Youth Softball Drills – Don't Miss

Purpose: This game is best suited for toddlers learning how to hit.  It's also a great way to prevent them from throwing the bat. It's important to start with a player's softball hitting technique at a young age

Procedure: You will need Tees, bats, balls, helmets, bases, cones, and bicycle tires or hula hoops. Devise two teams. The batter hits off of the tee placed on home plate- If they miss the ball, or if they knock the tee over, it's a strike. Three strikes and you're out. They are also out if they fling the bat after contact. To prevent this, instruct the kids to place the bat on the bicycle tire or hula hoop just behind the plate. After a fair ball, He/she runs to first base.

You can also incorporate fielding and throwing exercises into this game. Place the tires or hoops (one for each fielder) adjacent to the defensive team (horizontal or zigzag). After retrieving the ball, players must runover and get into their tire or hoop. The ball must then be thrown and caught (overhand or underhand) in succession. While this is going on, the offensive team runs around a pair of cones. This scoring system stops once each fielder has caught the ball The instructor should yell "stop" to  stop the action.