throw is a fly ball out
away from the player which they must hustle down and catch.
INFIELD-OUTFIELD RELAY
Divide the team into 2 groups. One group lines up behind third-base. The other group lines up in
deep right-center. I have an assistant coach acting as my catcher as I hit hard grounders to the
first in line at third-base. She fields the ball and quickly makes a sharp throw to home-plate. I then
hit a deep fly ball to the first in line at right-center. As this player sprints to catch the ball, the
fielder that was at third-base sprints to a relay position for home-plate. The outfielder hits the now
relay fielder who should be properly positioned to receive and relay the throw to home-plate.

The cycle repeats as the infielder that was the relay joins the rear of the line of outfielders. The
outfielder that caught and threw the ball to the relay then joins the rear of the line of infielders.
Volleyball Drill
High to the sky, down to the ground. This drill helps players determine whether to hold the glove
up or down while fielding a fly ball. You need two players standing opposite each other, no
gloves. The tosser has a volleyball and will toss the ball above the waist and below the waist. If
it is above the waist the player must catch the ball with finger tips high to the sky, if the ball is
thrown below the waist, the player must catch the ball with fingers down to the ground. (Catching
a ball right at the waist should be caught with fingers high to the sky—knees bent!!). transition
into using a glove and softball.
 Speed, Agility, Strength Training Drills
High Knees - Pick up your knees as high as you can and as fast as you can! You don't
have to go far ~ 10 yards will do. REMEMBER the goal is not to get from start to finish
as quickly as possible. The goal is to pick up your knees as many times as you can in the
in the 10 yards that you do the drill. This is a speed drill ~ Don't be lazy! Pick up those
knees as fast as you can!

Butt Kicks - Like High Knees, 10 yards is enough for this speed drill. Instead of picking
up your knees, kick your butt with your heel. Again, going the 10 yards quickly isn't the
goal. To increase speed, "Kick your butt" as many times as you can in the 10 yards that
you do this drill.

Base running
Time all your players from home plate to first base. Do this twice. Average each player's
time. Pair up two closest times, placing one player at plate and one about ten feet behind.
Have them race around all four bases. Do this for the entire team. We always go twice
with the pairs switching their starting spots the second time.

Windshield wipers:
Have the hitter take a weighted bat or the heaviest one you have on the team and hold it
in both her hands with the barrel pointing straight up toward the sky. Now using only the
wrists, have her lower the barrel of the bat to her left to about waist high, then to her right
and back to her left, etc. Do about 5-25 of these depending on the age of your players.

Chopping wood:
Take the heavy bat again and have the hitter hold it directly over her head with the barrel
pointing up toward the sky. Now, in a chopping motion, have her bring the barrel of the
bat first backward until it is pointing down at the ground behind her and the bat has
touched her back lightly. Now bring the barrel back up to the start position and continue
forward and downward down to lightly touch the ground in front of her (this motion is
like chopping wood). Have her raise the bat slowly to about waist high and have her
bring it slowly to the ground again, then back up to the start position. This constitutes one
rep. Have the player at this station do 5-20 reps depending on the age of your players.

Strike zone:
This drill again uses a heavy bat. Have the hitter take a normal batting stance and have
her swing into the contact zone. As she reaches the far limits of the contact zone, have
her use her wrists to wiggle the barrel of the bat back and forth as she counts the wiggles
to 5. Then bring the bat back to the normal batting position. This is one rep. Have the
hitter do 5-20 reps depending on the age of your players.

Circles:
The final drill again uses the heavy bat. Have the hitter hold the bat out in front of her
with the barrel pointing straight away from her body. Her arms should be straight out
with maybe just a slight break in her elbows (I mean very slight break). Now the hitter
makes small circles with the barrel of the bat by moving her wrists in a kind of circle.
First, have the hitters do 5-15 circles clockwise and then the same number of circles
counter clockwise. This will strengthen the wrists and make then quicker. I use these
weight-training drills in practice at stations. Most of the time, you may have a couple of
players waiting to get into the batting cage or go on live pitching. Since I feel "standing
around time" is wasted time, I have these players do these drills instead of talking to their
team-mates about class yesterday (yes I do know what they are really talking about and it
is not softball or class).

