Inside Softball Drills

Indoor softball drills are useful when outside practices are unavailable due to weather or other restrictive conditions. These drills help minimize lost time and help get your softball team ready for upcoming games. The drills focus on many aspects of softball and can be used even if the diamond is accessible. Remember these drills when you need ideas for useful indoor softball drills.

  1. Baserunning

    • Baserunning drills allow the players to learn when they should leave the base to steal or to acquire their position on the base ahead. Place four runner bases on the floor and have the players line up one behind the other. Have the player behind the current runner spontaneously shout “run," “halfway" or “return.” These commands should be randomly shouted to allow the runner to practice watching the ball during a game experience and listening to her base coach.

    Fly-Ball Catch

    • Split the players into two lines. Mark the starting line with a piece of tape or a cone. Repeat for the finish line. Give a verbal signal for the two players to proceed from the start line to the finish line by jogging. During the jog, the players are to throw fly balls to each other and catch them. If one of the players drops the softball, the pair must run a lap around the outside edge of the gym and return to the end of the line to attempt this drill again.

    Hitting Drills

    • Hitting can be practiced indoors with the use of tees and softballs. Set up hitting stations using tees that are adjusted to various heights. You should have a high ball, a low ball, a sweet-spot strike zone, an inside ball and outside ball tees for a total of five stations; however, you may add or eliminate from this number. Time the players and let them hit as many balls as possible in 30 seconds. It is also wise to have a station that is strictly for practicing the hitting stance and swing. These two components are just as important as being able to make contact with the ball. If you have access to a pitching machine, use it to practice making contact with the ball just as the player would in a game scenario.

    Fielding

    • Fielding is an important component of defensive play. Instruct three to five players to line up in a straight line with their backs turned to you. Shout “turn.” When the command is given, the girls are to turn around, assume the proper fielding stance, and prepare to field a ball. It is very important that you roll the ball instead of hitting it at players, for obvious safety reasons. This will mimic the element of surprise that the players will experience during game situations. Once they have fielded the ball, have the players throw it to a catcher you have designated, maintaining the same sense of game play throughout the entire drill.