The Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog is your free online source for youth softball and little league softball coaching tips and drills. Our articles and daily post covers all aspects of coaching girls softball and girls softball teams.
Showing posts with label youth softball coaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youth softball coaching. Show all posts

Monday, July 15, 2013

Youth Softball Coaching Tips

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.

Trevor Sumner

By Trevor 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.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/trevor-sumner/164153

Monday, July 8, 2013

Monday, October 10, 2011

Youth Fastpitch Softball Bunt Coverage

Youth Fastpitch Softball Bunt Coverage
By guest author: 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

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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Youth Softball - Things You Should Know

Youth Softball - Things You Should Know
By guest author: Blaine F Johnston


People who love softball often take their family to play this sport, including their children. This activity can enhance their skills, especially if the parents want the children to be professional players. However, there are several things that parents should know before starting to do efforts to make the children like softball superstars.

For you who do not have any idea about this sport, you can try to understand that softball is sport game played by nine players in a team. The game needs two teams that alternate between offense and defense. The team who makes more runs than the opponent team will be the winner. In addition, it can be played for both girls and boys, so it eliminates your worries that your kids will be rejected.

This game requires several skills that include strength, teamwork and craftsmanship, eye-hand coordination, and also some position-specific skills like running, pitching, and fielding. That is why the minimum age to play this game is 4 or 5 for tee ball and 7 or 8 for player-pitch teams. A kid needs to be patient and attentive enough to deal with the slower pace of baseball. In addition, the kid should be team-oriented, as the game requires team coordination to win.

If you put your kids to a softball course, you will find that they spend a lot of time lingering in the outfield. Physical activities are not done too often, but the play will become more athletic and aggressive depending on their growth. You should provide the suitable equipment that fit their body well. You can go to stores and ask the shopkeepers or even go there with your kids to know which ones that fit them perfectly. Things you must buy are uniform, gloves, cleats, batting gloves, and batting helmets. The price may vary, but the equipment for beginning players is mostly cheap.

Then, you need to consider the potential injuries that possibly happen during the game. That is why you should know the tricks to prevent injuries, such as using softer balls to reduce injury factors. This kind of ball is often used by younger places as it is well known for the ability to reduce the risk and severity of head injuries. Then, you can also reduce the risk of ankle sprains and other injuries by giving your kids breakaway bases, or also called safety-release bases.

There are several conditions you may find after certain periods of play. If your kids throw too many pitches, they can experience an overuse injury. In a response to this, you can make sure that the kids get plenty of rest for their arms. The coach may even ask you to do this. Further, you can get some tips to prevent the injuries by contacting the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.

You can buy a baseball softball pitching machine to enhance your kids' skill of hitting. However, there are also other types of softball pitching machines available on markets that you can choose base on the kids' needs.

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




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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Youth Softball Coaching Tips

Drills for Girls Softball
By Guest Author: Becky Wittenburg
If you're searching for the best infield drills for girls softball, then look no further. This article details two excellent combination drills that aim to improve your infielders' throwing accuracy and pivot skills in both regular play and double play situations.

Free Softball Drills
By Guest Author: Becky Wittenburg
Softball drills are what ultimately trains a team to win. It's very important that the various drills are adequate in teaching skills for different parts of the game. As the coach, it's your job to decide which drills will give the team the best practice. Here are some free softball drills that you can use.

Teaching Softball Drills To Win
By Guest Author: Becky Wittenburg
Teaching softball drills can be extremely challenging for new softball coaches. Here are a few strategies you can use when teaching softball drills to your team.


Softball Coaching Drills
By Guest Author: Becky Wittenburg
This softball coaching drill is explained as a defensive exercise but the skills that are being used will help to improve the players all-around. The Bubble Drill will help to ensure that your team is a step ahead of the other team. The Bubble Drill teaches the skills that a team needs to make it all the way.


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!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

A Summer's Day of Softball Quotes

A Summer's Day of Softball Quotes
By Guest Author: Shawn Manaher

Softball - there is nothing soft about it. This is one of the many inspiring and memorable quotes of softball players. Teams use this type of inspiration to get out there on the field and do their best. Softball is all about working together and cheering each other on as a team. Players and coaches alike have come up with many softball quotes that help them to remember at the end of the day it is not always about winning, but being part of a team. With softballs flying through the air and fans cheering their favorite players on, it is also a friendly reminder that spring is here and summer is on its way.

