Softball Baseball Batting Practice Trainer Videos

Softball Baseball Batting Practice Trainer Videos

Video shows the Hands Back Hitter baseball batting trainer. The Hands Back Hitter by Swing Buster is a great for all ages and ability levels. The HBH teaches and builds correct hitting fundamentals.



The Stayback Tee is designed to help teach and practice rotational hitting that can increase bat speed. The Stayback Tee helps the batter establish the proper axis to launch the swing. It virtually eliminates forward motion after swing initiation commonly called lunging. This enhances balance in the stride landing and allows the hitter to adjust to different speed pitches and maximize the power by leading with hips and turning into the ball.



Short video demonstration of the BatAction Hitting Machine baseball softball trainer, The BatAction offers high speed ball movement drills that are 100% Guaranteed to Improve batting averages, bat speed and hitting skill. Unit is suitable for all ages from t-ball to high scholo. Great for Little League team parctices and home backyard workouts. The BatAction is often called the "Backyard Basketball Goal" for baseball and softball players.




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The Categories they have are: Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!

Softball Coaching Tips - Top 3 Tips in Coaching Younger Players

By Marc Dagenais

You may not be coaching an elite team, but coaching younger players can be a very rewarding experience. Imagine yourself being a role model to kids and the huge part you will be playing in the way they will eventually look at life in general, not only on softball.

But you should know that coaching young players can be quite a challenge in itself. Kids think and see the world differently than older ones so, you should always remember that.

I hope that the softball coaching tips that I'll be sharing with you here will make it a lot easier and more rewarding for you to coach young players.

1. Always Keep the Fun in the Game

You could be very competitive when it comes to softball, but to children, softball is still just a game. And as a game, you want them to enjoy every second of it. That's why you should always put in the element of fun in their game.

Of course there will be days when they'll fall into a slump and start getting frustrated. But it's your job to help them pick themselves up from there and make playing softball fun again.

Another benefit of keeping the game fun is that younger players generally understand concepts much easier if there's an element of fun in it. So don't turn your instructions into a huge sermon. Instead, I suggest that you design or look for drills that are fun and at the same time, teach them the basics of the game.

2. Teach Them Concepts Bit by Bit

The brains of young players are fascinating in the sense that they are much capable of learning faster than the brain of adults. However, their brains aren't that complex yet that they cannot process anything complicated at this stage.

Therefore, you could let them learn the game much easier if you try feeding them with just the general concepts first then gradually progress into teaching them the nitty gritty of the game.

For example, you don't want to confuse them by teaching them the different types of pitches right away. Instead, you'd want to teach them how to properly throw the ball first. Once they've nailed that, you can work your way up from there. Start with the building blocks first and furnish it with the more complicated concepts.

3. Be a Good Role Model to Them

At this stage of their lives, young children are looking for people to look up to. And since you're in the position of authority, it would be natural that at least some of your players will look up to you.

Because of that, you should try to be a good role model to them. It may not be easy, but try to lead them by example. Teach them the concepts of sportsmanship, for example, by showing them how you gracefully accept wins or defeats.

Remember that you're not just molding future softball players here, but young minds who will eventually grow up and make decisions for themselves. Maybe your examples will help them in making decisions later on in life.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

5 Softball Pitching Drills

By Marc Dagenais

Drill 1: Fast and Slow

Purpose: To practice changing speeds.

Procedure: Working with her catcher, the pitcher alternates fast and off-speed pitches. The goal is to keep the delivery the same.



Drill 2: Football Toss

Purpose: To develop correct rise-ball release.

Procedure: The pitcher throws a junior-sized football underhand to a partner. Grip it along the seam with all the fingers and with the thumb on the opposite side. The ball should spiral. If it wobbles in flight, the palm has turned toward the catcher at release.

Drill 3: Four-Corner Control

Purpose: To develop control and accuracy.

Procedure: The pitcher throws to the extreme four corners of the strike zone. When she achieves accuracy at one spot, she moves the target to the next corner. A catcher or a target on the wall can be used. To adjust for the in and out targets, the pitcher must adjust her body angle from her normal stance. She turns the toe on the rubber about a half inch in or out from the position she used to throw to the middle of the plate.

Drill 4: Wrist Snap Behind Back

Purpose: To develop the wrist snap by isolating the wrist, which prevents the pitcher from using the elbow to snap the ball.

Procedure: The pitcher stands sideways 5 to 10 feet from the catcher or a wall. The glove side faces the target, and the ball is behind the back. The pitcher flips the ball by snapping the wrist.

Drill 5: Oversized and Undersized Ball Spins

Purpose: To make the pitcher practice throwing a riseball.

Procedure: Using a baseball or an 11-inch ball may help the pitcher make the correct movements to get underneath the ball. The smaller the size of the ball allows the fingers to be more flexible and allows the correct movements to occur with less effort. A pitcher can use an undersized ball when initially trying to create muscle memory for the correct spin movements. An oversized ball is helpful in speeding up the wrist snap because the hand must pass under more area in the same amount of time. The oversized ball can also illustrate the spin to a pitcher who may be struggling with the backward concept. A 14-inch ball seems to be the perfect size because the pitcher can hold on to it comfortably throughout the circle before snapping the wrist at release. The routine used with these balls can mirror the routing used with the Spinner-starting close up without the circle and adding distance as well as the full circle.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog

He also helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html Go Sign-up Now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais


SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!

Softball Tips - 3 Important Things You Must Know About Softball Safety

By Marc Dagenais

It's obvious that softball is a non-contact sport. The closest contact a player will have with his opponent is probably when on the base or the batter's box. But what isn't obvious are the risks that are involved in playing this sport.

Getting hit by a ball or a bat, or sliding incorrectly can cause terrible pain, or worse, career-ending injuries. However, these things can be avoided with the proper knowledge about softball safety.

That's why I'm sharing these softball tips with you so you can enjoy softball without the risks and pain caused by injuries.

1. Wear the Proper Safety Gear

The safety of everyone begins with wearing the proper safety gear. This especially applies to the batter and the catcher who are at the receiving end of lightning-fast pitches that could reach more than 70 mph.

The batter should always wear the proper helmet to protect the head in case it gets hit by the ball. Meanwhile, the catcher should wear the necessary safety equipment such as the mask, throat protector, and shin guard.

