Whether you’re a youth coach or leading a competitive travel team, effective softball practices rely on purpose-driven drills. Your players want to compete. Your job is to prepare them with game-speed skills, instincts, and decision-making under pressure. In this article, we’ll break down five of the most trusted softball drills for practice—each one designed to sharpen specific skills, keep athletes engaged, and help your team play cleaner, faster, and more confidently on game day.
These drills are used at the highest levels of the game, from NFCA-certified coaches to USA Softball national teams. You’ll find links to trusted sources so you can dig deeper and confidently implement these into your next practice.
Drill 1: Ozzie Drill
📍 Focus: Infield glove work, short hops, clean transfers
This drill, made famous by Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, helps infielders develop soft hands and quick transitions. It’s especially effective for short hops and tough ground balls on bad infield surfaces.
Setup:
- One infielder kneels without a glove, with a partner or coach 15–20 feet away.
- Use a tennis ball or softer training ball to begin.
Execution:
- Coach tosses or rolls short-hop balls at varying angles.
- Fielder scoops barehanded, absorbs the ball softly, and resets quickly for the next rep.
Coaching Points:
- Emphasize staying low, absorbing the ball into the fingers (not palms), and leading with the glove hand.
- Add a glove and throws across the field after initial rounds.
Drill 2: Blind Mouse Drill
📍 Focus: Outfield tracking, reaction time, glove confidence
Great outfielders don’t just track balls—they anticipate them. The Blind Mouse Drill simulates challenging reads to improve reaction time and confidence.
Setup:
- Outfielders begin in ready position with backs to coach.
- Coach tosses a fly ball, yells “GO!”
- Players turn to find the ball and make the catch.
Execution:
- Start with high, lofted fly balls.
- Progress to side-to-side movements and simulated line drives to increase difficulty.
Coaching Points:
- Reinforce quick first steps and reading the angle of the ball.
- Increase range of fly balls and add throws to cutoffs and the infield for more progression.
Drill 3: Short-Hop Barehand Drill
📍 Focus: Hand-eye coordination, soft hands, infielder reactions
Ideal for warm-ups or small-space training, this drill isolates the fielder’s hands and focuses on precision.
Setup:
- Two players face each other 10–12 feet apart on knees (no gloves).
- Use a tennis or soft training ball.
Execution:
- Players toss one-hop ground balls to each other.
- Aim for short hops at forehand, backhand, and center.
Coaching Points:
- Keep eyes low and hands soft.
- Reinforce working through the ball, not stabbing at it.
- Once mastered, move to standing position and add gloves.
Drill 4: Three-Cone Outfield Drill
📍 Focus: Agility, tracking, variance, throws under pressure
This outfield movement drill simulates three different game scenarios in one rep: a shallow liner, a medium-depth fly ball, and a deep over-the-head ball.
Setup:
- Set up three cones in an arc: short left, straight center, and deep right.
- Coach stands in front with bucket of balls.
Execution:
- At Cone 1, player fields a one-hop or line drive.
- Sprints to Cone 2 to catch a medium fly ball.
- Sprints deep to Cone 3 to track and catch a deep fly ball.
- After each catch, crow-hop and throw to designated target.
Coaching Points:
- Prioritize quick reads and footwork between cones.
- Challenge players by mixing up timing and trajectory of fly balls.
- Add competition: time each rep or track accuracy to a cutoff.
Drill 5: 21 Outs Drill (Team Defense)
📍 Focus: Communication, situational fielding, error elimination
This game-speed defensive drill simulates real innings and builds team chemistry and pressure management.
Setup:
- Full defensive alignment.
- Coach hits grounders, fly balls, and bunt simulations.
Execution:
- Defense must record 21 consecutive outs without an error.
- If an error or mental mistake occurs, reset back to zero or the previous milestone.
Coaching Points:
- Vary the batted ball type and situations (e.g., squeeze bunt, double play, cutoff throw).
- Players must call every ball, communicate, and move like in-game situations.
- Great drill to close out practice and build mental toughness.
Sample 90-Minute Practice Plan Using These Drills
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0:00–0:10 | Dynamic warm-up & throwing progression |
| 0:10–0:25 | Ozzie Drill (glove work focus) |
| 0:25–0:40 | Short-Hop Barehand + progression |
| 0:40–1:00 | Three-Cone Outfield Drill |
| 1:00–1:20 | 21 Outs Drill (team defense) |
| 1:20–1:30 | Base running sprints or team stretch |
Final Thoughts: Build Skills, Build Culture
Great practices win close games. These five softball drills offer coaches a proven foundation for developing technical skills, in-game reactions, and team communication. Whether you’re training elite athletes or new players, the key is consistency and clear instruction. Rotate these drills weekly, use competitive scoring to boost focus, and don’t forget to coach the details.
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