Fielding, throwing, hitting, and windmill pitching basics, taught step by step.
Our softball clinics teach the fundamentals every position depends on: a sound throwing motion, fielding ground balls with the glove out front, and a swing built on a balanced load, stride, and turn. We also introduce windmill pitching (the underhand, full-circle motion used in fastpitch softball) at a fundamentals level. Older athletes finish with the infield, outfield, and hitting evaluations common at junior high and high school tryouts.
Softball is a game of short, quick actions that have to be done the same way every time: a clean exchange from glove to throwing hand, a throw that arrives chest-high at the base, a swing that finds the ball. Good mechanics are what make those actions repeatable. A player with a sound throwing motion and solid fielding footwork makes routine plays look routine, and routine plays are most of the game.
Mechanics also matter for the arm. Throwing with the whole body, with the feet, hips, and shoulders working in order, spreads the work out instead of loading it all onto the shoulder and elbow. Windmill pitching is underhand, but it is still a lot of repetitive work for the arm, so rest, a gradual build-up, sound mechanics, and following league pitching rules all matter. Arm pain is never something to play through; it’s a question for a licensed health care provider.
At tryouts, coaches typically run athletes through ground balls, fly balls, throws across the infield, and hitting off front toss (short, soft underhand pitches from behind a screen) or live pitching. They tend to watch for the basics: glove out front, a quick and accurate throw, a balanced swing, and hustle down the line. Those are teachable skills, and they are the core of our clinics.
Each skill is taught with the cues our coaches use at every station — short phrases athletes can repeat to themselves at home.
A good throw starts with the grip and the feet. We teach a full-body overhand throw before anything else.
Fielding is about getting the body in front of the ball and the glove out front, where you can see the ball into it.
Outfield play starts with a good first step and getting under the ball early.
A good swing is balanced, short to the ball, and powered by the hips. We build it in stages: stance, load, stride, and swing.
We introduce fastpitch pitching at a fundamentals level: the arm circle, the leg drive, and the release. It’s a starting point, not a full pitching program.
Smart baserunning puts pressure on the defense and keeps runners out of easy outs.
Throwing and catching with correct basic form, fielding rolled balls, hitting off a tee, and running the bases the right way. Short, active games keep it fun.
Full throwing mechanics, ground-ball and fly-ball fundamentals, a swing built on load, stride, and turn, and an introduction to windmill pitching basics for interested athletes, with lots of repetition and feedback.
Tryout-ready infield and outfield work, throwing accuracy across the diamond, hitting off the tee and front toss, and position work. We run the drills athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts.
Refinement and speed: quicker exchanges and throws, reading the ball off the bat, situational hitting, and defensive decisions. We focus on game-situation thinking and the details varsity-level coaches tend to evaluate.
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Weekend Clinics run Days 1 and 2. The Tryout Intensive adds Day 3: tryout-style drills and game situations.
We schedule softball tryout intensives in the 2–6 weeks before typical January – February tryouts, which often includes winter break.
Full tryout calendar →This reflects the typical CIF Southern Section calendar; LA City Section schools and individual programs vary, so confirm dates with your school’s athletic department.
Clinic dates are being set for softball. Join the list and we’ll email you the moment registration opens near you.
We introduce windmill pitching at a fundamentals level, covering the arm circle, the leg drive, and the release, for athletes who are interested. Pitching reps in a clinic are kept to a limited volume with rest built in. Athletes who want to develop as pitchers often work with a dedicated pitching instructor over time, and our basics are meant to support that work, not replace it. Any arm pain should be checked by a licensed health care provider.
No. Many athletes come to us from rec leagues, school teams, or no organized softball at all. Travel ball (club softball) is a good fit for families who want a year-round, competitive schedule; a clinic is a short, focused block of fundamentals. Athletes are grouped by age band, and coaches adjust each drill to the player’s level.
That’s fine. Foundations and Builders sessions start with how to throw, catch, and swing correctly, and coaches adjust each drill to the athlete in front of them. Beginners often hit off a tee and field softly hit balls before moving to faster reps. What matters most is effort and a willingness to try the cues.
No. Elevate does not field teams, so a clinic is instruction, not an evaluation for a roster. The tryout intensive includes a tryout-style day so athletes know what the stations and game situations will feel like. No clinic can promise a spot on a team; our goal is that your athlete arrives at tryouts prepared and confident.
Join the list with your sport, age band, and city. We’ll email you when a clinic opens near you — no commitment until you register.