2. Learn How to Play the Game Properly

Just like radio signals that could get mixed up, communication among teammates on the field could get mixed up too. And mix ups can have severe consequences when it comes to players' safety.

Take for example a miscommunication between two outfielders on who's going to catch a fly ball. Because they failed to communicate well, they both go to the direction where the ball's going. The result: they bump with each other at high impact.

Softball coaches can prevent things like this from happening by designing drills that simulate similar situations. That way, every player would know what to do when a certain situation on the field happens.

It would also be good if coaches can assign certain areas to be covered by each player so that no player would step into the boundary of his teammate and thus, prevent accidents from happening.

3. Be Aware of Your Health

It's difficult to even keep track of your health when you're very focused on playing the game. But doing that doesn't just limit your ability on the field, it could also expose you to health risks later on.

For one, there's dehydration. Most players just start filling up their tanks when they start feeling thirsty. But by the time you feel this, it's already too late and you're already on your way to getting dehydrated. Drinking water won't take effect until later because your body could only absorb so much water in an hour.

Because of this, you should take regular sips of water or sports drink during the game. That way, you're always well-hydrated.

Dehydration isn't just the problem softball players face during games in very sunny conditions. There's also sunburn. Sunburn can be pretty painful especially if you've been exposed under direct sunlight for very long periods. Worse, it could develop to skin cancer later on, which you surely don't want to happen.

It's therefore important that you always wear sun block while playing the game. The more intense the sunlight is, the higher SPF of the sun block you should use.

Of course there are other things you should consider when it comes to safety when playing softball. But when you talk about protecting yourself on the field, the three I mentioned above are by far the most important pieces of softball safety advice you'll get from anyone.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais


SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!

Youth Softball Coaching Tips

By Trevor A. Sumner

One of your responsibilities as a coach is to give your players all the tools they need to play the game to the best of their ability.

The game of softball requires mental and physical agility, and youth softball coaching tips can help you impart needed tips to your players to give them the wherewithal to maximize their abilities.

Here are a few youth softball coaching tips that will improve your team's play:


Swing a Weighted Bat - One of the helpful youth softball coaching tips concerns itself with the feel of the bat in the hands of your players. In competitive fast pitch competition, it is helpful if your players can swing their softball bats through the hitting zone with speed. In order to do this, they must be able to handle the bat's weight. One of the top youth softball coaching tips is to advise your players to swing a bat heavier than the one they use in a game in preparation for their time at bat. In this way, their bat will feel lighter, and they will be able to handle it better, and swing it more quickly through the hitting zone.
Test Your Players - One of the more beneficial youth softball coaching tips has to do with imparting the rules of the game of softball. It stands to reason that the better your players understand the rules of softball, the better they will be able to make the plays that will maximize their abilities. You can impart this knowledge by holding skill sessions after practice or when adverse weather has prevented your normal weather routine. You can teach this by asking about game situations as you practice such as "if there is a pop fly, are you going to start running to second base?" As a coach, teaching your team the fundamentals of the game involves teaching your team the rules of the game.
Teaching Bunting - One of the most needed youth softball coaching tips is to teach your players the art and science of bunting the ball, and having fun while you do it. The fundamentals of the bunt are simple: Batters move their top hand up near the trademark, and the object is to "catch the ball with the bat." The batter adjusts the bat to push the softball pitch up the first base line or the thirds base line. You can introduce fun into the exercise by rewarding any player who bunts 5 consecutive pitches into fair ground. In this way, your players are practicing an important, but long-overlooked part of the game while having fun doing it.
Don't Forget the Fun - As a coach, teaching youth softball can be difficult. You should always consider the age of your players and consequently their attention spans and rigor in learning the basics. Often the most effective ways to coach about softball rules or teach technique mean adding a dimension of fun into the softball drills you practice. Turn drills into games, or make drills more fun by showing them how the pros do it such as this interactive youth softball drill library.
Always remember that playing youth softball should be fun for the team so they have a desire to learn and consequently you will get greater enjoyment in your youth softball coaching experience.

By Trevor A. Sumner who works for Weplay.com, a youth softball community dedicated to providing parents coaches and athletes the tools and information to celebrate the love of the game. Weplay has one of the most comprehensive softball drill libraries in its active softball community.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_A._Sumner


SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!

Softball Scholarships - 5 Tips For Softball Recruiting

By Sean J Farrell

College softball scholarships are becoming harder to get every year. More high school softball players are seeking scholarships as a way to help pay for college and athletes are becoming more knowledgeable regarding the recruiting process. To earn a softball scholarship you must have a solid recruiting plan and knowledge of how the recruiting process works.

College softball is classified as an equivalency sport. This means scholarships are rarely "full ride" as commonly thought. Most softball scholarships are partial scholarships. NCAA Division I schools can offer 12 scholarships. These can and usually are divided up among more than 12 athletes. For example, if you are offered a .5 or 50% scholarship, then the coach has 11.5 scholarships to divide up among as many athletes as they see fit. Incoming freshman often compete for 3 to 4 scholarships, all of which will be partial. DII schools have 9 scholarships, while NAIA schools have 10. Junior colleges have 24 scholarships and have become a hotbed of softball scholarship recruiting.

Use these 5 tips to help with your softball scholarship recruiting:


Get the best grades possible. This is an easy aspect of your recruiting to control. Coaches have a much easier time recruiting an athlete that leaves no questions to their academic ability in college. Colleges are tightening admission standards for athletes every year. Do let your grades leave you sidelined.
Play multiple positions. With such little scholarship money to hand out, if you can play two positions well, the coach saves money by recruiting you. You are a two-for-one deal in the coaches eye. Even if your high school coach only lets you play one position, play another during your summer season.
Get exposure. You have to let the coaches know you exist. Even if you are from a rural high school or school that hasn't had a scholarship athlete in years, you can get your name out there if you contact schools early and do it the right way.
Don't wait. Coaches are offering scholarships earlier every year. Start your recruiting during your sophomore year to get a jump on the competition. Junior year is critical for softball and you should have been contacting colleges all year. Don't wait for your high school coach or the college coach to contact you. Get out there and make it happen.
Be aggressive. There is a lot of competition. Be aggressive with contacting schools, sending out personal recruiting packets and picking up the phone. It often comes down to who did more work during the recruiting process, not who is the most talented softball player.

