Game version
Fielding game: a partner rolls ground balls and you field and throw to a cone. The pair counts clean plays, then swaps.
Ready and Shuffle
Get into your ready position as the pitch is thrown, then shuffle to the ball.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
On "pitch", take a small hop into your ready position.
Core: Medium. Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Glove, soft ball, partner
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Fielding
The steps
How it works
- On "pitch", take a small hop into your ready position.
- Your partner rolls the ball to your left or right.
- Shuffle without crossing your feet and field it in front.
- Do 20 reps.
Coaching point
Hop, ready, shuffle.
Safety: Use a soft training ball until catching with a glove is easy for you.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (slow rolls), Core (medium), More (to your sides). Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10.
Story
You are the shortstop in the big game, and every clean play is a big play.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
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Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free softball week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
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Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.