Home to First Timing Methods

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Just curious to how these times along with home to home and first to second are recorded. Is there an accepted practice or is this left up to each organization on the method used? Do they have the girls swing a bat before running; does the clock start on the girls departure; do the girls and clock start on a signal like track? Also, what is the range of times for H.S. girls and what is generally considered fast?

 

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I think at a tryout it matters little.

They are comparing girls. So what every method they use, as long as it is consistent is just fine. The coaches want to get a good idea of what they are looking for and want good data to compare girls.

Not sure is the method or time is important. Other than how it compares.

But with that said. I have heard that the magic number out of the box is 3.0 seconds. Less than that and it will be very difficult for anyone to throw the girl out. I have never seen it in 4 years of tryouts. But when we do I can guarantee you that she will be getting an offer. That is blazing speed.

Consider Olympic speed is basically 1.0 second per 30 feet (approx) on a track. This would be a seriously fast young lady. Typically we see around 4 per girl. Anyone in the 3s is considered good. I think the best we have seen at the 16U level was a girl at 3.3 range. That was from the left side and she was a blurr. And she was offered before she left the building. To be under 3.0 seconds you need to be a serious athlete.

 

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What I have always seen done is swing the bat and start the watch as the foot hits the ground on the first step and stop when they step on the bag.

 

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We start as soon as we hear the bat hit the ball and stop when you see the foot step on the bag.

 

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we have the runners stand at the back point of the plate. We start the time on the runners first movement...this makes it a exact 60ft....3.00 sec for 60ft is considered good..

 

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I think at a tryout it matters little.

They are comparing girls. So what every method they use, as long as it is consistent is just fine. The coaches want to get a good idea of what they are looking for and want good data to compare girls.

Not sure is the method or time is important. Other than how it compares.

But with that said. I have heard that the magic number out of the box is 3.0 seconds. Less than that and it will be very difficult for anyone to throw the girl out. I have never seen it in 4 years of tryouts. But when we do I can guarantee you that she will be getting an offer. That is blazing speed.

Consider Olympic speed is basically 1.0 second per 30 feet (approx) on a track. This would be a seriously fast young lady. Typically we see around 4 per girl. Anyone in the 3s is considered good. I think the best we have seen at the 16U level was a girl at 3.3 range. That was from the left side and she was a blurr. And she was offered before she left the building. To be under 3.0 seconds you need to be a serious athlete.

wow... we have on our 18u team 4 girls that run between 2.67 and 2.85 and 4 more that are between 2.9 and 3.1

 

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Speed will be *huge* for me in tryouts this year. My entire team is between 3.7 and 4.3 - *slow*....of course you can't steal 1st base...

 

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If it's my dd I start the watch three steps from the bag... is that wrong?

 

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If it's my dd I start the watch three steps from the bag... is that wrong?

YEA! Keep it to two John!

 

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YEA! Keep it to two John!

Sadly, her time would still be in the 3s. :lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

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569 girls were at the NFCA camp at Sting Rays. Only two kids were under 3.00 . Times are posted on the site. Yes it does depend on how you measure it. I have seen only one kid that I consider very fast. She beat my dd at the Queen of diamonds 2 years ago. She was under 2.80. Those kids are few and far between. Just like all the pitchers who throw in the mid' 60's.
camp results
http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1878

One of the top camps in the nation No one breaks 3.00 with 561 kids from out west.
http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1871

 

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So I'm gathering that there is no standard. My dd is participating in a combine soon and I was wondering how they would perform the testing. Looks like we will find out when we get there. We have clocked her using a footpad on home plate that starts the clock when she releases presure with her first step and a camera wired to the footpad placed next to first. When she brakes the laser eye on the camera, the timer stops. We haven't tried with the bat yet but that brings up a new set of questions. Full swing, bunt, drag bunt or slap? These variations all change the outcome. BTW, they are testing first to second and home to home in this event, not home to first.

 

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I was timing OSU and other Big Ten teams in the spring from the stands and there was only a few in the 2.6 range. The average was 3.2 and a few in 3.4 But this was in live time play. I think you could have a solid team on bases at 3.2 to 3.4.
I timed from the first foot down which may take some off the time.

Maybe we can rig a speed gun on the players running lol

 

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You can get an idea if you look at all the NFCA camps that are posted. I think I counted 7 kids out of over 3,000 that were under 3.00. This is how the colleges measure it. Only one kid in the nation broke 2.90. We have been following the postings, since I'm proud that the DD still has the second highest score in one area and seeing where she ends up.

 

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I have always thought that having the batter square to bunt and start the clock when the ball contacts the bat....stop when foot contacts the bag is a pretty good gauge. Especially if your just looking at an individuals speed as opposed to a comparison in a tryout. Lets face it, if a girl is around 3 seconds she better know how to small ball so you might as well see if she can get one down.

 

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What I read somewhere was that at 2.9 they can not be thrown out at first. That 3.0-3.2 or anything close is the standard for bunter/slappers at the highest level.

Needless to say that type of speed is crazy fast. And they will be getting a scholly somewhere.

I agree that most teams are full of the 4.0 times. At least in travel. I would think that a college could recruit a couple of burners in the 3.0-3.2 range. But you are talking about some seriously fast players.

And whoever said they have 4 girls under 3.0 on there team are kidding themselves. But again it is all on how they are timed and compared. For each tryout it is going to be different. It just matters how they are timed.

 

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You can get an idea if you look at all the NFCA camps that are posted. I think I counted 7 kids out of over 3,000 that were under 3.00. This is how the colleges measure it. Only one kid in the nation broke 2.90. We have been following the postings, since I'm proud that the DD still has the second highest score in one area and seeing where she ends up.

SBFAMILY, I would love to know how the timer started in evaluating these NFCA times? Were the girls bunting and time starts at the crack of the bat or what method was used?

 

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Well here is what I just found off of the NFCA website.

http://www.nfca.org/pagebank/?id=1747

Speed measured by the 20‐yard dash
Start in a base‐stealing stance. Shoulders should be perpendicular to the starting line. Athletes may step on or touch the starting line. The clock will start
with the first movement after the set position. Athletes should run through the finish line. The clock stops when the athlete's chest crosses the finish line. Average 20‐yard dash time for high school softball is approximately 3.5 seconds; NCAA softball is approximately 3.1 seconds.

 

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You are correct. No advantage being a left handed batter.

 

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You are correct. No advantage being a left handed batter.

Only for the timing.

But in a game situation it is an advantage.