high school fastpitch 2

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Just plain silly if you ask me. Softball is primarily a sedentary sport that doesn't require much stamina. They should be tested for sprinting. It's all about quickness, not endurance.

I am all for conditioning, but just because DD can't run a mile doesn't mean she isn't an outstanding SB player.

Daughter played DI college VB and they had NO mile requirement, just that you could run a mile! Their girls DI BB team also had NO mile requirement. She said boys BB had a 6 minute requirement. Only girls (s o c c e r) & (l a c r o s s e) had mile requirements (makes sense).

College coaches know what is important, and I would be surprised if very many require a 6 minute mile![/QUO

With the exception of Mens Slow-pitch, overall physical fitness is important in every sport. Running a timed mile is an excellent measure of that fitness. Also to say that FP Softball is a sedentary sport is pretty silly. Unless the players are in the dugout during the 1/2 inning waiting their turn to bat, the players in the game are generrally moving on every pitch, exploding off the base paths whether to steal or just lead off, or as a pitcher catcher, constantly in motion. Although it may not be basketball or ******, there is a definite requirement for fitness. Also factor in the schedule. Most high school teams play more than once a week as do College level programs , throw in multi-game tournaments where double and triple headers are the norm, the physical demand is high. Heck, 12u travel teams can play a game Friday night , 3 on Saturday and 5 on Sunday to get to the championship. Hardly sedentary. True a six minute mile may be a stretch for some but 10 minutes should be attainable by all. Also, the establishment of a time to complete gives the athlete an obtainable goal for which to aim. I am sure that the conditioning coach is more concerned with the work put in to achieve the goal more so than its actual achievement. JMO

 

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also i would think you want to develop the fast twitch muscles for coming out of the batters box.or stealing a base .or running down a ball.

 

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Sounds to me like it's just good old-fashioned calorie burning. Sometimes we tend to over-think these things. Probably not a bad idea, and as evidenced by the 10 minute requirement, not unreasonable either.

When I was in junior high (middle school these days), we used to have to run a mile everyday at the start of gym class. Which was 26 laps around a raised wooden track above the gym floor. No time limit given, but you didn't want to be last.

 

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"jogging to warm up muscles is different than running a timed mile. i still don't see the benefit. cardio wise i'm ouy of shape. but have no problem jogging a mile under 10min. different when i'm running from home to 3rd. i'm usually gasping for air. only jogging i want to see is the homerun jog."
only ever saw a pi$$ed off coach run from home to first after an umpire...lol

 

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I am not a coach, but I am a parent and a teacher. I would think that maybe the coach is looking to see who is in the best shape and may need extra conditioning, who is doing this without complaining (being a good team player and coachable) and maybe looking to see how the girls work together. Especially if there is a large turnout for tryouts it seems like one way to help get a good read on the girls. My DD is not in high school yet but she knows that she does what her coach says at practice and games, whether she likes it or not. If I were a coach I would think twice about those who argued about what I asked or complained about it.

That's just me though.
Laura

 

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Our dd's a sophmore pitcher, and I'd seen too many high school players who really don't do anything as far as physical conditioning. They need to run, or just move, as much as they can.

 

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Just plain silly if you ask me. Softball is primarily a sedentary sport that doesn't require much stamina.

:lmao:

 

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The first year I coached HS ball (10 years ago) We started out with a warm-up run that eventually became a 20 minute warm-up before stretching every day!! Be glad your DD didn't play for me back then!!! lol Now we do a 5 minute warm-up run before stretching and try to incorporate most of our conditioning in our drills. But I still try to leave 10-15 minutes at the end of every practice for speed and agility work or strength and conditioning.

 

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Nothing wrong with doing it ... I just personally think it's a waste of 10 minutes of practice time. Am guessing Oklahoma would still be good even if they didn't do it. Maybe it's one of those "we are trying to teach them more than just about softball" ...

Maybe your coach is trying to teach them something more than softball.

 

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Coop ... yeah, we are saying the same thing ...

 

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I smell what the Rock is cookin.

 

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If we are talking High School 1/2 the team would have a stroke! I'm 61 and could beat some of them! Anyone been to a JV game lately!

 

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I only WISH our Coach would push the girls like that! Kids need to learn to be disciplined and at the top of their athletic form if they want to really compete. Softball shouldn't be considered a lazy sport, my dd trains year round and wishes everyone on the team was in top condition.

 

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I am pretty baffled.

Better athletes make better players. The more fit a player is the better she will play.

This is not an opinion it is a fact. And being able to run a mile should be easy for any athlete.

Of course you can all site some example of a good/great player that does not fit this ideal. But that would be building your team to the 1-5% extremes.

I actually think this is a great idea. To be honest I should start this for myself.....although I think I may be running many days in a row....LOL

 

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Played DI college SB and our players were required to run a 7 minute mile the first week back every year. Roommate played BB and was required to run a 6 minute mile. Went home every summer with a workout routine, which included training for that timed mile. I will say knowing that's coming keeps you in shape going in. Believe me, coaches get to the fast-twitch fibers too. Pitchers continued running distance throughout the year (3 mile runs after practice), as well as mostly long sprints. All others ran short sprints throughout. Whatever the reason the coach has for the timed mile, I think players need to come together and buy into the program as it is unless something harmful is going on and as much as I didn't like that timed mile, it sure never hurt in the long run.

 

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Just to be clear, while I wouldn't have my high school players running a timed mile, I do want them well-conditioned to play softball and whatever I ask them to do to condition themselves, they need to do it and not gripe about it, take any short cuts or worst of all roll their eyes!