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Published: July 2006
Categories: Infield Defense Outfield Defense
Type: drill
Purpose: To develop quick hands, quick feet, accurate throws and conditioning
Explanation: We use this drill on a daily basis right after we do our warm-up throwing. Split your team into two groups with half midway between first and second base and the other half midway between third base and home plate.
To start the drill, the coach throws the ball to the first person in either line. The lines move to the left of the first person so they are not in the line of fire. The person with the ball gets sideways and throws a shoulder high throw to the first person in the other line. The thrower turns to her right, across the infield to the end of the other line. The first person in the second line stays square and catches the ball with two hands. She gets sideways and throws to the second person in the first line. She sprints to her right and goes to the end of the opposite line. This continues until everyone goes through twice.
Immediately the girls switch to throw No. 2, which is a dart throw on the run. They throw while running at the target. All throws and catches are done on the move. The rest of the action stays the same with each girl running and throwing twice.
Immediately the girls switch to throw No. 3, which is fielding a bunt or slow roller. The lines need to move closer together to about 10 feet apart. The first person throws a slow roller then runs to the right to the end of the other line. The first person in the opposite line fields the ball with the side of her glove and backhands our underhands a throw to the second person in the opposite line. That person catches the ball, tags the ground, and then throws a slow roller. The drill continues until every girl goes through twice. The underhand and backhand throws are practiced daily as part of our warm-up throwing progressions.
Upon conclusion, the team brings it in. We break down and move on to the next part of practice. During the two-line drill, the coach should have spare softballs so the drill can continue quickly after a poor throw.
If you feel your team is having too many overthrows, you can add phase two. If there is an overthrow, the girl that threw the ball sprints after it and hands it to the person that was receiving it. While she is sprinting, everyone else is doing pushups.
We have found this drill so useful and important that we do it on a daily basis.