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BASE
The runner is on the base in her ready position (ready for her
lead off). Another player or coach is a short distance from her, in the base
path
from 1st to 2nd base. The coach holds a tennis ball at eye height. As the ball
is dropped on a piece of flat wood, the runner leaves the base and attempts to
catch the ball before it bounces off the wood a second time. The distance for
this drill is determined by the skill level of the runners, but start out close
so that she can easily catch the ball and slowly move back to challenge her.
BASE RUNNING SITUATION
Split the team in half and form two lines at home plate, one
staggered ahead and inside the other. The coach stands at the pitcher's circle
with two bats. When he (she) hits the bats together, the lead runners in both
lines take off. One runs straight through first base as if she is beating out a
groundball, the other makes a turn and continues into second. You now have
runners at first and second and two lines of runners still at home. At the next
crack of the bat, the drill continues in the same manner but the runner on
second now rounds third and scores while the runner on first takes third. Now
every base should be occupied. It continues again, with the runner on third
tagging up and scoring. Two runners will now score each time the bats are hit
together. They will then return to the end of the opposite line and the bases
will always remain loaded.
The coach can gauge when the team has had enough and end the drill when the last
player on line crosses home.
The drill allows for every base running situation, allows the coach to check
running mechanics and proper turns and helps build stamina with short bursts.
It's much more helpful than having the players continually circle the bases. You
will find that the runner scoring from second will often chase the runner
tagging from third home, making for a good game-type situation.
THUNDER BALL
THIS IS A GAME USED AT THE END OF PRACTICE.
Have a fielder on first base and one on third base (team 1). Place a ball on a
tee or soft toss it to a hitter (team 2). The hitter hits the ball and runs to
as many bases as she can reach before both fielders have touched the ball. For
each base she reaches before the fielders touch the ball, her team gets 1 point.
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