Purpose: To practice footwork and glove work for balls hit over the player's head or balls dropping in front of the player. This drill teaches players how to catch a softball.

Procedure: Partners stand 30 feet apart with one ball. One of the players is the worker and the other player is the helper. The helper starts by throwing a shoestring catch ball for the worker. The worker has to charge in, field the ball, and throw it back. The worker then breaks back and the helper throws a ball that the worker has to catch while running back. The worker makes the catch, throws it to the helper, and charges in. The helper has to continue the drill, throwing balls up and then back. Let the worker work until a certain numbers of plays have been completed, then rotate the players.

Purpose: To develop communication among the outfield defense and to practice fielding fly balls and grounders.

Procedure: Place the outfielders in their right positions. A fungoer will hit from home or near the pitcher's mound. The fungoer hits fly balls and grounders in between each fielder. One fielder calls the ball, and the other moves to back her up. The fielders can either toss the balls into a bucket or throw them back to a receiver. Perform for 10-15 minutes or until adequate repititions are completed.

Purpose: To have the outfield defense work on scoops, short hops, bloopers, and relays. This drill teaches aggressiveness and is also a good conditioning drill when the line is not too long.

Procedure: Players stand in a single-file line about 20 feet from a tosser. They all have to complete each drill before they move on to the next.

1. The first player runs toward the tosser and scoops a rolling ground ball. The fielder tosses the ball back and returns on the run to the end of the line. All in line complete drill #1 before the tosser stars drill #2.

2. For drill #2 each player, one after the other, fields a short hop, tosses the ball back, and returns to the end of the line.

Purpose: To develop proper footwork at all bases on a force out for the softball infield.

Procedure: One player at a time is up at the base, and the coach or a partner throws the fielder balls from different areas of the field. The infielders can also be spread out to their respective bases with multiple throwers. The fielder starts by standing in front of the base with her feet far enough apart to straddle it, toes facing the direction from which the ball is coming. She should stand on the balls of her feet and keep her feet parallel to each other to keep her body squared to the thrower. As the tosser throws the ball, the fielder kicks back her right foot (for a right-hander) and places it on the front edge of the base while she stretches her left leg out and reaches with both hands to receive the ball. Each player cathes 7-10 balls.

Purpose: To learn to catch a fly ball for the outfield defense when playing in sunny conditions.

Procedure: Before the drill begins, each fielder should identify the sun's position. Fielders should put their gloves up slightly sideways and closed to shield their eyes from the sun. This will prepare them for the drill. This preparation also needs to be done in the game on sunny days. Fielders can set up anywhere in the outfield where there is room. A partner tosses a ball in the air directly into the sun, and the outfielder holds up her glove as described above. If a fielder loses the ball in the sun she has to look down and try to pick up the ball as it comes out of the sun. Toss five balls and switch roles. Repeat this drill twice.

Purpose: To develop proper technique for the softball infield when diving for ground balls.

Procedure: Partners face each other, standing about 15 feet apart. The diving player turns on the balls of the feet, keeping the feet in the same spot, and faces the direction in which she will dive first. The ball should be rolled or tosses in a line drive to the side the player is facing, just out of the reach of the diving fielder. From a semicrouch position, staying low to the ground, the fielder dives out toward the toss. She lands in the dive on her chest and stomach, her body fully extended, her back slightly arched, and her head up. Using this format, practice diving to the left and right. Dive five times in each direction before switching.

Purpose: This drill teaches players how to catch a softball by having them practice scooping balls while running.

Procedure: A fielding line faces a tosser at a distance of 30 to 40 feet. In turn, each fielder runs hard at the tosser, who rolls or tosses a ball that must be scooped by the fielder. The fielder tosses it back to the tosser and goes to the end of the fielding line.

Purpose: To develop proper footwork at all bases for the softball infield on a force out.

Procedure: One player at a time is up at the base, and the coach or a partner throws the fielder balls from different areas of a field. The infielders can also be spread out to their respective bases with multiple throwers. The fielder begins by standing in front of the base with her feet far enough apart to straddle it, toes facing the direction from which the ball is coming. She should stand on the balls of her feet and keep her feet parallel to each other to keep her body squared to the thrower. As the tosser throws the ball, the fielder kicks back her right foot (for a right-hander) and places it on the front edge of the base while she stretches her left leg out and reaches with both hands to receive the ball. Each player catches 7-10 balls.

Purpose: To develop skills to teach players how to catch a softball when they receive bad throws at any base.

Procedure: A tosser sets up with a bucket of balls 10-15 feet away from a player at the base, and the fielder positions herself at the base with her body and feet facing the tosser, as if she was ready to make a force out. This drill can also be practiced with infielders at their respective bases with multiple throwing partners. The tosser throws balls that either hit the dirt or are wide to one side of the bag. As the ball is thrown, the fielder shuffles her feet to catch the ball in the center of her body. Rotate players through 10 times each, allowing them to successfully field 8-10 bad throws.

Purpose: To have softball catchers practice catching foul balls.

Procedure: From the normal receiving position behind the plate, the catcher fields foul balls thrown to all areas. The tosser faces the catcher and makes an unerhand toss. A pitching machine can also toss the ball.