Purpose: To develop confidence and comfort when diving for balls. It is important that the outfield practice on this more.

Procedure: The first player in line starts on her knees. The coach will bounce the ball slightly to her. She will dive to stop or catch the ball, and try to get to her feet and throw the ball back to the coach. After four or five attempts, the next player takes a turn. Once each player is done catching to her left (glove side), switch it up and throw to the other side.

Players will only get comfortable when they try an activity. By making them dive in a controlled environment, they are more apt and ready for such a play during the game. Getting started on the drill will help eliminate the fear of injury. Teach feet to get to the throwing position.

Purpose: To develop the outfieIder's abiIity to judge the fIight of a fly ball and move to make the catch. This is a good softball fielding tip for outfielders

Procedure: You will need a bucket of sofballs and gloves, both the coach and the outfielder face the same direction. On the coach's command, the outfielder should sprint deep into the outfield. At that point, the coach throws the ball to the outfielder. The distance the outfielder runs depends on the flight of the ball. The coach's throw should lead the player so that they continue running in order to make the catch. The out fielder should look back over her shoulder for the ball as she runs. Once the coach releases the ball, the outfielder should judge where the ball will land (she should take her eyes off the ball to look at that spot. She should then adjust her angle of pursuit to get to that spot. Once she nears the spot, she should lookup for the ball as she sets up to make the catch.

Purpose: To develop the ability to catch while on the run. This is very helpful for outfielders. Here are other Softball Fielding tips to remember in the outfield.

Procedure: Prepare a bucket of softballs, gloves, an empty bucket. The players line up in a single-file line. The coach, with a bucket of softballs, stands beside the first player. On the "go" command, the player runs away from the coach, looking over his shoulder at the coach. At the opportune time, the coach throws a softball, "leading" the runner with the throw like a quarterback leading a receiver. The player should not have to break stride to catch the ball. The player catches the ball, drops the ball in the bucket, and returns to the end of the line.

Purpose: To develop softball catching, softball fielding, and immediate softball throwing skills during a East-ditch effort for the final out at home plate.

Procedure: Equipments required are basket full of softballs, gloves. Position two catchers at home plate in full gear. Divide the rest of the players into the three outfield posi¬tions. The coach stands near the pitcher's mound with a bucket of softballs and simulates a hit by throwing a ball to one of the outfield positions. The first player in line charges the ball, picks it up, and throws it home, all in one fluid notion. The catcher gels into position to catch the ball and tag the runner out. The coach throws to each outfield position in turn. The two catchers rotate after three or four throws.

Purpose: Design a series of fundamental drills to practice over and over. Focus on softball catching drills. Discuss the mental game of calling pitches, taking charge, signaling play calls, and directing the defense.

Procedure: Catcher's gear and tennis balls. Regulation balls for older players.Work on different locations and types of pitches. Play with a partner or an instructor. Throw to bases with a hitter standing at home plate.

Purpose: To learn to catch a fly ball on or near the home run fence when softball fielding.

Procedure: The outfielder begins in a ready position around 15-20 yards from the outfield fence. A coach or partner stands 20-30 feet in front of the player with a ball and throws the ball up and over the player's head. The fielder turns, puts her head down, and runs to the fence. She finds the fence with her throwing arm (by touching the fence) and stays sideways to be able to move quickly one way or the other, then turns to find the ball and makes the catch. Each fielder catches 5-10 balls.

Purpose: To simulate game conditions for  softball fielding a pop-up fly ball.

Procedure: All nine players take their positions in the field. Standing at home plate, the coach hits randomly placed pop-ups. The player who's in the best position for catching the ball should yell "ball-ball-ball." The other players nearby should respond to the player's call b yelling "take it – take it." The player to whom the ball is hit should catch it and throw it back to the coach.

Purpose: To improve the outfielder's technique of opening her body to catch a fly ball hit to each of the three basic softball fielding spots – to her right; to her left; and over her head.

Procedure: The coach stands around twenty feet away as the outfielder takes a ready position. A proper ready position for a right-handed outfielder is a position in which the outfielder stagger her left foot slightly ahead of her right foot. The coach throws the ball to one of the three spots. The coach should either throw the ball as a line drive or a fly ball. When fielding a fly ball, an outfielder's first step should be in the direction in which the ball is heading. When fielding a line drive, the outfielder should use a cross-over technique as her initial step.

Purpose: This drill for catching a softball is used to practice catching any ball hit over a player's head. This drill is used for all positions and provides a good conditioning element as well.

Procedure: Players form a line behind the coach. Each player has a ball and gives it to the coach when it's her turn. The player stands facing the coach, and the coach motions to the player (by pointing) on which side of the player the coach will throw the ball. The player drop steps in that direction, turns, and runs straight back, looking back over her shoulder to the side from which the ball is coming. Once the player starts to run the coach throws a fly ball over the player's head on the side that the coach had indicated. The fielder should look back at the ball by just turning her head, not twisting her whole body, while continuing to run to make the catch. The fielder should not open up and directly face the ball: she must stay sideways so she can adjust in or out if she's misjudged the ball and then make the catch at the side of her body. Throw two to three balls to each side of the player.

Purpose: To allow the outfield defense to practice locating the outfield fence in center in order to overcome the fear of running into the fence while playing a deep fly ball.

Procedure: Drill has three tossers, who all have a shagger standing on the right side of them. The drill has one or more outfielders in each outfield position and they are at the defensive positions. The first outfielder in each line runs back toward the fence and locates the fence by touching it. At the same time, the tosser throws a fly ball that's just short of the fence making the player come back to the catch the ball. The outfielder then returns the ball to the respective shagger.