LSU’s Head Coach Beth Torina explains a Pitching Break Points Drill
Hitting Contact Points – Gordon Eakin – BYU
Coach Gordon Eakin explains and demonstrates Hitting Contact Points
Catcher’s Drill – Bounce Toss – Lindsay Leftwich – Louisiana State Univ.
Watch: Catcher’s Drill – Bounce Toss – Lindsay Leftwich – LSU
Indoor Practice Competition Drill – Jordan Stevens
Watch: Indoor Practice Competition Drill – Jordan Stevens
Giving Signals from the Dugout
Cindy Bristow discusses tips for giving signals from the dugout
Slapping Drills – Rise and Drop Ball Tees – Ehren Earleywine – Univ. of Missouri
Coach Ehren Earleywine Expalins a Slapping Drill – Rise and Drop Ball Tees and his players demonstrate
Double Play Turn -2nd Base – Blake Miller
Coach Blake Miller discusses the positioning and mechanics for a 2nd base turn on a double play
Spin Drills with Mike Stith – Team Mizuno
Coach Mike Stith explains and players demo Spin Warm up Drills
Infield Mechanics – Forehand – Ehren Earleywine – Univ. of Missouri
Coach Ehren Earleywine discusses Infielder Mechanics
The Why of Drills – George Wares – Central College
Coach George Wares explains the importance of players understanding the purpose of each drill
Softball Conditioning for 7-Inning Strength
Softball conditioning can include plyometric and agility workouts for power and quickness and tempo runs to improve aerobic fitness and aid recovery. But it’s also important to include workouts for speed endurance with active recovery. Some might…
Tackling Signs & Signals for Enhanced Communication
Signs and signals deal with communication, which is important in any endeavor. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about softball or business or education or marriage, communication is important.
Strategies For Running From Home To First Base
Assume that the player hits the ball to the infield and there is likely going to be a play at first base. When running out of the box, the player should run in a straight line and maintain that line as she crosses first base (see figure 3.2).
Seven Tips to Effective Conflict Resolution
All of us experience disagreement and conflict in our lives. Unfortunately, the vast majority of us have never had any training on how to address and resolve a miscommunication or disagreement; situations become a hodgepodge of ignoring the…
Defensive Coverage For Pickoffs
Now let’s look at a few coverage options for running the pickoff at different bases. Pickoff attempts require a specific defender to cover the base to try to catch the runner off base. Because several infielders can cover each base, you may want…
2-Ball Intense Team Defense
2-Ball, keeps everyone, starters, back-ups and coaches, engaged in the drill at ALL times. The concentration needed to do the drill is extremely important. Each player needs to know where each coach is hitting to and what job they have on that hit.
First & Third: Defensive Options
The goal of the defense is to keep runners from advancing and to get at least one out on the play. Primary attention must always be paid to the runner at third. Teammates must yell “Home” the instant the runner at third breaks. The defense gives…
Receiving Throws for Force-Outs
When a ball is hit to the infield, the first-base player sprints to first base in anticipation of a throw to first. She drops the right foot back directly toward first base to allow a direct line to first and turn herself in a direction that…
Infield Practice Drills
When practicing with all infielders in their defensive positions, the key is to keep everyone active. Combination drills with throws to various bases keep everyone in the game. Drills should be fast paced so there is little standing around. Using…
Defense – Steal Coverages
One of most common flaws in the infield is that little or no communication occurs before the pitch about which players are covering the bases for steals in various situations. You may use option A when the offense does plan A and use option B for…
Drills for the Pitcher as a Defensive Player
The drill works best with at least three pitchers, a catcher, and a hit-t er. If you don’t have three pitchers, another player may play first, and pitchers rotate only on the mound. Pitchers form a single-file line at the mound, and one pitcher is…
Infield Drills – Kim Sowder – Long Beach State
Players are working on reaction to the ball and getting rid of the ball quickly, as if for a close play. The drill is harder than it sounds. Players will tire and must concentrate more than ever by the end of the drill. You must keep the drill…
Pitching – Game Management – Judi Garman & Michelle Gromackil
The coach or catcher may call the pitch. When someone else makes the call, pressure on the pitcher is lessened; however, the pitcher may be given the right to overrule the calls. If the pitcher does not make the final decision, she should have…
Specific Pitch Drills – Judi Garman & Michelle Gromackil
Use these drills to develop and feel the finer points of specific pitches. Emphasizing and seeing the visual patterns for each pitch will also help develop the proper release point and follow-through. Pitching under pressure is much more difficult…
Out of the Box Pitching and Throwing
Many high school, recreational, and travel ball girl’s fastpitch softball coaches I have observed do not seem to have a good grasp of the difference between the concepts of throwing and pitching in girl’s fastpitch. Their apparent concern with…
Softball: Game Speed Training with Medicine Ball Throws
Develop your explosive force through contact while hitting and running and at the release point of throwing and pitching.
Softball is a power sport, and players need to be able to exert max strength and recruit as many muscle fibers as possible…
How to Prevent Softball Wrist Injuries
Softball players rely on their hands and wrists to make great plays, like throwing a wicked pitch or slamming a double in the gap. Thus, keeping your wrists injury free is extremely important. The nearly year-round softball season can subject your…
Proper Shoulder Training for Throwing Athletes
There are two schools of thought when it comes to shoulder training for athletes who throw. No matter what the athlete or the sport, pitchers, quarterbacks, javelin throwers, volleyball players, softball players, you typically get two differing…
Staying Mentally Tough Through Injuries – Spencer Wood – Icebox Athlete
It is said that there are only two certainties in life…death and taxes. In softball, for every team, and for almost every player at one point or another, you can almost count on a third…the probability of injuries. For players they are among…
Important Keys to Coaching the Female Athlete – Cindy Bristow – Softball Excellence
Have you ever disciplined one of your softball player’s only to have 3 other players mad at you for a week? Or had one of your best athletes not really trying her hardest no matter what you did to convince her otherwise? If so then you really need…