Great throwing skills are the trademark of any softball team that's good at defense. That's because players good at throwing throw the ball accurately even while in motion. And accuracy of throwing and catching the ball are important in executing good defense on the field.

Whatever your team's level of expertise at defense, these throwing drills below can help you improve your team's throwing skills.

Bent Knee

This drill is important in teaching your players how to throw the ball correctly. What you do is partner two players and position them 15 ft. apart.

After that, teach them the proper throwing stance by making them kneel on the leg of the throwing-arm side, with the other leg bent and the foot flat on the ground. The thrower then points her glove towards her partner and throws the ball to her partner using the correct throwing mechanics.

The catcher then receives the ball and does the same procedure.

Throw to the Trash Can

This one is designed for outfielders to improve their accuracy at throwing to bases.

To do this, place a large trash can (or a large box, or whatever's available) on the side of the home plate. You then throw a grounder or a fly ball to the outfielders, giving them 10-15 throws each. Once they catch the ball, they should throw the ball to the trash can on one hop, if possible.

Controlled Fungo

A controlled fungo can be used to create or simulate a defensive situation. It's also great in improving your team's baserunning skills and conditioning.

To do this, let some of your players take defensive positions on the field. Other players would then play offense by positioning some of them in one or several bases. You then fungo from the home plate and let your players play the ball out.

Throwing on the Run

It can be a challenge to throw the ball while on the run. And since most defensive plays are done this way, this should also be a part of your team's practice.

In this drill, you let partners in two lines face each other, some 60 ft. apart. Make sure they're spread apart well enough to prevent them from hitting each other.

One partner self-tosses the ball, runs for 3-5 steps, then throws a chest-high throw to her partner. She then steps back to her original position. The other partner would catch the ball then do the same.

These are just some of the drills that you can use to train your team's defensive skills. They may not be able to grasp the concepts the first time you teach it to them. When that happens, give them the time to repeat the same drills until the concepts become second nature to them. Everything then will flow naturally.

So what are you waiting for? Try these softball drills on your team today and see the difference they make to your team's defensive performance.

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