One of the most favorite activities at the end of a game is called the base race, also known as the dragon drill. Here we call it a softball base race drill. There may be other names for it but what I know is that sometimes I think the young kids 12 and under wanted to run this one more than play the game. Mostly at the inexperienced levels but the 8 year old advanced players loved it the same.
The great thing is that it can be done at the end of a game or at the end of a practice and it is just as fun and a great way to practice baerunning. You can even have the parents run in the race at the end of the season just to make it even more fun for the players.
Softball Base Race Drill
Have half of the team line up at second base and half the team line up at home. On the signal, one player from each team runs the bases until she reaches the base she started out at. When she gets there, she tags the next runner in line and she runs the bases. This is done until all the runners have run. Whoever reaches their base first wins. The other team has to pick up the bases.
Make sure that the bases are pegged down for this drill and that the players waiting at the bases stay away from the base until the next runner is set to go. Some teams will use a hat or a ball for the players to pass off to the next runner so no one gets a head start. It is safer to use a hat rather than a ball because if a player drops it then one running behind can step on it and get injured.
Encourage players to step on the inside of the base rather than on the base to get a good push off the base and for safety so they do not slip. Especially if it is wet at all.
