150 Fastpitch Softball Pitching Drills - Sport.ca

6. Backup Responsibilities. The pitcher’s main backup responsibility comes when a ball is
hit beyond an outfielder and a potential play is being made at either third base or home
plate. Start with base runners, an outfielder, a third baseman, and a catcher, with the coach
standing at the plate. The coach places a base runner at first or second, and then hits a ball
by the outfielder, either over the player’s head or in a gap. The pitcher recognizes that a
play will be made at wither third base or the plate, and she immediately sprints toward and
crosses the third base foul line, between third and home plate, and ends up in foul territory
close to dead ball territory or the dugout. The pitcher turns to watch the play develop. She
can cheat toward the base to which the throw is likely to go. Once she knows to which base
the ball will be thrown she gets in position behind the fielder, leaving enough distance to be
able to react to the overthrow (approximately 20-30 feet). On an enclosed field the pitcher
is usually near the dugout or the fence line.
7. Knockdowns. This is meant to simulate a ball hit hard back to the pitcher off her shins or
elsewhere on her body. The pitcher lines up at the mound area, beginning the drill 2 feet in
front of the mound, facing home plate. A receiver is at first base ready for the throw from
the pitcher. A coach stands close to the pitcher with a ball. The pitcher closes her eyes, and
the coach gently tosses a ball off the pitcher’s body. The pitcher must find the ball, scoop it
up with two hands, and get into position to throw to first. The pitcher surrounds the ball so it
is on the back foot as when fielding a bunt. To add stress to the pitcher to simulate a real
game situation, the coach and other players can yell; create noise, while the pitcher is
picking up the ball.
8. Line Drive Drill. The purpose of this drill is to improve the pitcher’s ability to catch a hard
hit line drive and throw to specific bases. The pitcher will pitch a ball, which is caught by the
catcher. As the ball gets near the catcher, the coach will hit another ball as a line drive to
the pitcher, who catches it and throws the ball to second base. The drill sequence is then
repeated with the pitcher throwing the ball to third base. After around eight repetitions, the
pitchers rotate, and the drill continues for as long as desired.
9. Lateral Reaction Drill. This drill is made to improve the pitcher’s ability to react in a lateral
direction a ball. With two pitchers, one at the defensive position and the other, 20 feet in
front of the other pitcher and has a full ball bucket. The first pitcher simulates a pitch. Then
pitcher 2 throws a ball randomly to the right or left of the pitcher making him reach to catch
the ball. After eight repetitions, the pitchers rotate positions and the drill continues on for as
long as desired.
10. Pitcher’s Lateral Movement Drill. The purpose of this drill is to improve the pitcher’s
ability to react and move laterally in fielding a ground ball and to practice throwing to first
base. The pitcher pitches a ball, which is caught by the catcher. As the ball is nearing the
catcher, the coach hits another ball to the right or left of the pitcher who fields the ball and
throws to first base.
11. First Baseman Drill. There will be situations where the pitcher needs to cover first base on
ground balls. Any time the first baseman is playing back near the base and fields the ball to
her right, the pitcher must quickly break for first base. Have a coach or teammate hit
groundballs toward the hole between first and second base. The pitcher runs from the
mound to first base. As she approaches the bag, the first baseman leads her with an inside
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