Softball Practice Drills – Angle Back With Cones

Purpose: To improve the softball infield, especially the middle infielder's, footwork when fielding balls hit up the middle or in the hole.

Procedure: Set up cones to the right and left of the fielder. Place the cones around three steps behind and four steps to the side of the fielder. One tosser (or coach) per two players usually works best. Make the fielder begin in ready position facing the tosser, who rolls ground balls to the outside of the cones. The fielder has to take a drop step back with the foot on the ball side and then turn and sprint around the cone to the spot. The objective in this drill is to cut the ball off and make sure it doesn't get through the infield. By taking an angle the player allows the ball to travel farther, which gives herself more time to get to it. The fielder can throw the ball back to the tosser or put it in a bucket. Finally, switch fielders on each ball, and make each player field 10-15 balls.