SECOND GRADE – SOFTBALL

UNDERHAND & OVERHAND THROWING TO TARGETS: Part 1 – Play a fun warm up game that uses flags. After the game is over, send the students to their practice stations according to color. There should be at least ten stations so there are not more than 4 at each station. Part 2/3 – Practice throwing underhand and overhand toward, into & through targets. Be sure to have enough targets at each station so that everyone can throw at the same time.

UNDERHAND & OVERHAND THROWING AND CATCHING WITH A PARTNER: Part 1 – Play a game from first grade that uses throwing skills. Be sure it is a game that allows the students to warm up their large muscles. Part 2 – Practice throwing with a partner. Verbally Review the points of throwing and catching. Part 3 – Play Running Bases. Three in a group. Two bases, two throwers, and one runner. The two throwers play catch back and forth. The runner tries to run back and forth between bases without getting tagged out by one of the throwers. The throwers can only tag the runner out if they are not on the base. Each time the runner makes it safely to the base, they get one point. If they get tagged out, they switch roles with one of the throwers. The runner can run at any time. The runner must attempt to run at least every 6 throws. If they do not it is an automatic out. If the runner scores 5 points they must also switch automatically with a thrower.

PITCHING UNDERHAND & CATCHING: Part 1 – Warm up with running bases. Part 2 – Before the class gets moving again after the warm up, explain the strike zone and how to identify the strike as a catcher. It will be helpful to demonstrate on a person as well as in a picture if possible. When you explain the catcher’s roll, be sure to explain the safety issues for the catcher. In this practice session, have the catcher call the pitches. Have each partner take five pitches and then switch. Questions you can ask should include all the questions that went along with underhand throwing. Part 3 – Pretend to pitch to a batter, with the catcher calling the pitches, if the pitcher walks the batter, the batters and base runners advance bases. If the pitcher strikes the batter out, the pitcher and catcher trade rolls. If the pitcher walks in any runs, those can be kept track of, as if it was a score.

REVIEW THE STEPS OF HITTING WITH TEES: Part 1 – Warm up with a fun warm up game using flags. Part 2 – With the students in partners or threes, have them practice hitting. Be sure you review all the points of hitting the ball. Part 3 – 2v2 or 3v3 One Base hitting game. Batter hits off the tee. The batter must run from Home, to first and back to home before the fielders get the ball, and throw it to a player on their team who is waiting at home. If the player with the ball is at home before the runner makes it back to home, the runner is out. If the runner makes it back home before the ball gets back to home then the player’s team scores a run. All players on the team get to bat, and then switch rolls.

REVIEW UNDERHAND PITCHING & HITTING: Part 1 – Warm up with a warm up game that allows some moving! Spend a few minutes practicing pitching underhand. Part 2/3 – In groups of three, practice Pitching underhand (with a wiffle ball and wiffle bat), Fielding and Hitting a pitched ball. Be sure to rotate after 5 hits. Every hit should count at first, this will insure everyone gets to hit, pitch and catch. Use a mat or carpet square to place behind home plate as a target instead of the catcher. The three people should be in the following positions: Pitcher, Batter and Fielder.

FIELDING A GROUND BALL: Part 1 – Warm up with a game that includes some running and fun. Part 2 – With your students in partners, teach basics of fielding a ground ball. You can have the students throw ground balls back and forth to each other as they learn the skill. Questions to ask should include: 1. How should you hold your hands as you are fielding a ground ball? (Fingers pointed down, hands held together with palms facing the ball.) 2. Where should your body be positioned as you are fielding the ground ball? (Behind the ball) 3. What should you look at as you are fielding the ball? (The ball) 4. How long should you watch the ball as you catch it? (Watching the ball into their hands), 5. What part of the body should you bend at in order to watch the ball into your hands and allow your body to get closer to the ground to place your hands behind the ball? (Bend at the knees instead of the waist.) 6. Since you don’t know whether the ball will go up in the air or onto the ground when the batter hits the ball what level would be best to have your body in while you wait for the ball? (Medium) Discuss the ready position while waiting for the ball. Part 3: Groups of 3, hit ground balls off the tee to their partner who throws to the third person pretending to play a base. Be sure to rotate the positions so everyone gets a return at each position. You may need to take a minute to review how to hit the ball so that it goes toward the ground.

FIELDING A FLY BALL: Part 1 – Play the game you finished with in the last lesson. Part 2 – Teach basics of fielding a fly ball. Questions to ask should include: 1. How should you hold your hands as you are fielding a ground ball? (Fingers pointed up, hands held together with palms facing the ball.) 2. Where should your body be positioned as you are fielding the ground ball? (Behind and under the ball) 3. What should you look at as you are fielding the ball? (The ball) 4. How long should you watch the ball as you catch it? (Watching the ball into their hands) 5. Since you don’t know whether the ball will go up in the air or onto the ground when the batter hits the ball what level would be best to have your body in while you wait for the ball? (Medium) 6. If you are not able to get to the ball in time, how should your hands be help while you are running to get to the ball? (Fingers facing the direction you are running and palms facing the ball.) This point can also be applied to catching ground balls. Part 3 – Part 3: Groups of 3, hit ground balls off the tee to their partner who throws to the third person pretending to play a base. Be sure to rotate the positions so everyone gets a return at each position. You may need to take a minute to review how to hit the ball so that it goes toward the air.

THREE FLIES UP: Part 1 – Warm up with a game of running bases. Part 2/3 – Use a tee. In groups of 3 or 4. The hitter hits the ball off the tee. The first player to catch three fly balls gets to bat next. 500: The hitter continues to hit the ball until a fielder obtains 500 points. A caught fly ball is worth 100 points, one bounce caught is worth 75 points, Two bounces caught is worth 50 points, Three bounces or a ground ball (still moving) is worth 25 points.