Leap Frog
Have your players lay on the ground in a circle with their heads toward the middle of the
circle. Designate a player to start the action. When she starts, she gets up and runs over
every player in the circle until she gets to an open spot (vacated by the first player she has
run over)and then she lays down on the ground (usually falls down). After the starter has
run over the FIRST player on the ground, SHE gets up and runs over every player until
she finds an open spot (vacated by the FIRST player SHE has run over) and then lays
down. When played right, you will have 3 or 4 girls running over players and falling
down at all times. The players love this game and it is a good warm-up exercise.

Speed and Agility Drill

This is a competitive drill. Form 2 equal lines of girls, one line starts at SS the other at
2nd Base (position—not the actual base). On go—the first player in each line does the
grapevine to the pitchers mound, once they reach the mound, they shuffle (facing each
other) around home plate, then back pedal to the pitcher’s mound. Once they hit the
pitchers mound—they turn and sprint back to their line and tag the next girl. The first
team to finish the drill and sit down wins—the losing team has to run the bases.

Indian Drill
Have your team form a line at home plate. Have them start jogging around the field at a
reasonable pace. The player in front starts with a ball and passes it to the teammate
behind them until the ball reaches the last person. When the last person receives the ball,
she sprints along the outside of her teammates into 1st position and passes the ball behind
her—until the ball is in the hands of the last girl. Do this until each girl has had a chance
to sprint to the front of the line.

Tennis ball drill

Squeeze a tennis ball with each hand. Sets of ten. Start with one set, build up to ten sets
with one minute rest between sets.

Explode Drill
Get in ready position on a base. Explode off the base. Drive strongly for at least five
steps. Repeat 5-10 times.

Swing Drill
Swing a bat at an imaginary pitch and sprint twenty yards as if you were running to first
base. Repeat 5-10 times
Line Hops
Do fifteen line-hops. Begin with both feet together on one side of a line. Then hop over
the line with both feet and back over the line to the starting position. Do this as fast as
possible.

Push-ups
Do ten regular full body push-ups.

Sit-ups
Do ten stomach crunches.

Infield Hustle Game

Drill with the machine at home plate. Equal lines of athletes at 3rd, SS, 2nd, and 1st.
everyone throws to 1st base. With the machine, drop to 3rd, she throws and goes to the
back of the SS line; immediately drop a ball to a new girl at SS, she throws and goes to
the back of the line at 2nd; immediately drop a ball to a new girl at 2nd, she throws and
goes to the back of the line at 1st; make sure the girl at 1st has fielded the ball from the
2nd baseman before dropping the ball out of the machine to her. As they leave 1st, they
run around behind me at the plate, and tell me how many errors they have. When they get
three errors, they are out of the game and it gets interesting.

Barney Bop
Take a stool or high chair and place it straddling first base with a net or fence behind it to
stop any errant throws. Place a stuffed animal on top of the chair (I use a Barney Doll,
hence the name). Divide your team into two equal teams or as equal as possible. Both
teams stand out by the shortstop position, with one member of the first team ready to
field a ball. The other members of her team are awaiting their turn in line, as well as the
members of the other team.
Hit a grounder to the first member of the first team. She must field the ball cleanly and
make a throw to first base attempting to knock "Barney" off the chair. If she does, her
team gets one point. Then do the same to the first member of the second team. Alternate
teams until every player of each team has had at least one throw at "Barney". The team
with the most points wins!!
I also like to have the players also do this drill from center field with "Barney" at second
base and also from second base throwing to first base. I have found this game to be a
great way to involve competition with efforts to improve throwing accuracy.

That Game
You split your team into 3 teams it works well with 12 players and 2 coaches. One team
goes to the outfield, one team plays the infield and the other team is up to bat. One coach
pitches and one catches, you can also use the tee if you only have one coach, he/she
needs to play catcher, or you can play pitcher and catcher after the ball has been hit. The
pitcher pitches 3 pitches and the batter hits the ball and has to run all the bases, the team
who touches the ball first has to field the ball and pass the ball under their legs until the
ball has been passed to every girls on their team and the last girl has to throw the ball to
the catcher before the batter/runner makes it home. The throw home has to be a good
throw and the coach receiving the throw home can stand on home plate and can stretch to
catch the ball but can’t leave the plate. Oh yah, the batter only gets 3 pitches, if she
doesn't hit a fair ball after 3 she is out. And no bunting.

