The Secrets of Successful Women Softball Coaches

The Secrets of Successful Women Softball Coaches
By guest author: Marc Dagenais

There are very few women coaches in youth's sports league nowadays. Some women decided to stop in softball coaching because they can't manage to survive and even thrive in youth's sport coaching. However, some women continue on and become really successful. How did these few women continue softball coaching?

Some women developed good strategies when they were just starting and then after breaking in to softball coaching to compete with the gender challenges they faced as the "woman coach."

How did these successful softball women coaches deal with the heightened scrutiny, while gaining respect of others and building their self-confidence?

So here are some tips in order to be a successful women coach:

- Decipher the secret language of coaches - A lot of what a coach know is learned through experience, not from books or sports clinics. Successful coaches are keen observers of other coaches, particularly those coaching in higher age-brackets. Try to learn their secret language and learn how to apply it by carefully observing the styles and techniques of the more experienced coaches.

- Join coaching classes - Although you have a playing experience, coaching classes can be very helpful in learning how to run a good practice with several great softball drills Coaching classes enhance your natural talents further.

- Find counselors - Numerous women coaches were recruited into coaching by some teams and then mentored by a more experienced coach. The individual men will coach the new women coaches and as a result many women become successful coaches.

- Define the stereotypes - More people completely think that a word "coach" is only reserved to a man. That's why, woman coaches often not even recognized as the coach by the kids or adults. As a woman coach, you have to be firm about your convictions and avoid being intimidated by the opposite sex. You can apply some of your styles that no men coach has.

Clearly, the main thriving gender strategies and techniques are group ones, like building a network of support that not only encourages and influences the other women in softball coaching, but it also creates the opportunity of expanding the culture of youth's sports, making it more comprehensive for women as much as for men.

These successful strategies can be very helpful to every woman who is very interested by being a softball coach. A woman coach must act more competitive, tougher and more assertive.

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 tips to boost your game, visit us: http://www.softballperformance.com

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

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How to Choose the Best Softball Clinic

How to Choose the Best Softball Clinic
By guest author: Monica Martinez

When looking for the best softball clinic to attend there are a couple of important things to consider. First would be the knowledge of the coaching staff. Then you would need to consider the experience of the coaching staff. Then ask yourself, "How much one on one coaching am I going to get?" "Will I be seen by elite college coaches?" and "Will I be getting my money's worth in such a camp?"

When considering knowledgeable clinicians, one must expect that the clinician has played or coached at the highest levels. These levels would include the PFX (Professional Fast pitch Extreme), the USA National team, and the top college programs. One would also expect the clinician to have good communication skills, a great attitude and a lot of information to provide. Clinicians should be able to humanize and personalize the road to success in softball. The clinician must also be able to access a players skill level and approach it in a way that every player in learning.

Obviously the ideal number of campers per instructor would be one to one, however that is unrealistic. Realistically a good number would be one to ten. A great number would be one to five. In such a group, players can not only get information that matches their specific needs, but are also able to improve their skills with teamwork.

Besides getting top level information, a quality softball clinic should also allow the campers to showcase their abilities to college coaches of varying levels in a fun environment. This will allow campers of all skill levels to show off what they have learned, what they can provide to possible college teams, and quite possibly could gain rewards from their hard work such as recognition by top notch college coaches.

Most people when looking for a softball camp, look for a facility that they feel will be worth their money. These types of camps obviously would include a camp that provides knowledge that can be learned at that specific time and place and also information the players can use then they get back to their team. The clinicians of the camp would also be expected to teach the player in a positive and fun environment so the player can feel like they enjoyed learning. Players should also be expected to hear from the clinicians what softball life is like after high school.

In looking for a knowledgeable and experienced coaching staff remember to find one with a small coach to player ratio, a camp worth your time and money, and quality time to showcase the campers to top notch colleges.

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

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Coaching Youth Softball - How to Teach Softball Skills Quickly and Efficiently

Coaching Youth Softball - How to Teach Softball Skills Quickly and Efficiently
By guest author: Marc Dagenais

Coaching youth softball is no easy task. Coaching involves multiple responsibilities and one of them is to teach the fundamentals of the game - hitting, pitching, throwing, fielding, and so on.

However, teaching is itself a skill and not as easy as most people would like to believe. Knowing the game is the easy part; teaching it is the hard part. Coaching youth softball involves a lot of teaching.

To make practices fun and enjoyable, youth softball coaches must be able to teach softball skills quickly and effectively using a sound pedagogical approach that takes into account the various types of learners.

Here is a sound approach that involves 6 steps:

Step #1 - What and Why

Kids today need to know why you are doing things. They are critical thinkers. So, when you introduce the new technical element (the ''what''), explain them why it is important. No need for a long speech or justification, just give a reason why so that they can more easily buy into it.

Step #2 - Demonstrate without instruction

This is crucial yet 95% of those coaching youth softball don't it. Most kids have no idea what the skill looks like. So, even before you start giving instructions, you must give them a visual picture or visual reference of what you are talking about. Someone once said that a picture is worth a thousand words and they were right.

Step #3 - Demonstrate with instruction using simple cues

Once the kids have a clear picture of what you are talking about, then you can provide instructions using only a few simple cues to emphasize key technical elements. Don't overload them with technical information, you will lose them.

Step #4 - Get them to try the skill

At this point, you get them to try what you just demonstrated so that they can ''feel'' what you are talking about. By nature, most athletes love to learn by doing.

Step #5 - Give them feedback

At this point, you want to give constructive feedback on what needs to be improved and what they should focus on.

Step #6 - Verify learning and let them ask questions

The worst question to ask to a kid is whether or not they understand. They will always say ''yes'' either because they think they understand (even if they might not) or they don't want to look like they are stupid. So, you want to quiz them asking them questions like what are the key points to verify their learning. Also provide them with a chance to ask their own questions so that they can make sure they clearly understand what was taught.

This 6-step approach is quick and efficient as it respects the fundamental principles of pedagogy. I strongly encourage you to use it with your athletes.

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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Youth Softball Drills - A Coach's Guide

Youth Softball Drills - A Coach's Guide
Uploaded by softballperformance http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-drills - Marc Dagenais, Softball Peak Performance Coach, recommends a great resource for youth softball coaches on fastpitch softball drills to help them in their coaching.

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Coaching Youth Softball - 1st and 3rd Strategies

Coaching Youth Softball - 1st and 3rd Strategies
Uploaded by softballperformance
http://www.softballperformance.com - Softball Coaching Expert Marc Dagenais share one of his great softball coaching tips for those coaching youth softball on how to deal with 1st and 3rd situations.

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