Something that we like to encourage in fielding is soft hands. This softball ground ball isolation drill will help players to experience what soft hands feels like. They have no choice but to use soft hands because if they do not then the ball might hurt their hands.
Softball Ground Ball Isolation Drill
Have the team set up on their knees in partners across from each other. To start the drill neither player wears a glove.
The drill starts with them rolling the ball to each other. While fielding with bare hands (enforce soft hands, paddles can be good for this) they lift their feet of the ground behind them, tilting their upper body slightly forward. This forces them to watch the ball all the way into their hands. After they have done about ten of those, tell them to put their gloves on. Repeat the drill with ten more ground balls focusing still on soft hands.
Then have them repeat the drill again working on forehand and backhands focusing on soft hands. When they are done with that tell them to stand up and do the same things while standing. Start with their gloves off and go back through the rotation. When they do backhands and forehands make them start with their feet already in the position they would be in when fielding the ball and have them concentrate on soft hands.
This is a good every day drill to remind players to use soft hands when fielding. You can modify the drill and add a coach or assistant hitting the balls to them with the bat. The would of course need to be using their gloves for this unless the coach is hitting the balls softly, gradually increasing the speed. I recommend using gloves when hitting the balls anywhere above 35% force depending on the strength of the coach or assistant. Young and inexperienced players should always wear gloves if the coach is hitting the ball to them.
