Fielding drills during practice

default · Jan 20, 2009

This is our first year in travel and our coach is new to travel this year also. How important are drills at helping develop the girls to reach their full potential before the spring season is here? I myself feel they are needed but am not seeing much with our team. What are some of the best ones to run on a regular basis? THANKS!!

default · Jan 20, 2009

This is my DD's 3rd year and her team does all sorts of drills in their practices. They range from infield drills, outfield drills, running drills and many more!! Not to mention all the hitting drills they do also. They also try to attend a camp or two to learn different things to incorporate into the practices.

default · Jan 20, 2009

Anybody else?

default · Jan 20, 2009

justcatchin' said:
Anybody else?

Depend on the age and makeup of your team. My team has been together going on our third year, and haven't hit the ball real well the last two years, so our focus over the winter has been on hitting solely.

If a new team I would say you should try to cover a little bit of everything. If it's a new coach he/she may be struggling with what to cover when there is so much to cover. Try to see if they are coming to practice with a practice plan put together or if they are just "winging" it. I would be greatly concerned if the latter is the case, but would be patient if they had a plan put together and were trying to work on key areas. Good Luck!!
Shayne

default · Jan 20, 2009

My daughter is in her 4th year of travel and has a new team this year. She loves the girls and also her coaches but has stated to me several time that she thinks they should be doing more drills. I am not a Coach nor do I have the knowledge to be one but I have watched a lot of practices and games over the last four years and it seems to me that drills are very, very important.
Coaches, would you take offence (if done respectfully) one of your players suggested more drills?

default · Jan 20, 2009

LADY_KNIGHTS said:
Depend on the age and makeup of your team. My team has been together going on our third year, and haven't hit the ball real well the last two years, so our focus over the winter has been on hitting solely.

If a new team I would say you should try to cover a little bit of everything. If it's a new coach he/she may be struggling with what to cover when there is so much to cover. Try to see if they are coming to practice with a practice plan put together or if they are just "winging" it. I would be greatly concerned if the latter is the case, but would be patient if they had a plan put together and were trying to work on key areas. Good Luck!!
Shayne

Well put. Be honest about what you see and address the areas of immediate need first and don't be afraid to ask others what they see-you may be missing something. Then, evaluate the next best area for improvement, so on, so forth. I'm really drill related to keep their interest and always open to suggestions. It's not just my way all the time. I build my team with coaches and parents that are aloud to communicate. Working so far.

I will tell you we have gotten much stronger year after year and we luv it!!!

default · Jan 20, 2009

I would suggest looking into the Kobata CDs. There are many Kobata desciples on here who can extol his virtues better than me, but he is the best. The "V" drills alone will make your team better.

default · Jan 20, 2009

wgman21 said:
I would suggest looking into the Kobata CDs. There are many Kobata desciples on here who can extol his virtues better than me, but he is the best. The "V" drills alone will make your team better.

Yep! Our Coaches use some of his drills. Excellant videos out there of his even if you cant make it one of his seminars.

default · Jan 21, 2009

Right now I have my dd in private fielding and batting lessons. I asked her after reading this post, what she loved about her practice and what she would like to see more of. She told me she wanted to see more drills like she does in private lessons. I do think the drills will keep it interesting for her and the rest of the team. We do some drills, but not many.

default · Jan 21, 2009

Both teams - 14U and 16U drills, drills and more drills. Throwing, catching, fielding, hitting, running - you name it - they do it.

default · Jan 21, 2009

justcatchin' said:
This is our first year in travel and our coach is new to travel this year also. How important are drills at helping develop the girls to reach their full potential before the spring season is here? I myself feel they are needed but am not seeing much with our team. What are some of the best ones to run on a regular basis? THANKS!!

there are to many to list but i would start with a soft hands drill. Ya gotta have soft hands. for outfielders, i would say a "throw to the glove side" drill. Work on a good ready position. Make sure the kids are not on their heels, they are in a good atletic position, and the palms of both hands are low and facing the sky. i do not have any kobata dvds but my dd has done kobata drills and she loves em so im sure it wouldnt hurt to buy the dvd. Also, find someone who can do a team clinic for you. If you live in sw ohio or n. ky I say give chip gregg from NKU a call. if you need his number pm me.

default · Jan 21, 2009

I have worked with Kobota and have both his DVD's. Great drillls. But the DVD's do not do justice to working with him in person. You can go on a site like eteamz.com or many other softball sites and they list ton's of drills. As suggested above go to a coaches clinic or a team camp at a college and just watch. Many will let you watch a camp and you can pick up many drills that college's use. I have been to many college camps over the years and you can always come away with a new drill. If Rich from Ohio Wave has Kobota back, with Dave and Bill you can learn alot at one of these type of coaches clinics. Depends on what part of the state you are located in, but many good camps now that will help you.

default · Jan 21, 2009

What if your coach isn't real responsive to outside suggestions? I think we need more drills but he is content with things the way they are.

default · Jan 21, 2009

justcatchin' said:
What if your coach isn't real responsive to outside suggestions? I think we need more drills but he is content with things the way they are.

You have several options, and not all are good.
1. Live with it...If your DD likes her team, but the practices aren't very good wait till next year and find a new team. Or practice more at home on your own, or pay for further instruction.
2. Find a new team ASAP....Chances of finding a team this late is slim, and nothing says the team will practice any different than what you have now.

Personally I think more of the development should now rest on your shoulders and stick it out. Then leading into next season you should scout potential teams and find a team that meets your developmental needs. No team is perfect, but some are better than others.

default · Jan 21, 2009

Look into this. It's a current thread on the board. I have not been there, but maybe you could check it out and decide for yourself. I don't know where you are in Northern Ohio, but this is at the Spano Dome in Akron. I know that factoryrat has been there and he seemed to like the workouts.

http://www.game-ex.com/vb3/showthread.php?t=13835

default · Jan 21, 2009

justcatchin' said:
What if your coach isn't real responsive to outside suggestions? I think we need more drills but he is content with things the way they are.

We were in the same situation for three years. First two my daughter wanted to stay and play with her friends but after she saw the other teams and competition at the NSA World Series last year she opted to find a new team for this season.

default · Jan 21, 2009

My daughter takes fielding and batting instuction at a Facility called Bat-n-Balls in Unity, Ohio with Ron Dennison. I believe some of his drills are Kobota. I can not say enough about the progress my daughter has made with him. Well let just say 4 years ago she was shaking at the plate when it was her turn to bat and recently her coach has been using her as lead off. Her fielding has also came a long way. You may want to look into Bat-n-Balls.

default · Jan 21, 2009

LADY_KNIGHTS said:
Personally I think more of the development should now rest on your shoulders and stick it out. QUOTE]

Would it still be beneficial if only one girl, who is getting private lessons, is drilled and the rest of the team isn't?

default · Jan 21, 2009

sad627 said:
LADY_KNIGHTS said:

Personally I think more of the development should now rest on your shoulders and stick it out. QUOTE]

Would it still be beneficial if only one girl, who is getting private lessons, is drilled and the rest of the team isn't?

Click to expand...

It would for her. We have to look out for our's first and the team second if the team isn't going to take care of business.

default · Jan 21, 2009

wgman21 said:
sad627 said:

It would for her. We have to look out for our's first and the team second if the team isn't going to take care of business.

Click to expand...

I agree sort of. But it would be nice to see all the girls succeed.

Fielding drills during practice

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