Guts
Simply divide the girls into two teams. Have the teams form two lines about 40 to 60 feet
apart, with players shoulder to shoulder three feet apart. Place something two feet from
each girl at either end of both lines. These are the goal posts. The goal posts can be
buckets, cones, balls, or the parents. Hand a ball to one of the players. To play the game,
the girls take turns trying to throw grounders through the opposing line. They can throw
as hard as they want (make sure they're spaced far enough apart).

The rules are fairly simple: The player who fails to prevent the ball from going past the
imaginary line between goal post is out of the game. The team who loses all its players
first loses. The ball must bounce in front of the players to count. If a player's ball is
caught on the fly without bouncing she is out - if it is dropped, she stays in. If a ball goes
through the line without bouncing, it has no effect. Any throw outside the goal posts has
no effect.

As players are eliminated move the goal posts in until the last player has a goal roughly
six feet wide. Hint: if the girls learn to charge the ball, it gives one of their teammates an
opportunity to back them up. If there is a question as to which girl allowed the ball to get
through the line, the opposing team decides.

Infield Star Game

you get your infielder's at their position (except the pitcher). The ball starts at the catcher,
she throws to the second baseman, she throws to the third baseman, she throws to the first
baseman, she throws to the shortstop, and she throws back to the catcher. The whole time
this is going on you have a runner run the bases. They leave at the same time as the
catcher starts the cycle.

It starts out easy for the fielders because they tend to start in kind of close and creep in. I
let them do that for a while, till it get to easy, then I make them start backing up. After
they get a few steps in the grass the faster runners start making it close. (The runners like
to see a dropped or missed ball)

This really helps on the infielder's learning to get rid of the ball quickly. I hope that it's
helpful.

3-2-1
Place 3 balls on the ground evenly spaced, about 3/4 of the way from third base to home.
Three teams are formed a third baseman team, a second baseman team and a batting team
(no bats). When the coach yells, "Go", the batter (runner) runs as fast as she can to first
base and on to second. The fielder at third base runs to the first ball and makes a throw to
a teammate at second base, then goes to the second ball and makes a throw to the same
fielder at second base and does the same thing with the third ball. The object of this
game is to make 3 good throws from third base (third base line) to second base before the
runner gets to second base. If the runner gets there first, or if the fielder makes a bad
throw or bad catch, the batters get 1 point. If the fielders get all 3 balls to second base
before the runner gets there, no points are awarded.

Contact Drill
This drill only takes 7-10 minutes. All players line up next to the dugout with their bat
and helmet ready to hit. Each batter gets 1 pitch, regardless if it is a strike or not, and
must make contact. A foul ball is good; a bunted ball must stay in fair territory. Each
player that swings and misses, grabs his/her glove and shags balls. The players that make
contact return to the end of the line for there next chance. Keep going until you have 1
player left. I use a pitching machine and usually have to crank the speed up towards the
end. After all balls have been picked up, I usually have all the players except the winner
of the contact drill sprint to the outfield fence and back. The 2nd place finisher only has
to run half the distance.

Dizzy Lizzy/thunder ball

Have one team at bat and one team in the field with a fielder on third base and one at first
base. The batter must take a bat and place the knob to her forehead and the other end on
the ground. She now spins around 5-7 times, then hits (or tries to hit) a ball off a tee and
runs the bases until both the fielders have touched the ball in the outfield (or where ever it
has gone). If the batter gets to 1st base before all the fielders have touched the ball—it is 1
point, 2nd base is 2 points, and so on.

Get Ball and Throw Competition

Work on getting quickly to a ball stopped behind an outfielder: Proper pick up and
throwing technique, field the ball in the middle of the body, straddle the ball with the
glove hand towards the infield. Place a ball on a line 20' away from a player, on “Go” the
player sprints to the ball, picks it up and throws to a Cut-off standing 80' behind where
the player just started. Time each player from “Go” until the ball is caught by the cut-off.
The fastest time is the best.

Outfield to home
Field a fly ball thrown from the pitching machine at home plate. Throw to a target at
home plate or 2nd base. Each player gets four (4) balls. Direct hit on the target = 5
points, in the target zone = 3 points, outside the target zone = - 1 point.

TEE HIT FOR DISTANCE:

Hit a ball off a tee placed at home plate. The distance is measured to the landing point.
Each player gets four (4) hits. Longest hit = 30 points, Next longest = 20 points, Next
longest = 10 points, Next longest = 5 points.