By guest author: Marc Dagenais
Softball is mostly a conservative game. Take a look at how much the softball gear and apparel have changed over the past century and you'll understand what I mean.
There's nothing wrong with being conservative per se. The uniform, for example, sets it apart from other sports, so people will understand if it doesn't change much.
But from a practical point of view, some things need to be changed in the way the sport is being played. This especially applies to the most common softball myths that most coaches still teach to their players today.
In this article, I'll be showing you some of these common myths and I'll tell you why they need to be changed once and for all.
Static Stretches
This is probably one myth that still persists not only in softball but in other sports as well. The premise of static stretches is that it helps you run faster, provide you with more power and prevent you from getting injured.
But studies have shown the opposite. Instead of giving you a performance boost, static stretches turn off your nervous system, which decreases your performance.
So instead of doing static stretches, softball coaches of the 21st century should teach their players dynamic stretches when warming up. That's because dynamic stretches effectively deliver what static stretches can't.
Should Softball Players Lift Weights?
In the past, softball players have been discouraged from lifting weights because it can negatively affect their performance. Unless you still practice this belief, you'll know that it isn't the case.
The truth is that lifting weights provides more benefits than traditional coaches could ever imagine. Lifting weights develops a player's stamina, endurance and strength, while providing more power to throw the ball faster and swing the bat at greater speeds.
Depending Too Much on Pitching Machines
The day pitching machines became available for softball teams was good news for softball coaches all over the world. And this is why most coaches now only depend on pitching machines to train their players' batting skills.
But pitching machines are a one-trick pony. They cannot completely teach your players how to hit the ball at different areas because the machine can only throw balls at one direction.
I recommend that you use pitching machines when teaching your players the correct hitting mechanics. But when it comes to hitting the ball at different zones, stick with the good old live pitching.
Yelling at Players
Today's coaches should remember that their job is to motivate and inspire their players. That said, coaches should now learn how to gain the respect of their players without shouting at them. What works today is creating a positive and motivating environment for players, and that's something that can never be achieved with tons of shouting.
Some of these softball tips look so obvious that they're funny. But the reality is that there are still coaches out there who continue to propagate these things to their players. It's about time that you do your share in helping break these common softball myths.
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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