Use these 5 tips as a starting point for your college softball scholarship search. You need to start developing a recruiting game plan and educating yourself about the recruiting process. Take action and you can guarantee yourself success.

If you want a softball scholarship then don't wait any longer. You must start today. Visit http://www.collegeathleticscholarships.net to get the recruiting system that works for college softball scholarships. Use step-by-step instructions to beat out the competition and look forward to signing your National Letter of Intent.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_J_Farrell

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Softball Tips - Five Ways to Start Your Day Right

By Marc Dagenais

As a softball players, you know that tapering and honing your performance is a never-ending process. You need to do regular softball drills and training exercises that would help you be at the top of your game. But shaping yourself to become an elite player through drills and exercises is not the only thing that affects your performance. It is also important that you make sure that you stay in tiptop shape if you want to perform well and in a consistent manner. And that includes making sure that you get adequate sleep during the night. This surely helps you to rest your tired body so, that you are ready to face a new day.

Waking up to a new day can go either way. It can be as good as you can hope for or it can be as chaotic as you can imagine. It all depends on your perspective and your attitude on how you want your day to be. And so, to help you be at a positive disposition, here are some softball tips to help you start your day right.

Awaken Your Senses

Human beings naturally react to things through their senses like touch, smell, taste and sight. So, if you set the right mood in your own bedroom like putting up your favorite things such as scented candles, painting the walls with soothing colors and playing the music that you love, then, you would be able to wake up fresh and raring to go physically, mentally and emotionally.

Stretch Up

At the moment you wake up, be sure to stretch your muscles as this helps you loosen up your muscles and joints and help you to be more flexible. Be like the cat that when it wakes up from slumber, it stretches its spine and, then, its legs one by one before walking off. Stand up from your bed in a slow manner and, then, stretch your body, particularly your arms and legs, while you do breathing exercises.

Plan for Something to Look Forward to

Having something to look forward to serves as a great motivation for you to do well throughout the day. For example, you can treat yourself to a nice massage or you and your friends can catch a good movie at the movie theater. This will help keep your spirits up even if you stumble upon a couple of bad things in a day.

Have a Good Breakfast

As all of us know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is because having a proper breakfast helps your body to get energized for any activity that you would be doing during the morning. And if you are able to do whatever you have to do well in the morning, you would be able to feel that you would also be able to do well for the rest of the day. For breakfast, you can have cereal or oatmeal, banana and skim milk, which contain high fiber and low protein.

Exercise in the Morning

Exercise is always good but be sure not to overdo it. It is important to do light exercise during the morning in order to trigger your metabolism and at the same time, energize you. Doing this means that your health is essential to you and this thought would help you in feeling great throughout the day.

Waking up to a new day is very important as this would affect how you feel about yourself and how you would perform throughout the day. So, if you follow the softball tips I have just shared with you, you would be able to feel good about yourself and be able to start your day right.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

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Fastpitch Softball Hitting Tip: Forget "Elbow Up"

Why "elbow up" should NOT be forced upon young softball players or be taught as an absolute necessity to good hitting by fastpitch softball coaches.



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Softball Tips on Qualities of a Good Softball Player

By Marc Dagenais

My players often ask me what the qualities of a good softball player are. There are a lot of them, actually, and these qualities often depend on the type of game that the team needs. For a team that has a weak defense, they need good pitchers who have a wide array of pitches, or catchers with quick wits.

But we'll try to be general as much as we can here. We'll focus on the core qualities that each and every softball player must have, and regardless of the position that a player plays.

Let me run them down with some softball tips for you:

A good softball player needs speed. A typical play in softball lasts just 5 seconds or less. That's why a good softball player needs to be quick in order to get out of the batter's box quickly, steal bases, or track and catch fly balls.

How to build speed and quickness? Sprinting is the best way to do this. Sprinting teaches players to run and accelerate quickly.

A good softball player needs to be agile. Agility is the quality that enables the player to shift positions at the blink of an eye. A fly ball could go anywhere, which is why agility is an important quality in defensive players.

There are lots of softball-specific exercises that aim to improve your agility. Some examples include:

A good softball player has power. Power is the name of the game in softball. Whether you are a pitcher or a batter, power is your best friend. A powerful pitcher throws balls at blinding speeds, which leads batters to miss the ball entirely. Meanwhile, a powerful batter slams the ball out of the field, and out of the reach of defensive players.

Resistance training is the best way to build power. Just make sure you don't just train any muscle, but train those muscles that you need in softball. That includes muscles in your arms, shoulders, legs, wrists, as well as your core muscles.

A good softball player has quick wits. With plays happening at blinding speed, players are left with little time to react to situations that put in front of them. That's why it's important for a softball player to have quick wits. Teams need players with quick decision-making skills, and you can't succeed in elite softball circles without it.

Reaction times can be improved with exercises such as the 'finger flash'. In this exercise, a batter is positioned on the box, with a pitcher at the pitcher's mound. Instead of throwing the ball, the pitcher flashes one or several fingers. It is, then, the job of the batter to count how many fingers the pitcher flashed.

There you have it. I have just sharesd with you some important softball tips on how a good softball player should be. Keep in mind that in order to become a good softball player, you need to take a total approach towards your game. You cannot just rely on power to take you there. You also need the other qualities that I shared with you in these softball tips: quick wits, speed, and agility.

Marc Dagenais is a Softball Peak Performance Coach that helps softball players turn their athletic talent into extraordinary performances and help coaches get more out of their players, turn their struggling team around or get an edge over their opponents. Visit us to sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

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Softball Coaching Tips - How to Motivate Your Players Better

By Marc Dagenais
Motivating your players is one of your most basic tasks as a softball coach. But sad to say, it's also one of the most difficult things to master in this game. It's not easy to tell your players to perform better, to have a positive attitude towards the game, or tell them to relate well with their teammates.

You do not build your motivational skills overnight. You need all the experience you can get to do this well. Don't worry though, because I'll show you some of the most basic concepts of motivation through these softball coaching tips I have for you.

