Mike Hanscom was looking for a way to exchange drills, so I have started a series of posts in various areas (which should make them more searchable down the line).
If you have a favorite fielding drill you’d like to share, please leave a comment. Thanks!
Be sure to share this post with others who might like it:
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
About Ken Krause
Ken Krause has been coaching girls fastpitch softball for nearly 20 years. Some may know him as a contributing columnist to Softball Magazine, where he writes Krause's Korner -- a regular column sponsored by Louisville Slugger. Ken is also the Administrator of the Discuss Fastpitch Forum, the most popular fastpitch discussion forum on the Internet. He is currently a Three Star Master Coach with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), and is certified by both the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) and American Sports Education Program (ASEP). Ken is a private instructor specializing in pitchers, hitters, and catchers. He teaches at North Shore Baseball Academy in Libertyville, IL and Pro-Player Consultants in McHenry, IL.
Life in the Fastpitch Lane 
Here is a simple drill that the young girls seem to like and I think helps them learn how to better control their body while fielding. I see time and again, especially with the younger ones, when a ball is hit far to one side of them, they like to run to the ball and then stop and stab at it as it goes by them. Stopping just kills them, they obviously need to field it as they continue to run through it. Line them up at short or third and then stand 10-20 ft in front of them, throw a grounder to their maximum reach and have them practice fielding it on the run and throwing to first base. Keep it difficult by tossing to both sides so they learn to throw on the run or stop after running through it and throwing the opposite direction.
LikeLike
Once they get the hang of that here’s a game that’s fun. It’s called 10 ball. Have the girls line up in the infield. One at a time you hit tend ground balls to them. The field the first ball and throw it to the side. Once they’ve fielded the first one you hit the second one to them. Keep going until they’ve done all 10. You’ll be amazed how quickly they can tire just doing that little bit. It doesn’t do much for the throws, but it really helps them improve their reflexes and learn to use two hands.
LikeLike
We use this to help them learn to use angles to get to the hard hit balls. Diving looks cool and can save extra bases, but taking the angle can sometimes get you a play at the bag!
LikeLike