Mastering ground balls is essential for any great softball defense. This spacing drill equips players with the skills to read ball speed and angle while refining their ability to adjust positioning for long hops, in-between hops and short hops.
Long Hops: The bounce occurs far from players, giving them more time to adjust their position.
In-between Hops: The bounce is closer, requiring players to step back with one or both feet to create space and field cleanly.
Short Hops: The bounce is near, demanding quick reactions and precise adjustments.
Incorporating this drill into your practices will sharpen your players' ability to handle challenging ground balls, building confidence and defensive precision on the field.
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Spacing drill
This drill teaches players when and how to create optimal space between themselves and the ball for effective fielding.
Purpose: To help players work on hand-eye coordination and proper spacing when fielding.
How it works: Place three markers on the field to represent short, in-between and long hop distances. Position players behind the markers and have a coach bounce balls to each distance.
Variations: For older players, make the drill more game-like by using throws or fungo hits. Encourage players to focus on specific aspects, such as reading the ball’s speed and angle or adjusting body positioning.
Requirements: A player, glove, distance markers, balls, a coach and a field
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