How to Teach Softball Lessons & Drills

Softball is a sport that is all about teamwork, and coaching a good softball team takes patience and hard work. Teamwork and game play needs to be taught in practice so that it becomes natural for in-game action. Some drills are useful for physical fitness, but have no relevance to game play. Working on game situations is crucial in practice to build a strong softball team. Softball drills can be used for baseball coaching as well, so feel free to teach these lessons to male or female teams in either sport.

Instructions

  1. Softball Drills

    • 1

      "Relay" is an important drill for building a solid softball team. Have the players take their positions. As the coach, hit the softball with a bat out into far canter field, over the center fielder's head. The first time doing this drill, observe how the team reacts to this play and adjust player position as needed. The proper team reaction should be this: The center fielder should run after the ball while the second baseman will run out into the center field position to receive the thrown ball from the center fielder once the ball is retrieved. In the midst of this, the shortstop should cover second base to receive the ball from the second baseman. If this drill is practiced enough in a timely fashion, "relay" will become second nature, and the team will be able to get the runner out on second base when the ball flies out into far center field. After you, as the coach, feel that the team has practiced this drill enough to get the concept, have a player run the bases when the ball is hit for timing perfection.

    • 2

      Line up the team behind third base. Have the catcher accompany you at home plate, and have the first person in the line move to the shortstop position. Yell "Go!" The player at shortstop will turn completely around, facing the outfield, and run as fast as she can. After that player runs about 10 feet, hit the ball out into left field and yell, "Now!" The player running should turn around, locate the ball in the air, catch it and throw it into the infield. The next person in line runs to the shortstop position, receives the throw from left field and relays the ball to the catcher at home plate. This drill teaches overall team awareness, proper running technique and turn/throw relay fluency. When the team member runs to retrieve the ball, she should run with her head down, glove tucked close to her body, not out in the air. The player should only turn around when she hears the coach yell, "Now!" Yelling, "Now!" should also signal the next person in the third base line to hustle to the shortstop position to be the relay. Keep an eye on all relay turn-and-throw technique. Turn and throw needs to be one fluent motion for speed purposes.

    • 3

      "Psych" is a trick play that is very useful, and can be a secret weapon of any team if practiced enough. Send the entire team to their positions, except for two players. Ideal players to pull aside would be two outfielders. Have those two players put on their batting helmets. Send one player to first base, the other to third. Typically, when the runners are in this position during a game, the runner on first base will steal second base as soon as the ball leaves the pitcher's hand. If the catcher tries to throw out the person running to second, the runner on third will likely make it to home plate with no problem. Practice a trick play to "psych" the other team. Have the pitcher pitch the ball to the catcher. As soon as the ball leaves the pitcher's hand, have the runner on first take off to second base. The catcher will throw the ball to the second baseman, who does not cover second base, but stays in the second base position, which is between first and second base. The runner on third will then break for home plate. The second basemen will throw the ball directly back to the catcher, and get that runner out. Timing is crucial in this play, so practice the psych play thoroughly before trying it out in a game.