coaches (or anyone) please submit your fave...

[nadx]

"spice up a practice drill"! please list a one or two drills you have used that might add a bit of fun to all those practices we do with the gals. perhaps we can see one we wouldnt have thought of. also please be sure to list the age level you feel they are best suited to. i wont say skill level, because I am assuming these are for comp. teams.

couple we use:

"around the Horn Game"
divide into two equal teams. you need all infield positions except for pitcher for team A, and a team B for baserunners.

one team (A) starts in the infield and one team (B) starts by running the bases.

a coach will start the game by hitting a ground ball to short. the short stop (team A) then throws to 1st base. the 1st baseman must snag -touch their base and then throw to the 3rd basemen, who also must touch 3rd before throwing to the 2nd basemen. The 2nd baseman must catch and also touch 2nd before firing the ball home. OH, did i mention a baserunner from the other team (team B) is flying around the bases the same second the coach put the ball in play to short? this is where the fun and skill building and baserunning come into play! whatever the skill there are usually several close plays at home (for asfety, just make it a force out at home an not a tag play/,,i prefer no sliding if not needed. once all players have ran, switch out and the infielders run and runners go to play infield.

level: 12U: & 10U..........could also probably be used for 14U

"find the grass game" basically like playing real ball or intrasquad scrimmage) with a couple caveats; if a batter hits the ball to the grass (past the infield) in the air it's a homerun, batter hits it and it skips or rolls to the grass it's a double. just a fun way to end practice, we usually play two innings and let our girls play all kinds of new positions as we dont use outfielders for this game - it's more of an emphasis on whacking that ball good!

level: 12U: & 10U..........can also be used for 14U

please submit some more ideas on "How to Spice up a practice" thank you!

[nadx]

come'on ...don't be shy, i know you're lookin'. ....i know i would really appreciate some ideas without having to do a bunch of googling........i'm sure others would too

[thedoanezone]

Supposedly used by the Japanese National team....and they do it in under a minute.

set up around the horn spots at 20', 40', and 60'. 1 girl at each base. start at 20' feet (girl at home stays at home, every one else will move)...ball goes around the horn three times (Home-> 1st->2nd->3rd->Home) ...as soon as the girl at 1st throws for the third time around the horn at 20' she heads (sprints) to 40' spot and repeats (as do the girls at 2nd and 3rd after throwing their third time around the horn)....and heads to 60' spot and repeats.

Throws should be altered for different distances...more rock and fire at 20'....maybe off the front foot with the 40' distance and quick catch /pivot throw at 60'. Reverse direction to get lefties work on their footwork as well

[pbj2000]

At the end of practice when all of our girls are good and tired from working hard. We like to split them up into two teams...

one team on 2nd

one team on home

and have them do a relay race around the bases and hand off the softball to the next person in line...

first team to get the ball back to the person who started wins...helps them with base running even after there exhausted...

either that or we line them up at second with no glove and just hit hard grounders at them (target practice) j/k

[nadx]

good, good , thanx, keep 'em coming, parents too, what drills do your gals tell you they like

[PDad]

At the end of practice when all of our girls are good and tired from working hard. We like to split them up into two teams...

one team on 2nd

one team on home

and have them do a relay race around the bases and hand off the softball to the next person in line...

first team to get the ball back to the person who started wins...helps them with base running even after there exhausted...

This is a very popular one. Keep the girls starting on 2nd from stepping on homeplate though because their cleats tend to slip on it when turning - draw a box in front of the plate. I've seen some nasty spills...

[PDad]

Here's an elimination contest for batting with variations for different age/skill levels.

Start with all the players in a dugout. Each girl takes a turn at bat against a coach pitching and needs to hit a ball into fair territory without striking out (all foul balls count as a strike). They go to the other dugout if they get a hit or out onto the field if they don't.

Second time through they start with 1 strike. After that, they start with 2 strikes. If nobody gets a hit in a round, all those batters advance to next round. Last batter standing wins.

Variations for older/better players:
- Start with 1 or 2 strikes in first round.
- Hitters need to reach 1B safely against the eliminated players on the field.

[pbj2000]

Here's an elimination contest for batting with variations for different age/skill levels.

Start with all the players in a dugout. Each girl takes a turn at bat against a coach pitching and needs to hit a ball into fair territory without striking out (all foul balls count as a strike). They go to the other dugout if they get a hit or out onto the field if they don't.

Second time through they start with 1 strike. After that, they start with 2 strikes. If nobody gets a hit in a round, all those batters advance to next round. Last batter standing wins.

Variations for older/better players:
- Start with 1 or 2 strikes in first round.
- Hitters need to reach 1B safely against the eliminated players on the field.

I like this one...but what if the coach can't pitch worth a squat? haha does everyone automatically advance if he hits them?

[Tumblebug]

We play 21 outs. All the players take their spots and subs trade in at their spots and live runners. the idea is to simulate a game with a coach hitting the ball into the defense setting up situations and exploiting them for teaching purposes. it moves very fast and lets the coach reinforce specific training by simulating the circumstances "live."

[PDad]

Here's an elimination contest for batting with variations for different age/skill levels. ...

I like this one...but what if the coach can't pitch worth a squat? haha does everyone automatically advance if he hits them?

Then your team is screwed...

Your 2nd question was rhetorical, but it reminds me - no free passes (i.e. walks or HBPs).