Softball bunting is key to the success of any team. A bunting situation will come up at least once a game and certainly several times over the course of a tournament.
Softball bunting is also a great way to break through against a pitcher that has been dominating the game. "Small ball" is a common way to test the fielders and see if you can get something started. If a pitcher is very dominant, there is a chance that the fielders' minds may be elsewhere. Put the ball in play and see if they help break the ice for your team. Sometimes, a coach must help get things started for his/her team. If you drilled your team on the techniques of bunting, show confidence that they will succeed.
Refer to the video on proper bunting techniques to see the proper mechanics of the sacrifice bunt so you know exactly what you should be seeing.
Below are a few softball bunting drills that can be used during your indoor practices. They do not take up a lot of space, but are very effective. Make sure you allow time for this art of the game. You do not want to face the situation in a real game and have to wonder if your players are up to the task!
Now for a few softball bunting for those tight spaces.
Name of Drill: Pair Bunting
Who: Entire Team
Duration: Rotation through the team as one of the hitting stations
Explanation: Put your team in two player pairs. At the station will be their broom stick and the golf ball size wiffle balls. Create the "green" or safety areas by using bats to form the area. One player pitches the balls to the other player. As the player pitches, she yells out "first" or "third" to tell the batter where to bunt the ball. The player must hit the ball into the safe zone. Once all of the balls have been pitched, the players switch places.
Worked on: Perfecting her bunting technique, bunting to a location, team work, not bunting back to the pitcher.
Game: As above, except a player gets one point each time she bunts the ball into the correct safety zone. She loses one point when she bunts it in a non-safety area.
Name of Drill:Tri-Group Bunting
Who:Entire Team
Duration:Rotation through the team as one of the hitting stations
Explanation: The team is broken down into groups of three. As with the above drill, the object is for the batter to bunt the ball into the safety area. Needed for this drill are the golf ball size wiffle balls and the batter's broom stick. This time, however, there are two pitchers. One pitcher is located on the first baseline and the other on the third base line. Give each pitcher half of the gold ball size wiffle balls. The pitchers take turns throwing the ball. As soon as the first pitched ball is bunted the other pitcher throws her ball. The object is to increase reaction time of the batter. Once all of the balls are played, rotate through the three-some.
Worked on: Perfecting her bunting technique, bunting to a location, team work, not bunting back to the pitcher, quickness of reaction time.
Game: As above, except a player gets one point each time she bunts the ball into the correct safety zone. She loses one point when she bunts it in a non-safety area.
If you have a few fastpitch softball bunting drills that you find particularly effective for practice or as game warm-ups and are willing to share, please enter them below. Your fellow coaches will appreciate your contributions
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