Free Softball Drills – Balls to Spots

Purpose: To teach the outfield defense to run to a spot and then find the ball. This skill is used for balls that the player quickly knows are over her head but that she can still catch. This drill includes a good conditioning part as well.

Procedure: Outfielders form a line at one of the starting positions like everyone lines up in left field. One outfielder is up at a time, and a coach is in front of the fielder. Before tossing the ball the coach picks a spot to the left or right of the player, around 30 feet behind her, and shows the spot to the player. This spot should be within the range of a sprinting outfielder. When the coach tosses the ball to the designated spot the player puts her head down (taking her eyes off the ball and sprints to the spot she thinks the ball will be.) Next, she turns to find the ball and catches it. Toss 8-10 balls to a spot to the left of each outfielder and then repeat to the right.