Let Motivation Start From Within

Many players have trophies and glory as their motivation to win games. However, these motivators - sometimes called external motivators - although good, are by themselves weak and do not push players well enough into wanting to become better players. This kind of motivation wanes when your players fail to claim the prize, or even after winning it.

What you should do, then, is to couple this with motivation that comes from within your players. You'll get lots of this type of motivation from players who really love the game. Let them share their enthusiasm with your other players, and it will eventually rub off on them.

Know Your Players Better

Motivation is not a one-way road. Motivation is a form of communication, and as such, you should learn to listen as much as you know how to talk to your players. Why should you do this? That's because only when you start listening to your players will you know how to motivate them well. That's the time you'll know which buttons to push to fire them up.

For example, you have a player who's severely unmotivated. This player often misses practices, and does not seem to relish the playing time you're giving him. And he's not complaining when you don't let him play, either.

To address this motivational issue, you should talk to the player why he's acting that way. You might feel surprised to find out that he doesn't like to play softball in the first place! Believe me, it happens. And the sooner you find out about this, the better. That way, you can prevent friction from building up and still part ways as friends. And more than that, you can find a replacement for that player immediately, if possible.

Shouting Does Not Motivate Players

Back in the day, coaches were a lot like drill sergeants. They always barked orders at you, and insulted you whenever you committed errors. But things have changed. Shouting doesn't work anymore. It could work for the first few weeks of training, but its effectiveness will wear off eventually.

What you should do then is talk to them as a normal person would. Again, motivation is about good communication, and you do not foster that by insulting and shouting at your players.

All in all, these softball coaching tips on motivation are all about relating well with your players. Following these tips will make it easier for you to find out what causes their lack of motivation and address the root of the problem.

Marc Dagenais is a Softball Peak Performance Coach that helps softball players turn their athletic talent into extraordinary performances and help coaches get more out of their players, turn their struggling team around or get an edge over their opponents. Visit us to sign-up to get our FREE softball pitching tips!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais



SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!

Softball Coaching Tips - How to Become a Better Softball Coach

By Marc Dagenais

As a softball coach, I always try to analyze everything that I do once a season is over. This helps me track down ever right thing that I did so, I can do it again next year, as well as the wrong decisions I made and not do them again.

So, if you're like me, you constantly try to improve your coaching performance every year. After all, the way you handle your team counts a lot in tournaments. When you start to break down, so will your team. You can't afford that to happen. And that's why I'm sharing with you my softball coaching tips on how you can become a better softball coach.

Build Up Your Confidence. I mentioned earlier that whatever happens to you will ultimately affect your team's performance. That includes having the confidence to play the game. Being the coach, you are your players' role model. So show them how it is to have the fighting form in the way you motivate them, and in the way you handle them. This kind of pure confidence will surely rub off on them.

Control Your Temper. It's easy to lose your head when you see your team losing. But don't let it get to do. Why? Being angry will only cloud your decisions, which will bring your team's performance even lower than it already is. And if you want to handle a team that would dominate for years, then you don't want to break the bond apart just because you got angry and unfairly shouted at your players. You should be the team's main motivator, and that's something you don't achieve by getting angry.

Improve Communication Between You and Your Team. This doesn't just apply to you, but among your players as well. Communication is the key if you want to minimize errors on the field. Aside from that, it facilitates the way you work. This is important when making lightning-quick decisions in the middle of the game.

Be Able to Adjust to Every Situation. You could practice all you want, but nothing seems to ever prepare you for actual game situations. Because of this, you should always be flexible enough to shift your decisions based on what the game demands.

Learn How to Overcome Frustrations. If you want to be a softball coach for a long time, then, you should be able to easily overcome frustrations. There will always be a time for winning, and then, losing, so you must learn how to deal with the occasional bumps on the road that you meet. It's going to keep you sane, and it will help you enjoy coaching a lot more. After all, you learn something new after each and every failure that you make.

These five things have by far helped me become a better softball coach. Some took me years to master, but once I did, things only got better for me and the teams that I handled. I hope that the same things happen to you when you apply these softball coaching tips on how you can become a better softball coach.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

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The Most Wanted Softball Tips

www.BatAction.com

By Marc Dagenais

You are not good at softball or at any sport. But you are willing to learn to the point that you have to do all the searching about the best tips and techniques written over the internet. What's more is that you watch every practice drill and game of your favorite softball team. You almost did everything and anything that you can and gave all your learning power. But still you can't even pitch a ball. You can't even hit the ball. You can't even make an impressive home run.

This is a problem worth addressing. Anybody can become a softball player if they are equipped with the softball tips that will serve as their winning formula. There are many softball tips posted everywhere. But the problem seems to become the tips themselves. Some of the tips given are difficult to comprehend. They just seem to worry your mind more.

The different softball tips must be studied well so that there will be no regrets in the future. Therefore, there is a need to supply every softball enthusiasts with the most simple and basic knowledge they need to know and prepare before they actually bend themselves into the real softball game.

Here are simple softball tips that could make a big difference.

- You start your softball education by prioritizing. The softball learning doesn't come at a full package. It comes after each area of ideas has been well-thought of. Know what you have to learn more. You have to order things according to their importance or urgency. For example, if you are not that good in pitching, then you must study pitching first of all. Time is not wasted if you will focus on what you should really have to learn.

- Prepare your body for any drills and practice. A softball battle will drain your energy that is why prior to every game, you must have been mentally and physically motivated. You must not forget the needs of your body. Keep safe. You have to fuel up your system by doing proper exercises and warm-ups. You must also eat nutritious foods most particularly those foods that are rich in proteins and carbohydrates. These might give you the needed energy of your body.

- Continuous learning is needed in the softball education. This means that if you learn something new, do not stop there. You have to learn more. You have to get going. You have to become unstoppable in every chances of learning.

The softball tips are endless. Modify every tip according to your preference. Make a way on how you will become a better softball player. Learning doesn't only happen when your coach started to yell at you. It happens when you start whispering to yourself that you are a winner. You just have to prove it as soon as possible. Developing your self-ego is a big help, softball tips are just guidelines and its results are within your hand. So, brighten up your future right now!

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improve their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

Fastpitch Softball is Not Baseball!

By Scott Hamilton

Fastpitch softball is not baseball. Fastpitch softball is action packed, a surprise at every pitch, strategy at every breath…..this is fastpitch softball. Players, coaches, and fans must pay strict attention or they will miss the action.

