Purpose: Drill for the outfield defense that has adjacent outfielders practice communicating, taking an angle to the ball, and backing up each other.

Procedure: Two lines of outfielders about 40 feet apart face a hitter with a catcher. Balls are hit between the two fielders. One outfielder calls for the ball and takes the direct (short) angle to the ball. The other outfielder takes a deep (long) angle and backs up her teammate, ready to field the ball. Players can put balls in buckets to save time and arms. Players rotate to the end of the opposite line.

Purpose: To practice defensive aspects of rundowns with a runner.

Procedure: This softball defense drill uses two lines of fielders who take defensive positions for a rundown with a runner between bases. Have several runners ready to rotate in or have one runner who rotates to a defensive position after running. If the players are not on the diamond, number the bases so that the defense will know which is the lesser base. A coach throws a ball to the player at the front of one line. The defense may have to make a throw to get the ball to the player who can chase the runner back to the lesser base. The players then work on proper execution of the rundown, using only three throws to get the runner. The runner wins on the fourth throw and gets to rotate out.

Purpose: A drill for the softball infield that lets them practice pivot footwork while saving the pivot player's arm.

Procedure: A feeder has a bucket of balls from which to feed the pivot. One pivot or a single-file line of several players can perform the drill. The feeder throws to the pivot from a distance of about 15 feet from either the shortstop or second-base side of the infield. (You can also include feeds from the pitcher's position to the shortstop, who makes the pivot.) The receiver is several steps from the base facing the feeder. She catches the ball, turns the pivot, and makes a short throw to the first baseman, who is set up on the base line midway between first and second. The emphasis is on making the pivot, so the pivot player can save her arm by throwing to the first baseman at half the normal distance. The pivot player returns to repeat the drill or goes to the end of the line.

Purpose: To increase range while staying behind the ball, teaches players how to catch a softball.

Procedure: Place two cones about 12 feet apart to serve as targets and boundaries. A tosser with a ball stands about 15 feet in front of each cone. A fielder takes a position midway between the cones and several steps in front of them so that the cones will not interfere with her movement. The first tosser rolls a ball toward a cone. The fielder sidesteps to the ball, gathers it in, returns it underhand to the tosser, resets in the middle, and then goes the other way to field a ball rolled by the second tosser. The fielder must concentrate on footwork and staying square behind the ball.

Purpose: Drill that teaches how to catch a softball by having players learn to react and drop step to the appropriate side.

Procedure: The coach faces players, who are in a staggered position in three or four lines. The coach points direction with a ball. Players react with a drop step in that direction. They return to ready position and repeat. When the drop step becomes automatic, add the turn with inside and outside rolls. Then add easy tosses.

Purpose: To learn to play the fence, which is very important for the outfielder.

Procedure: The drill uses outfielders, a relay, and a catcher. The outfielders form a line in left, right, or center field. A tosser about 15 feet from the fence throws the ball so that it lands against the fence. From a fielding position about 20 feet in front of the fence, an outfielder goes quickly to the fence, plants her foot against it, picks up the ball, listens for the relay's voice, and throws to her. Emphasize the bent front leg for the throw and hitting the relay.

Purpose: To locate a targe and use proper body alignment, helping a player with softball throwing mechanics.

Procedure: The thrower stands in the middle of a square or in the middle of the diamond. When using the diamond, receivers should use correct positions at the bases. The coach throws or rolls a ball to the thrower and calls a position number where the throw is to be made. The receiver returns the throw quickly and accurately to the catcher so that the drill can continue. Go as fast as players' skills will allow.

Purpose:  To practice getting behind the ball while fielding and to improve conditioning. This drills teaches outfielders how to catch a softball correctly.

Procedure: Partners stand about 30 feet apart. One partner tosses a ball to various spots in front of the fielder, who runs to get behind the ball, makes the catch, and makes a good return throw to the tosser. The tosser throws balls for one minute before the players rotate.

Purpose: Drill for softball infielders to let them improve quickness and range moving to first base.

Procedure: The first baseman takes a position halfway to home as if fielding a bunt. On the coach's command "go," she sprints to the base (turning inward to the diamond), finds the base, takes the receiving position, catches an imaginary ball, and tags the base. The player repeats the drill, moving ever closer to home to increase the distance and push herself to improve quickness in getting to the base.

Purpose: Allows softball catchers to practice making throws to a player covering home after recovering passed balls or wild pitches.

Procedure: The catcher assumes a squat position. Another catcher or pitcher faces home plate and throws wild pitches that the catcher lets go by. The thrower then covers home to receive the return throw from the catcher. The drill can also be started by dropping the ball against the backstop.