Numbers Drill

Explanation: This is a drill I use to turn up the heat a little during warm-ups and to get the players into a competitive mindset. it makes a good drill for the last off-field warm-up before a game.

Divide your team into groups of four. Place each group in a rectangle 60 feet long by 10 feet wide. Set up each group of four side by side about 10 feet apart.

Each group of four throws a ball in a figure eight, with a long throw of 60 feet, a quick toss of 10 feet, another throw of 60 feet and another toss of 10 feet completing the figure eight. concentrate on good footwork receiving a toss so that you can instantly make the next throw.

After a couple of rounds in each direction, have all groups position the ball at the same corner of their group.On the“go”signal, each group will throw three laps in one direction immediately followed by three laps in the other direction. Have the person who started with the ball call out loudly,“one,”“two,”“three, reverse!” as the ball reaches them each time so that all groups feel the pressure of which group is leading the race.

This drill helps with footwork, quick and accurate transfers, tosses, and throws of base length, and spices it up with a little friendly competition over who can get it done first with no errors. It improves focus and is a good early morning wake-up or pre-game drill after the basic throwing warm-ups are done.

If you have younger girls, age six to nine, reduce the rectangles to eight by 30 feet so that the focus is on quickness, footwork, and good handling rather than throwing hard.