Softball Baserunning Drills – Foul-Line Leadoffs

Purpose: To practice maintaining a balanced position after leading off, a good drill to teach part of the basics of base running.

Procedure: A pitcher uses second base as the mound and throws easily to a catcher near the pitcher's rubber. All runners are on the outfield foul line and use it as the base. They lead off on the pitcher's motion, take three steps, and assume a well-balanced position, ready to go either direction. They then react to the coach's command of "Back" or "Go." On "Go," they run three to four steps and then return to the foul line to repeat the drill. Run the drill on both foul lines so that runners becomes accustomed to watching the pitcher's release from both sides.