Catcher Throw Down / Runner Going Home Drill: This is a great drill to develop your catchers throw downs to the bases and at the same time making your outfielders get use to backing up those throws and then introducing an outfielder trying to get out a runner going home.
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Setup of Drill: Have your catchers setup at home, one at a time taking turns doing these drills. Setup a full infield and outfield. Coach will start this drill as the pitcher, doing medium speed underhand pitches to the catcher.
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Step 1: Coach simulates pitches to catcher and catcher makes throw downs to each of the bases. First Base (10 Reps Right Fielder backs up the throw), 3rd Base (10 Reps Left Fielder backs up the throw, 2nd Base Short Stop and 2nd Basemen take turns (10 Reps Center Fielder backs up the throw)
Then switch your catchers.
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Step 2: After your Catchers have all done this first drill. Have another coach stand behind the pitching coach and run the same drill again but this time, after a throw down to that base and that play is made. The second coach will throw a ball to that outfielder to simulate a pass ball or hit to the outfield and Outfielder will charge ball and practice a curl hop throw to home to simulate trying to get out the runner going home. Ex. Pitch Throw Down to 1st base. 1st basement catches the ball and simulates a tag. Right fielder backs up throw and coach throws the ball to the Right Fielder, who then charges that ball and makes a strong throw to home, catcher practices receiving that ball to tag the runner coming home. Take turns doing this drill, so all your catchers get a turn.
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Step 3: Do the last drill again but no secondary coach throwing to the outfield, but this time add Base Runners and have one of your Pitchers, actually pitch with no batter. Have the base runners, lead off to far, so the catcher can practice throw downs. Have the base runners steal. Practice doing pickles if you have runners on 1 & 3. Do different situational plays with your base runners and practice set plays. Ex. Fake throws or throws to SS.
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Step 4: Last Drill is to turn this into a Game. No Outfielders. Divide your players into 2 teams and have at least 1 catcher on each team*
Team 1 will take the field, while team 2 will place base runners, how ever they want. Pitches pitches and base runners on the other team have to find a way to get home to score runs by being aggressive base runners. Coach can decide the rule on how pitches until the base runners have to make a move. Base runners have to strategize how to score, while the Catcher and infield have to find a way to get those runners out. After 3 outs, teams switches positions. Most runs scored after a couple rounds wins the game.
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This is a great drill work on Throw Downs, practicing trying to throw out the runner going home., situational plays and making your players work on their base running skills and overall softball IQ #softball #SoftballDrills #EasySoftballDrills #Softball #SoftballPracticeDrills #FunSoftballDrills #infielddrills #catcherdrills #throwdowndrills #baserunningdrills