Defensive calls, wristbands for defense?

[Shane]

Looking to pick the brain of my fellow softball junkies. I am an assistant coach for a 10U team and we utilize the wristband system for offense, as I am sure many others do. What I am wrestling with now, are the defensive calls. We would like to make use of our strong presence behind the plate and slow down the base running of our opponent by making some throws. With that being said, we want our entire defense to know of the play because each player will certainly have a responsibility. Maybe some of the coaches from the older age groups can share your methodology in conveying the defensive call to each member of your defense. Short of, yelling from the dugout to our first base girl, "hey sally here it comes." : )

 

[fastjay]

Hi Shane. I, as prob most do, use a pretty simple system where I relay a sign to my catcher from the dugout. The catcher then steps out front of home plate and relays that sign to the other 8 girls on defense.

Good luck!

 

[Shane]

Hey thanks for the reply fastjay, seems simple enough. What level you at?

Hi Shane. I, as prob most do, use a pretty simple system where I relay a sign to my catcher from the dugout. The catcher then steps out front of home plate and relays that sign to the other 8 girls on defense.

Good luck!

 

[coachjwb]

Shane ... while I do a lot more offensive wristband systems than defensive systems for 10U teams, there are definitely some teams at this level using them. I am admittedly biased but I like a wristband system for defensive plays for most of the same reasons as I do for offensive plays ... mainly that your team will know what's going on and other team won't. As opposed to an offensive system where you should be able to signal with your hands, you need to yell out defensive signs to make sure everyone is paying attention and because the players are all standing at different angles to you. No doubt a more experienced catcher can do the signs as well, but that means they are being relayed from the coach to the catcher, and the system that the catcher uses has to be simple enough for your team to know what the play is and the other team not to steal the sign.

I can usually incorporate defensive plays into the same card/system that is used for offensive plays, though given the limited amount of space on the cards, I usually recommend coaches limit it to true plays like pick-offs and cut-offs, and not for just routine alignments like infield in or bunt defense that you aren't really hiding from the other team. And you can also feel good about calling defensive "decoy" plays as well when you want the other team to think a play might be on when it isn't.

 

[Shane]

Hey thanks Jeff. I have developed the offensive wristbands for our team. Surely not up to your standard, but they will do. There is no more room on the youth size wristband for defensive calls. It seems my only option would be to have an offensive wristband and a defensive wristband. Not sure if switching wristbands every half inning is ideal.

 

[coachjwb]

Shane ... understood. When they won't fit on the same card, then I recommend doing separate and then laminating the 2 systems back to back ... the players just have to remember to flip them over each 1/2 inning ... which is something they will properly get used to or which a coach or designated player could remind them of. I definitely wouldn't recommend 2 entirely different wristbands.