Purpose: To let softball catchers practice getting to the ball quickly and accurately and throwing it back to the plate.

Procedure: The catcher starts in a ready position at home plate in full gear. A coach is in front of the catcher and throws a ball behind the catcher, simulating a wild pitch. The coach can take the throw from the catcher or use a pitcher. The catcher throws off her mask in the direction opposite the ball (to avoid tripping over it) and runs back to the backstop, surrounding the ball so that her throwing arm is closest to the backstop. As she nears the ball, she should fall to her knees and slide toward it. Using the back of her glove as a brace, the catcher picks the ball up with the bare hand and sidearm throws the ball back to the plate. The ball should be thrown about 1-2 feet up the line at knee height. Each catcher makes 10 throws.

Purpose: To develop a quick pivot for softball catchers.

Procedure: From the squat position the catcher pivots to the throwing position as quickly as possible on the command "Throw." She uses the jump pivot as well.

Purpose: To practice throwing to all bases for softball catchers.

Purpose: To have softball catchers prepared for the intentional walk.

Procedure: A lined catcher's box is needed for this drill. A pitcher can also practice intentional walks at this time or a coach can pitch. The catcher sets up standing behind the plate but in the batter's box opposite the batter. The catcher can then indicate the target at her chest with the glove hand. Once the ball leaves the pitcher's hand, the catcher may step out of the catcher's box. Practice two or three walks on both sides of the plate.

Purpose: To have softball catchers practice catching foul balls.

Procedure: From the normal receiving position behind the plate, the catcher fields foul balls thrown to all areas. The tosser faces the catcher and makes an unerhand toss. A pitching machine can also toss the ball.

Purpose: To practice blocking low pitches or balls in the dirt for softball catchers. This is a key skill drill for catchers, with the benefit of providing a good conditioning element as well.

Procedure: Catchers can work with another catcher or a coach serving as a tosser. The catcher, in full gear, starts in the ready position for receiving a pitch. The tosser stands approximately 20 feet in front of her. The tosser begins by throwing a ball in the dirt (or on the ground if working inside) directly at the catcher. The catcher should drop to both knees as her glove drops, palms up, directly between her legs. At the same time, she should drop the chin to the chest and round the shoulders, creating an enclosure. The ball should stay in front of the catcher. Each catcher blocks two sets of 5 or 10 balls.

Purpose: Drill for softball catchers where they will develop the proper set-up position to receive the ball and take a collision with the runner attempting to score.

Procedure: The catcher sets up 1-2 feet up the third base foul line. The catcher's feet must be facing the direction from which the ball is being thrown. The left foot is close to the third base foul line, taking away most of the plate. The coach throws balls to the plate on one bounce from the mound or a little deeper. As the catcher receives the ball, she begins to square her body toward third base with her feet facing third. Her knees must be bent. In a game situation, if the runner slides, the catcher simultaneously receives the ball and begins to go down on both knees to tag the runner with two hands to prevent the ball from being knocked out. If the runner tries to avoid the tag by sliding to the back of the plate, the catcher must take her hands to the plate for the tag. She doesn't try to chase the runner – the runner must come to the plate to be safe. Each catcher takes 5-10 throws.

Purpose: To teach softball catchers how to make more pitches look like strikes. Framing pitches does not mean pulling or yanking pitches back toward the plate; it is simply an attempt to widen the plate to increase the chance of getting the corners called as strikes.

Procedure: The catcher can work with another catcher or a coach. One catcher sets up in the ready position, approximately 5-6 feet from her partner. If you're using two catchers, one player at a time throws the ball to the other. Start with only one pitch location at a time, for example, high and inside. It's better to start with inside pitches because they are the easiest to frame. The idea is to catch the side of the ball for inside and outside pitches and the top hald of the ball for high and low pitches. On all pitches catchers should not allow the hand to move away from the plate after the ball hits the glove. Throw 10 balls to each spot: high and inside, low and inside, high and outside, low and outside. Work repetitions with one pitch location at a time until mastered.

Purpose: To practice throws to bases and improve conditioning.

Procedure: Randomly place six to eight balls in front of home. From the squat position the catcher explodes and throws to a receiver at the base, hustles back into catching position, and continues until all of the balls have been thrown. Repeat the drill with the catcher throwing to a different base.

Purpose: To improve quickness for softball catchers.

Procedure: A pitcher throws from a distance of about 20 feet, pitching the ball inside or outside to a catcher in receiving position. The catcher's hips are up to improve quickness for throwing out the runner. After catching the ball, the catcher quickly moves her feet and assumes the throwing position with both arms up, then freezes in that position to check for proper alignment.