By: Vince Baker (DE)

I coach "Little Lass" Youth Softball--6 to 9 year old Youth Softball. Instruction of proper mechanics, fundamentals, strategy, and rules are important at this young age to soundly develop the young player the from the very start. This drill is a highly interactive drill for the young players and focuses on three key fundamentals:

1. Baserunning-Running hard to First Base and running "through" the base and returning to the ready position on the base.
2. Fielding/Throwing-Developing fielders at several locations(primarily Pitcher, 1st Baseman, 2nd Baseman, 3rd Baseman, and Shortstop) to utilize proper fielding mechanics to react to the hit quickly, field the ball, and deliver the ball to 1st Base with a quick release and accurate and timely throw.
3. Player Positioning-Young Players must be instructed on fundamental strategies of where to position themselves in relation to the hitter as well as how to back up players at bases from the outfield. Also, decisions such as whether to charge a ball, receive it in a static position, defer it to another player due to better positioning are practiced in this drill.

Drill Setup:

1. Divide players evenly into three groups:
   • Baserunners (they start at the plate in their batting stance).
   • Fielders (they are positioned at the fielding location that you wish to develop (i.e., Pitcher, 2B, 3B, etc.).
   • Outfielders (Right Field Position only).
     
     *First Baseman - this player remains at first for the duration of the drill. Rotate through all of your First Baseman so that each player participates in this drill at all areas as well.
2. Set up the 1st Base Area by placing 2 Orange Safety Cones 6' beyond the 1st Base, with one cone on the foul line and the other cone 4 ft away from the first on the inside of the foul line. Here, you are simply creating a "Finish Line" for the players to run through and curl around on the inside of the foul line.

*First Baseman—this player remains at first for the duration of the drill. Rotate through all of your First Baseman so that each player participates in this drill at all areas as well.

Three Coaches are recommended for this drill, however, it can easily be run with two if a shortage exists.

Drill Action:

The Lead Coach (Homeplate) has a whistle and blows the whistle signaling the Batter to initiate a swing, drop the bat properly and begin their sprint to first base. While initiating the whistle, the Lead Coach either throws the ball or hits the ball to the fielder (hitting is usually preferred inorder to simulate actual game conditions). In this phase, the players learn how to get a good jump out of the box and move sharply to first after contact of the ball against the bat.

The Fielding Coach observes the fielder and ensures proper fielding techniques are utilized to move to the ball, receive it, deliver a quick release of the ball and accurate throw to the first baseman. Here, players get the feel of "timeliness" and learn the importance of getting to the ball quickly (shuffling or "Charge it"), receiving it properly ("Triangle" Fielding Position, Block, or Side Swoop for the advanced players), releasing it quickly (Step Forward,"Bow and Arrow" glove and throwing arm positioning, Arm follow-through) and hitting the target (1st Baseman's Glove) inorder to beat the runner with the throw and get the runner out at 1st Base.

The 1st Base Coach observes three actions - the baserunner's mechanics and speed in attempting to beat the throw (running fast, touching the bag while still in full stride to the "Finish Line" beyond the bag and NOT STOPPING OR SLOWING DOWN PRIOR TO OR AT THE BAG); the 1st Baseman's mechanics of getting to the bag quickly, getting a target (glove) up for the throwing fielder, getting as outstretched as possible as well as learning to "go get an errant throw in the dirt in front of the base", "field a bounce", and catch the ball properly; and lastly, ensuring that the Right Fielder has moved quickly from Right Field into a correctly angled position behind the base to "back up" the 1st Baseman so that errantly thrown balls are received and returned back to the pitcher, or, if possible, back to the 1st Baseman to tag out a slow runner by either tagging the base or the runner.

Drill Rotation:

1. The Right-Fielders when complete go to the Baserunning Line. The Baserunners return back to the Homeplate Area and pick-up their gloves and move to the Fielding Line. The Fielders move with glove to the Right Field Backup Line.
2. Coaches at each area are prepared as to what fundamentals they are coaching and ensure the players are congratulated for proper mechanics as well as instruct the players on the proper mechanics if they are not executed properly.

This drill works well with at least 7 players (2 at each station and 1 First Baseman) and should probably not exceed 10 players (3 at each station and 1 FirstBaseman) due to inactivity time.

This is a great, "all-in-one type drill" that maximizes practice time and truly enables the young player to learn these basic fundamentals the proper way from the very start. Rewards can be given, too, such as for "most putouts" and "most beating the throws".