FINDING THE BASE Purpose: To improve the player's ability to find the bag and set themselves for the throw. Equipment: A base, glove, softballs and a cone Procedure: a. Have the player take 4-5 steps from the bag and use a cone to mark that position so she knows where to start every time. b. The player will pivot towards the infield and run back to the base. c. The player will look at the bag when she pivots then she looks in the direction from where the ball is coming from. d. She look at the base just before she just there if necessary. e. She can either set both feet to the inside of the bag with throwing foot remaining in contact with the bag or set both on foot on each corner and shuffle to adjust to the throw. f. Once she finds the bag, she readies her self to receive the throw. g. This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions . Coaching Points: * Emphasize turning and running hard back to the base. * Emphasize finding the bag as quickly as possible. * Emphasize looking for the throw as she is running back to the bag.

GLOVE POSITION AND STRECTHING Purpose: To improves the players ability to stretch at the correct time and get the player to catch the ball with the proper glove position. Equipment: A base, softballs and a glove Procedure: a. Have the player start in her ready position at the proper stop on the field. b. The coach will say :go: and the player will pivot and run back to the bag and will stretch and catch the ball with the proper mechanics. c. The player will stretch for the ball when she is about to receive the ball. d. The player will point the fingers of her glove up when the ball is above the waist and the fingers down when the ball is below the waist. e. This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions. Coaching Points: * Emphasize the proper catching techniques. * Emphasize not stretching too soon. * Emphasize the proper footwork back to the bag.

THIRD BASEMAN DRILLS

BUNT DRILL Purpose: To improve the players footwork when picking up bunts and throwing to the appropriate base. Equipment: First and second base, softballs, a bat and a glove Procedure: a. The player will start in her ready position the appropriate distance from the bag. b. The coach is at home plate with a bat and will simulate a player bunting the ball. c. When the coach squares, the player charges towards home plate in a controlled manner. d. The coach will bunt the ball and the player will field the ball and throw to first. e. Once they have mastered going to first, have them go to second, then third and finally flips to home. f. This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions. Coaching Points: * Emphasize calling the ball. * Emphasize charging the ball in a controlled manner. * Emphasize getting around on the ball and turning to throw. * Emphasize a strong, accurate throw. * Emphasize low flips to home. Variations: * Practice picking up stationary balls.

* Practice picking up rolled balls.

FAKE THROWS Purpose: To develop a good fake throw so that the runner at third base will take for home. Equipment: A bat, softballs, a base and a glove Procedure: a. Have the player take her normal starting position with a runner at third. b. The coach will hit a ground ball to the third baseman, she fields the ball and fakes a throw to first. c. Then she turns and goes for the runner. d. This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions. Coaching Points: * Emphasize proper fielding techniques. * Emphasize making the fake as real as possible.

SHORT STOP DRILLS

TOSSES FOR DOUBLE PLAY Purpose: To develop the player's knowledge of when to throw, toss or take it herself on double play plays. Equipment: Softballs, a bat, a base and a glove Procedure: a. Have the player start in her ready position where she would normally play with a runner of first. b. The coach will hit ground balls to the short stop and she will field the balls and throw to second for a double play. c. If the ball is to her backhand, the player will want to throw the ball. d. If the ball is to her forehand and close to the base, she will want to toss the ball to second for a double play. e. If the ball is fielded one or two steps from the bag, the player will want to turn the double play herself. f. This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions. Coaching Points: * Emphasize strong, accurate throws. * Emphasize fielding the ball with proper techniques.

RECIEVING THE BALL ON DOUBLE PLAYS Purpose: To develop the proper footwork when turning the double play. Equipment: Softballs, a bat, a base and a glove Procedure: a. Have the player start in her ready position where she would normally play with a runner of first. b. The coach will be at home plate and hitting balls to the right side of the field. c. The short stop will come to the back side of the base and drag her foot across the back corner of the bag. d. She will want to time it so that she is receiving the ball as she is dragging her foot. e. She receives the ball and throws it to first to complete the double play. f. This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions. Coaching Points: * Emphasize strong, accurate throws. * Emphasize fielding the ball with proper techniques. * Emphasize dragging her foot over the back of the base. * Emphasize staying out of the baseline. Variations: * Turning the double play receiving good throws. * Turning the double play receiving bad throws. * These drills can also be used as drills for teh second baseman.

SECOND BASEMAN DRILLS

POP-UPS Purpose: To develop the proper footwork when fielding a pop-up in foul territory, in front of her and behind her. Equipment: A bat, softballs, a glove Procedure: a. Have the player take her normal starting position. b. The coach is at home plate and will throw pop-ups. c. The player must call the ball and use proper footwork to get under the ball. d. This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions. Coaching Points: * Emphasize calling the ball. * Emphasize using two hands to catch the ball. * Emphasize a drop step when the ball is over her head. * Emphasize finding the fence when the pop-up is in foul territory. Variations: * Practice pop-ups with the outfielders. * Practice pop-ups with the first baseman and short stop.

COVERING FIRST ON A BUNT Purpose: To develop the proper footwork and technique when covering first on a bunt. Equipment: First and second base, softballs, a bat and a glove Procedure: a. The player will start in her ready position the appropriate distance from the bag with a runner at first. b. The coach is at home plate with a bat and will simulate a player bunting the ball. c. When the bunt has hit the ground, the second baseman pivots and runs to first base, hitting the inside corner with her throwing hand foot and setting up for a stretch play. d. She will not want to stretch too soon, but when the ball is almost to her glove. e. This drill should be performed for a prescribed period of time or a designated number of repetitions. Coaching Points: * Emphasize getting to the bag quickly and stepping up correcting. * Emphasize setting up on the front corner of the base. * Emphasize not stretching too soon. Variations: * Practice receiving good throws. * Practice receiving bad throws.