Coaches relay signals at every pitch. Signals to the pitcher telling the pitcher the type of pitch and the placement of the pitch. Signals to the batter, telling the batter to swing or not, to bunt, to hit and run. Signals to the base runners, telling them to steal a base, to draw a throw. Signals to the fielders, telling them where to place themselves, or where to concentrate the defense. The coaches even use signals to indicate whether or not to use the signals! This is done to make sure the signals are not intercepted so that the opposition may gain advantage.

Fastpitch softball is so fast that teams can devise strategy to win even if they are over matched by superior pitching. This strategy is called “small ball”. This strategy involves bunting at nearly every pitch. This forces the defense to move in and is necessary because the bases are close together, only 60 feet, and can be reached rapidly by the runners. If a small mistake is made (a ball bobble, or a slow throw) the runner will be safe and opens the game up for more like strategy.

The difference between winning and losing can be very small. The equipment used by the players and coaches is key to success. Players and coaches can network to offer advice to one another to ensure that the best equipment is being put to use. These ideas can be shared at www.lets-talk-softball.com

This web site was established for fastpitch softball participants so that advice can be shared freely. Please visit the site and share your experiences with other so that they may become better.

Scott Hamilton is the owner and web master of http://www.lets-talk-softball.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Hamilton

The Three I's in Softball Coaching

By Marc Dagenais

The most comprehensive softball coaching can be found in an article that features not only the usual and the most basic coaching styles and techniques. It also comes in small packages like this one. This article is all about softball coaching. But what makes this article different is that it underscores only three of the most needed softball coaching elements. These are interest, improvement and importance.

Interest. In any softball coaching plan, awareness and concentration on the hustles and bustles of the game is important. The power and quality of the game depends upon the curiosity or concern displayed by all of the members of the softball team. But how can a player achieve his winning goal if the coach himself doesn't know what to do? There is really a great need of the incorporation of interest in any softball game because this serves as the link of involvement with something that makes the softball performance leads its way to progress or success.

Improvement. After you have carefully laid down your softball plans and priorities, you have to keep on advancing. As a coach, you must set continuous modifications of the plans and techniques that you have already done. There is much intensive change in the softball field every now and then. The softball coach should cope up with the great changes that the game of softball brings. He must also have the ability to become better and make his players better by constant practice and softball training. The involvement of changes adds value to the softball coaching of every person.

Importance. There is a much need to give value to the softball game itself. This means that the magnitude of your strength should be at least given to the softball coaching. When you give importance to the game, you have to set aside your extra-curricular activities and focus first on the development of your plans for the improvement of the team. In one way or another, you have to give a high interest to the different news happening around the softball world.

Softball coaching is not an easy task and it will never become easy. It will always become a big sacrifice. But the feeling of satisfaction and contentment once you are in the softball field become the energy that will bring more positive actions and more outstanding idea that you will share with the team. Yes, the job is not easy yet it will always be happy task.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

5 Core Mechanics to a Good Baseball and Softball Swing

5 Core Mechanics to a Good Baseball and Softball Swing

By Todd Thomas

In hitting there are 5 core principles that as a hitter you hope to execute on every swing. No thanks to pitchers constantly attempting to mess up a hitter's timing and balance, these core movements aren't always present in every swing. These core mechanics are dependent upon each other for a player to really execute their best swing. In order to successfully execute one's best swing, these "parts" need to work together to maximize the hitting process. These five core principles are the "blueprint" of a hitters basic mechanics. They are:

1. Weight Transfer
2. Hips lead the hands
3. Matching the swing plane to the pitch plane or "leveling"*
*(this involves the shoulder dip, tilting, & getting the bat level to the ball)
4. Ideal contact
5. Staying inside the ball

These principles of hitting are the foundation and are present in every good swing but they are not all always present in EVERY swing from the same player. A player cannot, and will not, be consistently successful if they are regularly lacking in any one of these areas in the hitting process. This is why Ted William's said that hitting a baseball is the single most difficult thing to do in any sport. Although, I tend to disagree with Ted on this thought. Hitting a baseball(or softball) may be the second most difficult thing. I believe TEACHING someone to hit a baseball/softball may be the most difficult thing to do in sports!

Do great hitters always look great or even good at the plate? The simple obvious answer is NO. If the pitcher is successful as they often are, their pitch will take one of the core elements away from the hitter. When this happens take a look at what happens to their swing. The result are often less than favorable in these cases.

Oftentimes, a player who has excellent core hitting mechanics can be struggling at the plate and even look awkward. If you regularly watch a lot of games and hitters as I do, you will clearly recognize when a hitter gets into advantageous hitting positions and when they obviously did not. In the situations when their swing looked "bad", that doesn't mean that the hitter has poor hitting mechanics. Rather, something in the process was slightly off. One(or more) of the core mechanics was out of whack for whatever reason. A lot of times it's a hitter's rhythm, timing and tempo that are off and they are "chasing" a pitch the pitcher fooled them with. Whatever the pitcher has done, it has worked in that the hitters core mechanics are thrown off. As well all know, this doesn't always mean the hitter doesn't get a hit. We've all seen the crazy off-balance swing where the hitter drops one in for a base hit. As well as, we have all seen the "perfect" swing where the hitter smokes the ball only to have it fielded for an out by the defense.

One thing to add here is two-strike situation. A hitter should be less concerned with staying perfect with their mechanics and should be simply focusing on doing whatever it takes to make contact and put the ball in play. There is typically not much a hitter can do when they have two strikes on them except let the ball travel as deep as possible and simply put the bat in the path of the ball. Any thoughts of putting the perfect swing on a pitch when a hitter has two strikes must be out the window and he/she should focus on making the adjustments necessary to put the ball in play.

What is the perfect swing anyway? It's the adjustments a hitter makes appropriate to the pitch they get. This is the reason why a lot of times no two swings look very similar. It all starts with the core mechanics and then expands from there. Every element is necessary to maximize the swing process to a consistently high level. When a player is taught improper core mechanics or if core mechanics are not firmly established, hitting problems are exacerbated greatly and hitting frustration is escalated. Learning the core mechanics and learning them correctly while continually working on them is crucial to all hitters.