Eat, sleep, play softball. Sounds like a great life, but if you are a dedicated softball player, it is a way of life. To a softball player, there is nothing like hearing the crack of the bat against the ball as the pitcher throws another fast pitch across the mound. The batter hits the ball and softball gloves reach high in the air as the players run around the bases to score home runs.

Softball is as American as hot dogs and baseball, and becoming more popular. There are women's and men's fast pitch softball teams. Softball was actually invented by men in the late 1800s, but did not catch on until the Amateur Softball Association was formed in 1925. Softball did not become recognized as a sport until the 1930s. Ironically, softball was once thought to be a woman's sport. You can go online or in athletic apparel stores and there will be just as many softball t-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise geared towards men as women. One sweatshirt in particular that really stands out with a memorable quote stated: softball is everything. This is the attitude that many players take on when they play this sport.

Along with softball comes the reminder that summer is right around the corner. Just as many memorable summer quotes come to mind as there are softball quotes. One favorite is, "thank you stars and fireflies, for the magic of summer skies." Moreover, there is nothing more magic than a slightly chilly summer evening, cuddled up on the bleachers, watching the ball game. A moment like this is one of the greatest pastimes and simplest pleasures we can endure in our lifetime.

There are many memorable summer quotes that are so inspirational to look over. Looking online is one excellent resource for finding quotes that reminding us of the good times we share with friends and family. Watching or playing sports such as softball is one great way for us to connect with others, while quotes are a good way to hold on to these fond memories.

Overall, softball is a sport that gives great motivation and inspiration to its teammates and fans alike. Many softball and other athletic quotes available remind us what it is like to be a part of such a wonderful sport and what fond memories of summertime it brings with it.

The author has spent a lot of time learning about softball quote and other related topics. Read more about softball quotes at Shawn's website.

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

Sunday, March 21, 2010

What to Look for in a Youth Softball Coach


FastpitchSoftballSupply.com

What to Look for in a Youth Softball Coach
Published by markmgr

To illustrate the importance of solid coaching when it comes to youth softball there is a story of a softball coach who established a 93-4-2 record over five years in an 8 and under fastpitch league. Every year he lost several players due to age and had to retool the team with new players. Now, I’m not saying winning is everything, but that’s an impressive record. Keep this in mind as you decide where you want your child to play softball. Qualified youth softball coaches with leadership abilities, a positive attitude, and a desire to inspire children are worth their weight in gold.


So, how do you go about locating these types of softball coaches for your children? For starters, speak to the various softball coaches in the league you are targeting. Online softball directories can provide contact information in many cases. Of course, you’ll want to speak with other parents for their opinion on various coaches as well. Online softball directories are also a rich source of information for researching different softball leagues, equipment suppliers, and youth softball camps.

You can also find coaching resources online at free websites like weplay.com.

Is the Coach a Good Role Model

A youth softball coach should display many of the same values you want your child to develop. Values such as consistency, emotional control, honesty, and integrity are important traits of a quality softball coach. Obviously, the coach should be proficient in softball fundamentals. A young softball team will often act like their coach. If he flies off the handle during the game, so too will the team, and so too will your child. If he displays the values shown above, then the players will too.

Do They Know the Game

If the coach is a good role model and display’s the leadership qualities you desire, then the next step is to evaluate their softball abilities. You obviously want your child to improve their softball skills throughout the season. In some cases, you may find out that a softball coach isn’t the best player in the world. That’s okay as long as they have assistants who are adept at the game. Do some homework here and you’ll improve your chances of a successful season. The softball coach should know the right youth softball drills to use in practice to improve each player’s overall softball skills and athleticism.

There are many reasons for registering your child in a softball league. Choosing a team that has a quality coaching staff will help ensure that your child experiences a successful season. Online softball communities are also a good place to get more information and ask questions to experienced parents and coaches when researching a good fit for your child


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!