Softball Hitting Drills – Rock Ball

Purpose: This game emphasizes the hitting of line drives. Always try to improve on your softball hitting techniques

Procedure: Equipment to be used are Home plate, bat, small Nerf ball or Rag Ball, and cones. There are two foul lines encompassing three "cones" (outfield, infield and pitcher). Defensive teams may place as many players as desired (up to 10) into either the infield or outfield zones. Defensive players may field balls only within their zones, and should switch zones each inning. Offensive teams may place any of its players as the pitcher (same team), and may alternate them after each completed At-bat. The pitcher must stay within the "pitcher's zone" the entire At-bat, and may deliver the pitch from anywhere inside that zone.

A pitch may be delivered as soon as all offensive players (except pitcher and hitter) are behind the "dugout line" (use equipment bags), regardless of the defensive team's readiness. A pitcher may stop any ball hit by the batter (same team) before it reaches the "infield zone" (ruled a foul ball). All offensive players hit in successive order regardless of playing infield, outfield, or sitting out. Reserves should take turns alternating into play each inning. The home plate umpire calls outs, foul balls, zone infraction, home runs, and base hits. Offensive teams have three outs per inning. Each batter may receive up to two pitches and a At-bat before being called out. Outs (adiust to skill level) include any swing and

a miss, balls caught in the air, or any foul ball hit beyond the "pitcher's zone". Base hits include any fair ball dropping to the ground beyond the "pitcher's zone"; stopping within a fair "defensive zone" without being touched by the defense, or which is miss-played; or passing through the "infield zone." There are no doubles or triples. Home runs are any balls hit over an outfielder's head (umpire's discretion). No half-inning can last longer than five minutes or have more than five runs scored. No inning can start five minutes before the end of the "Rock Ball" time period (umpires call). Both teams must receive equal offensive and defensive innings. All runs must be forced in.