Todd Thomas is a Baseball Coach and Professional Hitting Instructor for Mike Epstein Hitting. Coach Todd's personal hitting website is http://www.HitItHere.net. Coach Todd also enthusiastically endorses http://PlayMyBestBaseball.com as a place where baseball and softball hitters can master the Confidence, Composure, Focus and Consistency of their game so they can reach their full potential.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Thomas

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Softball Coaching Drills - Know What to Look For

Too often in any sport, a coach will have his/her team go through drills without paying attention to what the players are doing. This happens in softball too. Drills are not any good if a coach doesn’t watch what’s happening and correct the mistakes. All drills require coaching. The three broad categories for softball coaching drills are hitting, throwing, and fielding.

By Becky Wittenburg

Softball Coaching Drills for Hitting

Anytime players are practicing hitting the ball, a coach should be looking to make sure the player isn’t doing anything that will make it difficult to hit the ball.

For example, hitters want to keep their back foot planted firmly at all times. The front foot on hitters should stride straight at the pitcher. Stepping away from the plate is called “stepping into the bucket” and should be corrected by a coach. Also, a coach should make sure the players don’t pull their head (and eyes) off the ball while they’re swinging.

A few other things a coach should look at are the position of the hands before, during, and after a swing, the position of the back elbow before the swing, and how tightly a player grips the bat.

Softball Coaching Drills for Throwing


Players should be required to practice a variety of softball coaching drills that test a player’s ability to throw strong and accurately from a many different distances. While the players are throwing, the coach should be looking at the thrower’s feet, arms, and upper body. Improper footwork, upper body rotation, and/or arm movement can (and most likely will) result in inaccurate and/or weak throws.

Coaches need to make sure a player’s feet are moving toward the target, the upper body should swivel away from and then to and through the target, and both arms should come-up, the front elbow should point toward the target, and then fall away as the throwing arm comes through.

Softball Coaching Drills for Fielding


When fielding the ball, the main thing a player wants to do is keep the ball in front of him/her. This is done by a player moving to be completely in front of a ball and keeping his/her shoulders square to the ball. This is so important that every softball coaching drill should require a player to do this.

Coaches all need to make sure players slide their feet to get in front of the ball, that players bend at the knees to field the ball, and that the players scoop the ball with two hands and cradle it into their body.

Getting the Most of Softball Drills


In order for softball drills to be effective, coaches need to watch players perform the softball drills and then correct players’ mistakes. The three broad categories of softball coaching drills are hitting, throwing, and fielding. There are very specific things that every coach should look for while players are practicing softball drills.

Coach Becky has been coaching softball for well over a decade. She's constantly on the lookout for new softball coaching drills You can get instant access to a sample of her softball practice plans by visiting her website:

SoftballSpot.com

For a limited time, all coaches who visit Becky's site will also get a free copy of her special report: "The 7 Biggest Mistakes Softball Coaches Make". Go get your free copy today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg

Fast Pitch Softball Bats

Fast Pitch Softball Bats

By Rately Gardie

Fast pitch softball has been a popular American sport for decades, but it wasn't until the sport was added to the 1996 Olympics and got worldwide recognition, that it became the hugely popular phenomenon that it is today. Unlike many other team sports, the appeal of fast pitch softball is that a player can get satisfaction and recognition from their own success, as well as help propel their team to championships. The success of the individual player depends on several factors: as usual practice makes perfect, but knowing the strategies of the game and investing in quality equipment such as high end fast pitch softball bats can also give a player a big push towards success.

Fast pitch softball is different from slow pitch in the way the ball is thrown to the batter. In fast pitch, pitchers use a "windmill" type pitch that starts at their hip then rapidly bringing it up over their head and back around to the hip. The skill in this pitch lies in knowing exactly when to release the ball and how to perfectly flick the wrist at the end. The perfect release will give a spin to the ball and contributes to the speed of the pitch. The pitch is so fast at 70mph that reaction time on a standard diamond with 40-43 feet from mound to plate is the same as a baseball pitch at 100mph from 60 feet away.

And this is where practice comes into play. The player really needs to be familiar with the types of pitches thrown at them, and comfortable with the weight and feel of their fast pitch softball bat. Having the perfectly proportioned bat is very important. The right length and weight can make a tremendous difference in how far the player hits. In general, the bat should be long enough to reach the players wrist when they stand it on end. To pick the correct weight, the player really needs to practice swinging the bat and testing how well they can control it without strain. What you're looking for is a bat that is the heaviest the player can manage without losing swing speed.

The material the fast pitch softball bat is made of also makes a big different. Bats are made of graphite, carbon, aluminum, or a composite. Composite bats offer the greatest variety of weight to length ratios, and can withstand more of an all-weather beating than their aluminum or carbon compatriots. Brands that make high quality composite bats include Miken, Combat, Anderson, and DeMarini.

For more information about FastPitch Softball Bats please visit on http://www.wcsportinggoods.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rately_Gardie

Youth Fastpitch Softball Bunt Coverage

If you are coaching youth softball, the most effective offensive weapon is to utilize the bunt. As such, having an effective fastpitch softball bunt coverage scheme is essential to playing winning defensive softball. If your team cannot effectively shut down your oppenent's short game, your team will be at the mercy of the other team. This article covers the softball strategy for all nine positions on the field for every bunting situation.

By Jim Moyer

To be a solid fastpitch softball defensive team, your team must be well-drilled in fastpitch softball bunt coverage. This article will discuss the standard scheme that works best for your base defense. Moreso than other softball skills, practice and repetition will be paramount in executing bunt coverage, as this play requires an inordinate amount of team chemistry.

The typical layout of your defensive unit should have the 1st baseman playing in towards home about 3-5 feet. The 2nd baseman and Shortstop should be positioned somewhere behind the baseline (depending on the age and level of competition). The 3rd baseman should be positioned about 10-12 feet inside the bag towards home plate. This base positioning dictates that the 3rd baseman, 1st baseman, pitcher and catcher are the four players in position to field the ball. The ideal player to field the ball is the 3rd baseman. She needs to be the General on the field on bunt coverage plays as she is the player moving towards the play at 1st base and she should have the best vision of the entire play. As she is charging the ball, she needs to make the call as to who will field the ball. How many times have we seen 2 or more players converge on the ball and think the other player will make the play only to make no play at all? Too many! The 3rd baseman should be charging the ball and call the position of the player that is in the best position to make the play.

