Softball Fielding Drills: Ground Balls, Fly Balls and Throws

By DITR staff · Updated November 14, 2026

Key takeaways

• Fielding is footwork first. Get in front of the ball, stay low and use two hands.
• Ground balls, fly balls and throws each need their own drills.
• Start slow and close, then add speed and distance as the basics become easy.
• A good throw starts with the feet, not just the arm.
• Short, regular practice builds habits faster than one long session.

What are the best softball fielding drills?

The best softball fielding drills teach the ready position, the footwork and the throw, one piece at a time, with plenty of repeats. For most players that means a ground ball drill, a fly ball drill and a throwing drill, all done at a pace the player can control.

Coach Murphy Su’a coaches both baseball and softball. The fielding basics carry over between the two: get low, get in front of the ball and finish with a good throw. In our free baseball and softball clinics, players of all ages practice these basics in small steps. Many of the same ideas appear in our guide to youth baseball drills.

A good fielding session is short and busy. Players take many reps, not long breaks. Fewer words from the coach and more balls for the player is a good rule.

What is the right ready position for fielding?

The ready position in softball is a balanced, athletic stance with the feet wider than the shoulders, knees bent, weight on the balls of the feet and the glove out front. Every fielding drill starts here.

1. Spread your feet a little wider than your shoulders.
2. Bend your knees and lean your chest slightly forward.
3. Keep your weight on the balls of your feet, not your heels.
4. Hold your glove low and out front, with your hands relaxed.
5. Watch the batter and be ready to move in any direction.

Check the ready position before every drill. A player who starts upright and flat-footed will be late to the ball.

How do you field a ground ball correctly?

To field a ground ball correctly, get in front of the ball, stay low, field it out front with two hands and bring it up into a throwing position. The legs do most of the work. The glove goes down to the ground and the player stays low until the ball is in the glove.

Basic ground ball drill

1. Start in the ready position, about 10 to 15 feet from a partner.
2. The partner rolls the ball slowly toward you.
3. Move your feet to get in front of the ball and keep your glove low.
4. Field the ball out front with two hands, then bring it up toward your throwing shoulder.
5. Toss it back and reset. Do 8 to 10 reps.

What it fixes: stabbing at the ball, standing up too early and fielding the ball off to the side.

Side-to-side ground ball drill

The partner rolls the ball a few steps to the left or right. The fielder shuffles to get in front of it and fields it with two hands. What it fixes: reaching with the arms instead of moving the feet. Do 8 to 10 reps, alternating sides.

Short hop drill

The partner bounces the ball so it arrives as a short hop. The fielder stays low and lets the ball come to the glove. What it fixes: fear of the bad hop and backing away from the ball. Start with soft balls and slow throws, and build up from there.

How do you catch a fly ball?

To catch a fly ball, read the ball off the bat, take a good first step, run to the spot where it will land and catch it above the shoulders with two hands. Getting a good first step matters more than running fast.

Drop-step drill

1. The coach or partner stands about 20 feet away and points left, right or back.
2. The fielder reacts with a drop step in that direction and turns to run.
3. The partner then tosses a fly ball into the area.
4. The fielder catches it with two hands, then returns to the start.
5. Do 8 to 10 reps.

What it fixes: a slow first step, running backward instead of turning and losing the ball in the sky.

Fly ball tracking drill

The partner tosses high, soft fly balls and the fielder calls “I got it” loudly before catching. What it fixes: collisions and hesitation. Calling for the ball is a habit every outfielder and infielder needs. Start with soft balls so players can focus on tracking.

Fly ball skills also help in other sports. Players who practice catching with two hands and moving their feet will find the basics familiar. Our guide on how to throw a baseball covers the next step of getting the ball back in.

How do you make an accurate throw in softball?

An accurate throw in softball starts with the feet. The fielder turns the front shoulder to the target, steps toward it, brings the ball back and throws through the target with a smooth finish. Accuracy comes from footwork and balance, not just arm strength.

Footwork throwing drill

1. Stand sideways to the target with the glove-side shoulder pointing at it.
2. Hold the ball in the throwing hand and bring both hands together at the chest.
3. Step toward the target, turn the hips and throw through it.
4. Finish with the throwing arm across the body and the weight on the front foot.
5. Do 8 to 10 throws to a partner or a target.

What it fixes: throws that sail high or drift wide, and throws made with the arm only.

Field and throw drill

Combine the ground ball and the throw. The fielder fields a rolled ball, shuffles the feet and throws to a partner or a target at first base. What it fixes: a slow or sloppy transfer and rushed throws. Start slowly, and add speed only when the footwork is clean.

A word on arm care. Throwing is hard work, and the arm needs rest. Warm up before you throw, and if a player has arm pain, stop and have a doctor or athletic trainer check it.

What fielding drills work for beginners versus advanced players?

Beginners should use slow rolls, short distances and soft balls, and focus on the ready position and two-handed catches. Advanced players use the same drills with more speed, more distance and game-like pressure. The skills stay the same. The challenge grows.

Beginners

• Slow ground balls rolled from 10 feet away.
• Soft, high fly balls with the call “I got it.”
• Short throws to a partner, with a focus on stepping toward the target.

Intermediate players

• Side-to-side ground balls and short hops.
• Drop-step fly ball drills in different directions.
• Field and throw drills to a base.

Advanced players

• Hit or thrown ground balls at game speed, with plays at different bases.
• Outfield drills with throws to the right base after the catch.
• Situational practice: where to throw with runners on base.

Older players who want one-on-one coaching can ask about player development. Coach Su’a works with high school, college and professional baseball and softball players.

How should a team organize a fielding practice?

A good fielding practice has a warm-up, a few stations and a finish with game-like reps. Keeping players moving means more touches and less standing around.

1. Warm up: light jogging, easy throws and a few ground balls at slow speed.
2. Stations: rotate players through a ground ball station, a fly ball station and a throwing station.
3. Game-like reps: finish with a situation, such as a ground ball with a throw to first base.
4. Cool down: a few easy throws and a short talk about what went well.

Fielders also need a steady mind. When a player makes an error, the next play matters most. Our guide to mental skills for young athletes has simple ideas for resetting after a mistake.