Any advice?

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I'm pulling my hair out this year, I have a defense that seems to make all of the plays in practice but come game time we are averaging 5 or 6 errors per game. Even the most routine plays are eluding us. Physically I know these girls can make the plays but mentally we seem to vapor lock at game time. Any advice?

 

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It sounds like maybe they are not confident in their abilities. I am sure it happens all the time with teams until one day it will just click. All it takes is one girl to step up as a leader and it will build the confidence for the entire team. I am sure it will work itself out soon enough though. As a coach you must make sure the girls know and feel comfortable in their positons and that if a mistake happens its ok and to learn from the mistake so they do not dwell on it the entire game. Being nervous will cause errors.

 

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Ask how many think about riding a bike when they ride one. They don't , tell them don't think, just do......

 

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Could be nerves and/or rushing. My advice is to simulate game conditions in practice:
1. Have base runners so they can practice making plays with required timing.
2. Hit balls to players at random so all have to get ready everytime.
3. Vary balls hit to them - left/right and hard/soft.

 

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Hours and hours and hours of situations over and over again. It's like hitting off the tee, they think it's boring and tedious but it is vital to learning the game. The more they do it, the better they will get.

 

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I use a soft toss (or front toss with a screen) batting practice with a full defense that seems to be helping out a lot.
Everything is live , the batters hit, the runners run, and the fielders field; on every toss.

Lots of balls in play with lots of opportunity for plays to be made. When something happens out of the ordinary I can stop the rhythm and explain infield-fly or tag-ups, etc.... Can usually find something positive to say. The other coaches are roaming; helping players get in the proper back-up positions, cutoff positions etc....

I'll have 4-5 kids batting and the rest in the field. This also allows me to get my back up kids some reps and to try out players in other positions. There is very little standing around on this drill with girls hustling to get back in position for the next toss. We'll finish up with some coach pitching, a functioning catcher, bunting, slapping and stealing allowed.

We try to get to get beyond game speed so that the game seems easy.

 

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Each recommendation is great...in addition I would also look at some drills that focus on fundementals...Mike Candrea and Howard Kubata have several drills posted on youtube...One good one can be located at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDwFdR4gluQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
This drill is great as it allows for several reps in a short amount of time...Also critical to note that even the elite players in the USA break it down to basics at every practice...best of luck!!

 

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I'm pulling my hair out this year, I have a defense that seems to make all of the plays in practice but come game time we are averaging 5 or 6 errors per game. Even the most routine plays are eluding us. Physically I know these girls can make the plays but mentally we seem to vapor lock at game time. Any advice?

What age group? Are girls playing primary positions or are you switching girls around based on the pitcher?

 

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Ask how many think about riding a bike when they ride one. They don't , tell them don't think, just do......

i definately agree, i tell my dd all the time to think and learn at practice and game time just play. so much of it is mental and i witness girls do great things when they are relaxed and having fun. leave the stress at practice.

 

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These are high school girls playing their primary positions.

 

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Great advice thanks everyone.

 

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Is it lack of effort or lack of confidence? As their coach you have to have an opinion.

Does it happen more at away games then at home games? The bus ride can play heck in the cold weather.

Is it social hour during warm-ups or are the girls dialed-in and giving effort?

How long have you been coaching this group? Do you have their respect & confidence?

I would start by telling the girls that the errors are not acceptable, tell them what you believe to be the cause and your plan to correct it. I have found that if you include lots of running as related to the number of errors that will fix any effort issues. LoL