Probably the hardest bunt to field is the ball placed about 6 feet in front of home plate and down the 1st baseline. This is a prime example where team chemistry will come in to play. The 3rd baseman will have to quickly assess who has the best play on the ball. Typically, the catcher would be the preferred choice since her momentum is headed towards 1st base; however, she may have been slow getting out of her position.

Softball Bunt Coverage - No Runners on Base

With no runners on base, 1st, Pitcher, Catcher, and 3rd are going to crash the ball. The 2nd baseman has the responsibility to cover 1st base and receive the throw. The rightfielder should take an angle to about 20 - 30 feet behind 1st base and near the foul line to cut off any errant throws. It's critical for the rightfielder to maintain a safe distance behind 1st base otherwise the errant throw to 1st base could well end up in the right field corner for a homerun. The centerfielder should take an angle to be positioned behind the rightfielder to help with retrieving an errant throw. The shortstop should head to 2nd base in case of an error at 1st base. The leftfielder should take an angle to position herself behind the shortstop.

Softball Bunt Coverage - Runner on 1st Base

TAKE THE OUT AT 1ST BASE!!! Don't even consider going for the lead runner and trying to get the out at 2nd base. It's fools gold and you would be lucky to make that play 10% of the time. All of the player's positioning is the same except for the shortstop and leftfielder. This is the MOST DISCIPLINED PLAY the shortstop will have to make. Her instinct is to cover 2nd base for a steal, however, if she does that and the bunt is put in play, it will turn into a foot race between her and the runner to get to 3rd base (If the runner on 1st sees the shortstop at 2nd, she just continues running to 3rd knowing it's going to be a very difficult play for shortstop to run from 2nd to 3rd and be in position to make a catch and tag). To play this correctly, position the shortstop 5 feet closer to 2nd base so she is in position to cover the steal without having to break to the base prior to knowing if the ball is successfully bunted. If the ball is not bunted, she covers 2nd base for the steal. If the ball is successfully bunted she covers 3rd base. She can't cheat to cover 3rd base either, or if the runner on 1st is stealing the shortstop will be out of position to take the throw. The leftfielder will take an angle to be about 20 - 30 feet behind 3rd base and on the left field foul line to back up an errant throw.

Softball Bunt Coverage - Runners on 1st and 2nd Base

Again, TAKE THE OUT AT 1ST BASE!!! Depending on the age and skill level of your team, it may be possible to get the lead runner at 3rd base. If the bunt is very short so the catcher can make a quick play, of if the bunt is too hard and the pitcher or 1st baseman can make a quick play, it COULD be possible to get the runner out at 3rd base. However, the odds are certainly not in your favor, and if the play is unsuccessful the result is having the bases loaded. Coverage on this play is the same as the coverage for a runner on 1st base coverage. The noted exception is the rightfielder needs to know on an overthrow she should be prepared to throw the ball home. Also, the leftfielder needs to take her backup position behind 3rd base in case the play is attempted at 3rd base.

Softball Bunt Coverage - Bases Loaded

The unique thing about this play is that either 1st base or Catcher needs to make the call as to where to throw the ball. The 3rd baseman and pitcher have a much more difficult time knowing how close the runner is to home plate. Also unique for this play, is that the catcher needs more discipline. She must immediately determine if another fielder can play the ball and toss it to her for the force out at home. If this is the case, she needs to take a 1st baseman's stance at the plate and be prepared to receive the throw and then throw to 1st base for a double play. She must also determine if she is the only player that can make a play on the ball and get the out at either home or 1st base. This is a pressure play on the defense, but with a fair amount of practice should be able to make the play at home on a fairly routine basis. If there is ever ANY DOUBT about making the out at home, the fielders must take the out at 1st base.

Softball Bunt Coverage - Look for the Double Play

When runners are on base and the bunt play is on, this is an ideal time to look for the double play. Typically the runners, especially a trailing runner, will take sizeable leadoffs on when the bunt is on. Train your players to react to a bunt that is popped up in the air. The easiest runner to double up is generally a runner on 1st base. Catch the pop up and fire the ball to 1st base for the force out. The lead runner is usually in a good enough position to be able to return to her base safely, however she probably is out of position to be able to advance when you throw to 1st for the double play.

Softball Bunt Coverage - Take the Out

Almost without exception, your team is far better off taking the out at 1st base. Considering the difficulty of getting the lead runner and the position you leave yourself in if the play is not successful, it's hardly ever worth the risk of going for the lead runner. I would submit the only time when it is imperative to get the lead runner is when the game-winning run is on 3rd base. Even if it is the game tying run on 3rd base, I would strongly consider taking the out at 1st base and allowing the runner on 3rd to score. If you go for the out at home and are unsuccessful, you have allowed the game to be tied and allowed the winning run on base or advance on the bases without getting an out. As a coach, you are finding a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and that's not a good thing.

Remember that the key to having a successful fastpitch defense is to make a very high percentage of easy outs. You must avoid giving up big innings to your opponent. In fastpitch softball, one big offensive inning can very easily decide the game. If you repeatedly play for the lead runner, you will consistently give up big innings. Further, if you can NOT shut down your opponents bunting game, you don't have much of a chance to win. In another article on this site, I tell the story of bunting 10 batters in a row one inning. Trust me, you don't want to be the team that sees 10 bunts in a row. That means your team can't cover the bunt, and you can't win the game. For the best way to practice your softball bunt coverage scheme please refer to the article The Bunting Game located at http://www.mysoftballcoach.com/bunting.html

Now, Go get ‘em coach!

Jim Moyer is the author of http://www.mysoftballcoach.com Having coached over 500 youth fastpitch softball games, Jim decided to put the information online to allow parent/coaches to draw on his unique experience.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Moyer

Fastpitch Softball Hitting Drills

Fastpitch Softball Batting machine by Nedco Sports


Fastpitch Softball Hitting Drills
By Marc Dagenais

Here are some great softball hitting drills for you to use which will improve your performance with the bat:

Drill 1 - Barrier Behind

Purpose: To emphasize taking the hands directly to the ball and keeping the barrel up.

