6U softball drills that keep every girl moving.

A 6U softball practice can look like a dozen girls doing cartwheels in the outfield. That's normal at 5 and 6. Your job isn't to stop the fun. It's to point it at a ball.

What should 6U softball players work on?

Four things: catch with two hands, throw toward a target, hit off a tee, and run the right way around the bases. That's a full season at 6U.

Start with a softer ball. Some 6U leagues use a soft 10-inch ball, and many teams start catching games with even softer balls. Ball size, tee rules and coach-pitch rules vary, so check your league's rules.

Keep the teaching tiny. One cue per drill, about 5 minutes per drill, and a demo instead of a speech.

Sneak running into everything. Our favorite is Follow the Leader: the coach runs home to first to second to third to home, and the girls follow, stepping on every base. Then a girl gets to lead. Cue: "Step on the base, then turn." It teaches the order of the bases without one word of explaining.

Throwing and catching drills for 6U

1. Thumbs or Pinkies: Partners stand a few big steps apart. Toss a ball above the belt and she catches with thumbs together. Toss below the belt and it's pinkies together. 10 catches each. Cue: "Two hands, watch it in."
2. Knock Down the Cone: Set cones on a bucket. Each girl throws from about 10 big steps. Knock one down, the whole group cheers. Cue: "Point your glove at the cone."
3. Bubble Catch: Coach tosses a soft ball high and easy. She calls "Mine!" and catches with the glove up in front of her face, like a window. 5 catches each. Cue: "Glove up, look through the window."

Partners beat lines. With three or four groups of partners throwing at once, every girl gets 10 or more catches in 5 minutes instead of two.

Hitting drills for 6U softball

1. Tee and Run: Hit off the tee, drop the bat in the hoop, then sprint through first. 5 rounds. Cue: "Drop it, don't throw it."
2. Statue Finish: Swing and hold the finish for a count of three, belly button facing the pitcher. 8 swings. Cue: "Swing, then statue."
3. Tee to the Fence: Two or three tees in a row aimed at a net or fence, with plenty of room between them. 5 swings each, then switch. Cue: "Hit the back of the ball."

BK's line for tee work: "Get on the backside of one, baby!" For a 6-year-old, it means put the bat on the back of the ball and drive it forward.

When coach pitch starts, remind her of another one: "The ball ain't changing shape, I promise ya that." Same ball she hit off the tee, same swing, it's just moving now.

A 45-minute 6U softball practice

1. Warm-up race (5 minutes): Run the bases in order as a team, then a relay. Tag the base with your foot.
2. Partner catch (8 minutes): Thumbs or Pinkies, then Bubble Catch.
3. Three stations (18 minutes, 6 each): Tee to the Fence, Knock Down the Cone, Statue Finish.
4. Water break (3 minutes): Every practice.
5. Mini game (8 minutes): Everyone bats with Tee and Run, no outs, everyone gets a turn in the field.
6. Huddle (3 minutes): One thing each girl did well, then a team cheer.

Print a ready-made plan or build your own with our free softball practice plans.

How do I keep 5 and 6 year old girls having fun?

• Let them pick the team cheer. Ownership keeps them coming back.
• Name the drills. "Bubble Catch" gets a better response than "fly ball practice."
• Praise the try. "Great two hands!" beats "Nice catch" for a ball she dropped.
• Move the slow ones fast. If a drill drags, switch it before the cartwheels start.

Keep it safe: only the hitter holds a bat, helmets on at the tee and on the bases, soft balls for catching games and water in the shade. Stop if a player says something hurts.

Coaching the whole team this season? The 46/60 Coach Playbook gives you what to teach, simple cues and station plans you can run with one or two helpers.

Want more free help? Join the American Hitting Association, a free baseball and softball membership from the same family as 46/60.

What to do this week

Run partner catch for 8 minutes at your next practice, then three 6-minute stations. Count how many girls are standing still at any moment. If it's more than two, split into another group.

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Sources: MHAA 6U Softball Guide (10-inch softies, practice breakdown)