Practice Competition Drills

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Jul 10, 2008
380
18
Central PA
All-Knowing Board: I've got an idea that next year during my team's high school softball season I'd like to incorporate daily "Competition Drills". Our staff has used competition semi-regularly during the season, but I'd like to ratchet it up a notch, simply because I need this year's team to be a little more competitive/aggressive.

Here's the request: Post your favorite practice drill that incorporates competition. Briefly explain the drill and how the drill is competitive (including points, rewards, penalties, etc.)

My Vision: To have a daily "Competition Drill" that will get the kids super engaged and focused, and to have it be something they look forward to each day at practice. I'd like to have as many different skills addressed as possible (i.e. fielding, throwing, baserunning, hitting, pitching, catchers, etc.). I'd like to have between 15-18 of these to spread out over the course of three weeks of practice, and then recycle the ones that worked and retire the ones that didn't.

I'll record and organize the submitted drills by skills in a Google Doc, and share it out to whomever wants a copy. I can make the Google Doc a PDF file at any time, so it can also be shared that way with those who aren't Google-philes. :)

Thanks!

Mike
 
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sluggers

Super Moderator
Staff member
May 26, 2008
7,133
113
Dallas, Texas
My favorite competition drill is a pop up challenge. I put the girls out there and hit them increasingly difficult popups. I start with a simple one and gradually increase the difficulty. You have to have pretty good fungo skills, but they kids really love it...and I'm always amazed when a kid does a back-to-the-ball over-the-shoulder catch.

If a ball is mishit, I call a do-over, so I have some control over how far the kids progress. I hit the balls quickly, so by the end, the kids are running all over the place.

Other drills:

A simply throwing accuracy drill is really fun. Put a ball on the pitching tee at home plate and have the kids knock the ball off the tee. Another is a distance throwing drill--no accuracy, just who ever can throw the ball farthest.

As to rewards/penalties: I don't believe in doing anything that might "hurt" the girls. Maybe a lap around the infield or 10 pushups...something that they all can do without difficulty.

The other thing is to make sure the same kid doesn't win all the time--so, make sure that one drill goes to one girls strengths and then the next competition plays to that girls weakness.
 
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marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
As to rewards/penalties: I don't believe in doing anything that might "hurt" the girls. Maybe a lap around the infield or 10 pushups...something that they all can do without difficulty.

The other thing is to make sure the same kid doesn't win all the time--so, make sure that one drill goes to one girls strengths and then the next competition plays to that girls weakness.

Winner doesn't have to pick up all the balls or winners get first drink break. That is the standard we use for our competitions.

There is so many we use. Everything is drill/learning/coaching and then competition to try and put pressure on the learned skill. We find if you do that it helps speed up the chances they execute in a game the same skill.

Hitting Survivor: 2 strikes, and increasing difficulty each round (contact, fair, in the grass, bunt, bunt down 1st base, longest hit to end, make up your own criteria). Eliminated players shag balls in outfield.

Throwing w/ back up: two teams, one team throws home to third, one 1st to second. Must make an out on each throw, first to 20 outs, must change players catching each throw. (players in line backup the player catching)

Throwing: Teams of two. Start about 20' apart. If both girls catch - one takes 2 steps back. One catch only stay where you are. Both drop, one takes two steps in. One minute - team furthest apart at end wins.

Throwing: Teams of two. 20 quick throws. Start moderate distance apart. Quickest to 20 throws -teaches moving feet, catching with hands together, etc, etc.

Field and Throw: Two teams. Two nets at 1st base. Two coaches hitting. One line at SS, one line at 3rd. Set number of grounders/flyballs (generally enough to get through the line 3-4 times). One point for every ball in your net (SS throws to left net, 3rd to right). Yes you can score for the other team if your throw is off. Switch lines and add scores to determine winner.

5 minute game: This one is fun and there is a lot of at-bats and hitting and everything else. Two teams. Batting team: 2 strikes on you, goal is to get to first safely or hit into the outfield. Fielding team will generally play infield only. Coach generally front tosses (or off machine, or live pitching if you have it). Batters get 5 minutes to get as many at-bats as they can in. Coach will pitch to the next batter when the current batters gets back into the dugout (hustle, hustle, hustle).
Batting Scoring (change to suit): 1 point fair, 2 points into the net if coach pitching, 3 points safe at first, 5 points in the grass
Fielding team (change to suit): 3 points for every out
We don't let anyone play the same infield position more than once - we generally play 2 innings in 20 minutes - sometimes 3 or more (or until the parents start giving us dirty looks about how late it is getting). We occasionally put runners on base as well, or 10 points for doubles if we have outfielders...

Bunting grid: Set up scoring zones for bunting and assign different scoring for getting in each zone. (example 2 pts for the area right in front of home plate, 2 points for down either line, 1 point for down the line but a little longer than optimal, 0 points for area back to pitcher). We also do double points if they call where the bunt is going and are successful.

And so on... You can work out a game for almost everything.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Star Game: Two teams of 5-6. One team runs and the other sets up in the infield. Coach is at HP with a bat and starts each play off with a hit to F6. Then players throw in a set pattern and try to beat the runner home. The pattern is: 6, 3, 5, 4, 1 and 2. Eliminate the pitcher if there are only 5 players. The fielders are only trying to make good throws and ignore the bases/runner except at home, and the catcher needs to touch HP before the runner. Play for 3 outs or five runs then switch. Since there’s no position play, I rotate the kids every time out and go 3-4 sets. Based on the skills/speed, you may need to adjust the starting point of the runners up the first base line. Younger kids, or teams with throwing control issues can be encouraged to back each other up (F4 backs up F3, etc.

