I use games every once in awhile to break up the routine of daily practice. The games that I am going to describe are all games the kids love and they are still working on skills they can use. Games can be used as rewards also for working hard; also they can be used for conditioning. Thunder Ball- Thunder Ball is great for conditioning and also great to work on base running. You will divide the team into two separate teams. The team on offense is at home plate and half the defensive team are at first and the other are at third. The offensive team will hit a soft tossed ball anywhere in fair territory. After contact they will run the bases. The defensive team after the ball is contacted will run after the ball and both players have to touch the ball, they may not throw the ball backwards or carry it, they just touch it. The person running the bases continues running until both players touch the ball. The offensive team scores by how many bags are touched before the other team touches the ball. An example: Player hits the ball to left field she is rounding to go to third when both players touch the ball, the team will get two points. Hitting Game- The hitting game is designed to work on defense and have girls hit in pressure situations. The team is divided into two separate teams, offense and defense. The defensive team can play anywhere on the field they choose, once they get the hang of it strategy will play a role. The offensive team will line up at home plate; one girl is in the batters box the rest are in a line a safe distance away. The girl hitting will stay hitting until she does not score a point. The way to score a point is 1 point: ground ball to the outfield, 2 points: ball that hits the outfield grass in the air, 3 points: ball over the outfielders head, 4 points: Homerun. The offensive team will hit for 2 minutes and then the teams switch. The defense is trying to stop ground ball from getting through the infield and fly balls from hitting the grass. The point system can be changed to whatever you feel you want to emphasize. Protect the Backstop: Protect the backstop is a game that works on hitting and defense. This game is better played with 14 U girls and not the older ones. The offensive team will hit from second base or farther back if they are older. You can soft toss them balls or you can have them hit off the tee. Their goal is to hit the backstop. They get points for every time they hit it. The defensive team is lined up in front of the backstop trying to stop the ball from reaching the backstop. They can position themselves any way that they see fit. Pepper: Pepper is a fun game that working on handling of the bat and fielding. One player is a hitter and the rest are about ten feet away in a straight line. The left side of the line is the beginning of the line. A player in the throws the ball to the hitter who just check swings to hit a ground ball to the players in a line. She gets out two ways, 1. Misses the ball then the girl at the head of the line becomes the hitter and the hitter goes to the back of the line, 2. The hitter pop up or lines out and then the player who caught the ball is now the hitter and the hitter goes to the back of the line. Scott Miller www.gaptogapsoftball.com