Procedure: The batter's rear foot is parallel to the side of a batting cage and in contact with the net. The batter swings by taking her hands to the ball and keeping the bat barrel up. The bat should not touch the barrier on the swing.

Drill 2 - Look at Pitcher, Then Hit

Purpose: To practice refocusing from the pitcher to the point of contact.

Procedure: The batter at a T looks out at an imaginary pitcher and then refocuses on the T and takes a normal swing.

Drill 3 - Drop Toss

Purpose: To develop hand speed to the ball.

Procedure: The batter assumes her stance with a partner facing her with the ball held at should height. The batter tells the partner when to drop the ball. The partner releases the ball and pulls her arm up away from the strike zone. The batter takes a full swing.

Drill 4 - Rise-Ball Pitcher

Purpose: To practice hitting a rise ball.

Procedure: Take the legs off the pitching machine and position the machine on the ground. The pitched ball will then come from a low position to a high position. The batter must swing at only strikes. This drill can be done on the field with fielders and base runners on in a batting cage.

Drill 5 - Target Hitting

Purpose: To develop the right-handed batter's skill of hitting an outside pitch to right field and an inside pitch to left field, and vice versa for the left-handed batter.

Purpose: In batting practice the batter must hit into an assigned area of the field. For example, the first pitch a right-handed batter hits must be to right field. She will need to be sure to wait for an outside pitch. On her next swing she must try to pull the ball, and therefore look for an inside pitch. This drill can be done with or without fielders and base runners.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog

He also helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html Go Sign-up Now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

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Softball Hitting, Softball Pitching - How to Do It!

Softball Batting Machine By Nedco Sports

Just like any other sports, softball has many skills to learn for you to be able to play it well. It is a must that one should really know some of those facts. Like batting, fielding, catching, running and pitching. These are some of the basics that anyone who is interested in playing softball, they should try first to master each skill.

By Marc Dagenais

In 1887, George Hancock and his baseball players were resting because of the winter outside. To keep them in shape, Mr. Hancock thinks of a way on how are they practice baseball. There, the first softball was played and was initially named as "indoor baseball." Decade passed, more terms were tagged to this game but it gained popularity among the people in our country. Today, everybody loves softball. This is the game that always unites people, be it with the boys or girls, whites or blacks.

Just like any other sports, softball has many skills to learn for you to be able to play it well. It is a must that one should really know some of those facts. Like batting, fielding, catching, running and pitching. These are some of the basics that anyone who is interested in playing softball, they should try first to master each skill.

Pitching will be the concentration of this article because this is the one that starts the ball flying. In layman's term, pitching also means throwing. But throwing the softball is not just mere skill in this game. One should master the art of pitching so that you may provide the game with more excitement and fun.

Learning how to do it is quite easy; you just have to follow the tips below. Put in mind that once you are already playing the game; always remember the following so that you would be able to pitch the ball correctly.

1. Make sure that your pitching arm pass overhead (just like the 12 o'clock position) while your weight is on the drive leg.
2. Swing you arms up as your body moves along with it.
3. Land with your stride leg pointed at about 30 to 45 degrees to maintain your balance.
4. Release the ball once it is beside your hip.
5. Push your drive leg off the pitching rubber to give you more power.

Once you have tried doing those things, you will end up successfully in pitching the ball to the batter. But, there are also some nonsense actions that you should avoid while pitching.

1. Do not let your balance arm swing off to the side because this will diminish your pitching power as you throw the ball. As you bring your arms up, your pitching arm should make a 360-degree rotation while your balance arm will go up for 90 degrees.

2. As you raise up your hand, just stand straight. Do not lean over for this will cause you to let the ball go late.

3. If you do not want to have any ankle, knee or hip injury, do not land on the side ways of your stride leg.

4. The ball should be released behind the shoulders. Do not release the ball in front of your body foe you can't pitch it to your maximum power.

Pitching could be as easy as that, but it plays an important role in playing the softball. Its crucial role would determine if you will win the game or not!

Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps players and teams hit with more power, run faster, throw harder, become mentally tougher, and be more dominant on the softball field. To get tons of great FREE softball pitching tips to boost your game, visit us at: http://www.softballperformance.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

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Realities of Softball Coaching

www.SoftballrUs.com

Softball is a game that needs a lot of preparation and timing. It is a process wherein the proper coordination of mind and body is needed. A sound mind and a sound body.

By Marc Dagenais

Yes, there is much truth about this adage. If you really are fit, you should think of the good things that will happen to you and to your softball career.

The same is true with softball coaching. Coaching requires the full attention and full awareness of your softball players. Once you said that you are a coach that means you are already signing the contract of being their second parent. You now begin to be more responsible, more mature and more attentive with their needs. As second parent, you have also the chance to own them during practice and game time. This means that you have the power to give them commands that they should follow. But these commands must be of great help to their softball development and not to torture them.

There are several ways on how to improve your performance as a softball coach. Read on and you'll know what I am talking about.

A softball coach is someone who knows the basics of the game. He was also once a softball player. A coach who hasn't played the softball himself will never become the best coach. Coaching is about demonstration. The coach must not only command through words. He must teach new skills and techniques by doing it. It is true that you can really learn by doing. The players can learn fast if they can see you portraying the new skills you teach.

Remember that a softball coaching expert is a normal person just like you. A softball coach is always tired. Yet, he always smiles. There are no qualms about this. He gets mad when you can't get a skill easily. He smiles when you make a great move. He reprimands you if you will not follow. He taps your shoulder if you hit or pitched the ball well.

There are actually a lot of attitudes a softball coach has. They are just normal people with normal feelings. The players must also understand that the softball coaches are there to encourage you. It is your job also not to discourage them.

All in all, the softball coaching involves a give and take relationship between the player and the coach. If both participate well, then a happy, harmonious and productive softball game will be displayed in any softball field.

The true meaning of coaching is to unleash the potentials of people by helping and teaching them in an enthusiastic atmosphere. Softball coaching is just like being a teacher who guides his pupils. In your daily life, there are so many people around you who are always guiding and supporting you. Coaching begins from your families and friends. They are always there to motivate you and for you to not lose hope. They serve are your lifetime coach, and your daily life if the diamond where you play.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!

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