Infield Drills – Kim Sowder – Long Beach State

by Kim Sowder - Long Beach State University

excerpt from The Softball Drill Book - available at www.HumanKinetics.com

HOT BOX

Purpose
To work on fielding ground balls, getting throws off quickly, conditioning, and concentration

Organization
Place two hitters about 70 feet (21.3 meters) apart on the infield. Each hitter will need a player to catch for her and to toss her balls. Position a fielding player with a glove between the two hitters.

Execution
Hitter 1 hits a ground ball to the fielder, who fields the ball quickly and throws to catcher 1. The fielder then quickly turns around and fields another ball hit by hitter 2 and throws to catcher 2. This process continues back and forth until the fielder fields a set number of ground balls. Note that each hitter should begin to hit her ground ball as soon as the fielder has released the ball to the opposite side.

Variation
Make this drill as tough as you want. It is recommended that each fielder field anywhere from 20 to 30 ground balls. If you think a fielder is taking her time getting rid of the ball and working at half-speed, keep her in the box longer. You can make this drill a competition by hitting all players the same number of balls and counting how many they field and throw cleanly.

Coaching Points
Players are working on reaction to the ball and getting rid of the ball quickly, as if for a close play. The drill is harder than it sounds. Players will tire and must concentrate more than ever by the end of the drill. You must keep the drill moving to make it work, so have plenty of spare balls next to your catchers in case of a bad throw or hit. You can run this drill at the beginning of practice to get your players' minds and bodies warmed up. Have players not involved in the "hot box" watch and give encouragement from the sidelines.

FIVE-BALL FUNGO

Purpose
To help fielders read the ball off the bat and move their feet for different types of throws

Organization
You'll need a hitter at home plate and a tosser nearby with a bucket of balls. All infielders are at their positions with their gloves.

Execution
Begin the drill by designating one player to cover the field and receive the first five ground balls. All other infielders should cover a base to receive a throw from the designated fielder. The hitter (or coach) at home hits balls being tossed up from the tosser next to the plate. The first ball is hit gamelike off the bat for the fielder to read and field. A total of five balls will be hit to each fielder during her turn. The first ball should be thrown to 1B, the second ball should be thrown to 2B, the third to 3B, the fourth back to 2B, and the fifth back to 1B. After the first fielder receives her five grounders, the next fielder takes her turn, and the remaining fielders cover a base to receive throws. Each gets an opportunity to field five gamelike ground balls from the hitter or coach hitting side-toss fungos.

Variations
This drill can be done with a coach just hitting a ground ball and not from a side toss. The purpose of the side toss is to create a gamelike reaction of the ball off the bat. The first time you run this drill, you can roll rather than hit balls to the fielders so they can focus on their footwork and throws.

Coaching Points
This drill is gamelike for infielders, giving them a chance to read where a pitch is going and how a hitter reacts. Players need to be able to move their feet after fielding the ball to line up their throws to the bases. Each infielder should be able to switch directions and make throws after fielding a variety of types of ground balls.

INFIELD BOX

Purpose
To work footwork and proper technique on different types of throws needed in the infield

Organization
You'll need five or more players, a set of throw or portable bases, and a ball. This drill can be done outside on the dirt or inside on a gym or artificial floor. Place the bases about 15 feet (4.5 meters) apart to form a square. Put at least one player at every base and the extra player with the ball at one of the four bases. Each stage of this drill progressively increases the distance between the bases, eventually reaching a full 60 feet (18.2 meters).

Execution
For the first round, players work on the forehand toss. The player with the ball rolls the ball to the player at the next base in clockwise direction. The next player steps in to field the ball with proper technique and then turns and tosses a forehand toss to the next player in the clockwise position. Meanwhile, the first player is sprinting to the same base that she just rolled the ball toward. Other players similarly sprint to the base that they throw to immediately after releasing the ball. The player who receives the forehand toss catches the ball and places a tag at the base and then immediately rolls the ball to the next player, and the process is repeated. Players always sprint and follow their roll or toss. After players have gone all the way around the bases and end up at the base at which they started, switch directions and work on the backhand side. Once players again return to their original base, move the bases out to about 30 feet (9.1 meters) apart. The drill goes back to the forehand direction, and players work on a drop-knee throw to the forehand side. After a complete rotation and players are back at their original bases, switch direction again to work on the backhand side. Players always sprint and follow their throws or rolls. Move the bases out to 50 feet (15.2 meters) and then out to a full 60 feet (18.2 meters), each time running the drill as described. Players work on their footwork for full throws around the bases in both directions.

Variations
Challenge the group by observing how many throws they can get in a set amount of time. Or observe how many bases or good throws the team can make without a bad or errant throw. To raise the difficulty and get increased technique focus, run this drill with players bouncing short hops to each other instead of rolling the ball.

Coaching Points
Work this drill in both directions. Make sure that players are placing proper tags down to the base after receiving each throw. Stress proper fielding technique. Good throws allow a player at the base to keep her feet set and not have to reach for the ball.