Week 2 - Softball
Skill focus: Fielding, catching and throwing
Session equipment:
Markers or cones
Bats
Softcore balls (or similar)
Softball gloves
Hitting tees
Hoops
Bases
Download Softball - Week 2 activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
Fast start - Send and run
Equipment: 8 markers (to set out playing area), 2 markers and 1 ball per pair of students.
How to play:
Place one marker at the starting point and the second ‘target marker’ at a distance that provides an appropriate level of throwing challenge.
Students throw the ball at their marker for their partner to chase and return it.
While students wait, they perform selected movements (for example, high plank, squat jumps, high knees running on the spot).
CHANGE IT!
Vary the distance to the 'target marker'.
Change the way the ball is to be thrown (for example, underarm/overarm throw, roll).
Skill development games
Activity 1 - Collect 3
Equipment: Cones to mark a starting line and target area, 3 softcore balls per group, one hoop or container for returned balls, stopwatch
How to play: 3 players – a feeder, a collector and a fielder work cooperatively. The feeder rolls 3 balls in quick succession into the target area. The collector has to gather the balls with the assistance of the fielder, running against the clock, and return them to a hoop.
Allow the collector a set period to collect balls (e.g. 60 seconds).
Rotate roles.
Balls out of the target area are not collected for scoring – the fielder returns them to the hoop.
If all balls roll out, the feeder has a second attempt.
Activity 2 - How many beanbags?
Equipment: 15–20 soft-core balls per group, 1 glove per player
How to play: Players work in pairs. One player from each pair runs to a central point to collect one ball at a time and throw the ball back to their team-mate at their base and then tag the next player. The aim is to collect the most number of balls. (Play with 4 pairs per playing area.)
Players throw the ball overarm to their partner, who catches it using their glove.
On your call, vary the type of return throw – flyball, underarm, overarm, ground ball.
The fielding player must tag the receiver before they can run for a new ball.
Teams collect as many balls as possible in the allotted time (e.g. 60 seconds).
When all the balls have been removed from the centre, the coach calls ‘STOP!’
Activity 3 - Triangle roll
Equipment: 1 softcore ball per group, 1 softball glove per player
How to play: Players in 3s stand on the points of a triangle and roll a ball to one another. Play with 3 or more.
The ball is rolled along the sides of the triangle.
Players stop the ball with their gloves.
Activity 4 - Bullseye
Equipment: Chalk, hoops, markers or ropes to form 3 concentric circles on the ground, throw-line 3 meters from target, 3 softcore balls or bean bags (or similar non-rolling object) per player.
How to play: Players in small groups roll or throw a ball to a target aiming to score maximum points.
Each player rolls or throws the ball to the target area.
One throw per player before balls are retrieved.
Repeat for a given number of rounds (e.g. 5 throws for each player).
Modified small-sided games
It's time for competition!
Teams compete against each other in the game outlined below. You can use the Softball draw as a guide to organise the competition across the 4 sessions try to ensure each team has a fair number of games.
Allocate 3 points for a win, 2 points for a drawer and 1 point for a loss for each game played. Record results and points in the School sport program results spreadsheet.
Remember, to give students an update of the leader board each week.
Beat the ball
Equipment: 4 softball bases/markers, boundary markers and a marker to show bowling distance, one bat and ball (choose to suit ability level of the group). Option: batting tee
Easier variation: hit the ball off a tee
How to play: A batting team and a fielding team, with 4 bases. A ball is hit into the field from a batting tee. The batter runs around the bases while the fielders pass the ball around the bases in the opposite direction.
Batters
The batter hits a bowled ball (underarm throw, one bounce).
The batter attempts to run around the bases to the finish position (1–2–3–4).
The ball must be hit within the boundary area, otherwise the hit is re-taken.
The bat is passed to the next batter.
Fielders
Initially, fielders must stand at least 1m away from a base in the outfield.
A fielder retrieves the ball. This is the signal for the other fielders to run to a base. The ball is passed in the direction fielder–3–2–1–4.
The last fielder to receive a pass calls ‘STOP!’.
A penalty applies if ‘STOP!’ is called too early – the batters receive a point irrespective of position.
Players field using gloves.
Scoring
One point is scored for the batting team if the batter reaches home before the fielders pass the ball around the bases.
Reflection
TAG
Ask students to form pairs with a student from their team.
Inform students they are going to give feedback to their partner using 'TAG'.
Tell your partner something they did well in today's session.
Ask your partner a question.
Give your partner some feedback on a skill or tactic they could focus on during next weeks session.