Bunny on a Bucket: Teams of 3-4 set up around the infield, each behind a line or cone to start. Stuffed animal, soccer ball set on a bucket at HB. Coaches near HB with buckets of balls hit grounders to each team. Players up cannot leave the line/cone until the ball is hit and can only take the minimum steps to field, transfer and throw (Kids learn to charge the ball to get as close as possible.) 3 points for a direct hit and 1 point for a bounce. (Option: if using a tee and a soccer ball, I score like this: 3 pts for direct hit, 2 for a bounce and 1 pt for hitting the tee.)

Protect the house: Using a wall, backstop section, cones, base line, etc., players try to keep the ball from hitting the wall/fence, or going over the line. Can be played with 1-3 players at a time and there are several variations. Coach can hit 10 grounders to each player/team and keep score before rotating, or player/teams stay in until they miss and keep track of their highest string of saves. Next time around, coach can hit one hops, then low drives, above the head drives, and lobs just at the limit of their reach.

Another option is to set up two opposing lines with opponents facing each other. Opponents take turns rolling grounders at each other. The ball must bounce at least twice before reaching the first opponent. With base lines or other markers, I like to make a grid with a second line about ten feet behind the first. The second line is the actual goal for the opponent to get across. The first attempt to stop the ball must be in front of the first line and any backup or second attempt must be before the ball crosses the second line. Younger kids learn quickly to back each other up.

Grid games for pop flies are fun for individuals or small teams. Set up an appropriate sized grid and kids get 10 flies before rotating. Feed the flies quick enough that they have to hustle from corner, hopefully encouraging them to lie out.

Glove Tag: For warm up. Kids in a marked circle with gloves on. Tags must be on the back. If tagged, the player has to sprint around the outside of the circle 1-2 time before reentering. At the end, play queen of the circle and if tagged, they’re out. As kids get out, quickly shrink the circle.

I like marriard's suggestion to use progressions--present a skill and go through it at slow speed to dial the form, then turn it into a competition and you only get credit for using the form. Then take the skill to a scrimmage and teams get extra points/outs for executing the skill.


Have fun,
Ken
 
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Oct 19, 2009
1,827
0
I would play lot of these little games with the kids that has already been mentioned. The winner would select a toy from a bucket they could not see into.

I would purchase the toys at the Dollar Tree and they were inexpensive stuff, sometimes Poo Bear stuff, rubber balls and ETC. The young kids were glad to get the toys and the older kids would aggravate each other about getting the Poo Bear toys. It was a lot of fun.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
I forgot one:

Sliding Limbo: Using a pool noodle or tee end, have a sliding competition. Start holding the stick about shoulders high and 2-3 paces out. Get progressively lower and closer until you're holding the stick a few inches off the ground and a few inches out. This can be done in grass on a wet day. On a hot day we bring a few jugs of water to get the grass wet. Fun game to end practice.
 
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Jan 24, 2013
82
0
Bolingbrook, IL
Love these ideas. Keep them coming.

Here's one for you.

Bucket relay:
3-4 teams depending on how many players. one bucket for each team. One member of each team sits on the bucket and the rest of the team is 30ft away with 4 balls on the ground. The first person must throw the balls one at a time to the bucket person, who catches the balls without moving off the bucket. When all 4 balls are thrown, the thrower must first retreive any errant throws give the balls to the catcher/bucket person and and then the catcher/ bucket person can bring the balls back to the next thrower and go to the end of the line and the thrower becomes the bucket sitter/catcher. First team through everyone wins.
 
Feb 3, 2010
5,752
113
Pac NW
Ball Relay: (an alternative to running lines) 3 runners per line. 4 markers set inline about 7-10 paces apart. The first marker acts as the starting line (the foul line works.) Set a ball next to each marker except for the starting marker (3 balls per group.) On "go" the first person from each team runs out and picks up the first ball, runs back and sets it next to the starting marker, then does the same with the second and third balls. On the last ball, they pass it off to the next runner on their team who runs out to the first marker and sets it down. They do the same with the next two balls. First team done sits. So to clarify, the first runner picks up and brings back one ball at at a time; the second puts them back; and so on.
 
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Jul 10, 2008
380
18
Central PA
Here is the link to the Google Doc that I'm recording these drills on. This is a live document, so I'll keep updating it and you'll be able to see the changes as they occur. If you would prefer a PDF of the most current version, send me a PM and I'll send it to you.

Thanks again for the drills, and keep them coming!

Mike
 
Jul 3, 2012
14
1
Iowa
Here’s one I just started doing the other night at practice (10u). We call it “Throw it to First” (yeah dumb but simple). Split teams evenly. Place a BigMouth BowNet just in front of first base. Coach will be hitting from home plate, girls will start by lining up where your 2nd basemen usually would. They get 8 balls per team (the amount of balls can be adjusted accordingly) to get the ball in the net, in the pocket (why the bigmouth works well here). A one hopper is acceptable if it hops into the nets pocket. End of their half of the inning, they count and replace balls back to coach, next team in. After inning one, then the players then move to shortstop, then over to third, keeping their overall score. Tie breakers usually work backwards until tie is broken. If they miss a ball or it goes past them, they lose that opportunity to throw and score a point.
 

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