FastBat
Well-Known Member
My dd and some her school friends (mostly sixth graders, all from the same school) and two of their dads, decided to put a team together this late fall/early winter and play in an indoor league. They had one practice before the first game, but my daughter wasn't able to attend.
I have always thought indoor softball just doesn't have the same feeling as outdoor softball. But, the worst part about indoor leagues is when they decide to change the rules, which makes me cringe.
Here are the rule changes for this league:
1. They start each inning with runners on the bases, except the first inning. How would that benefit the players? I think it just makes the weaker team, look weaker.
2. They start each batter with a 1-0 count. So they start the batter with one ball, no strikes. To me it seems to encourage the batter just stand there and wait to be walked. Even in men's softball they start with a 1-1 count, I understand that, but a 1-0 count doesn't benefit the defense.
3. The amount of players on the field. I.E. no right fielder, etc. Some of these fields aren't full size fields, but on the right side the field still has a larger area than usual for the second basemen to cover and I think this confuses the second basemen.
Am I over thinking indoor? Should indoor play simply be a way to get extra work in, in the snowy months? Are we wasting time/money playing indoor? The girls do seem to enjoy it and appear to be having a good time together. I just feel this isn't real softball! But, this time of year I start missing the ball field, so I should be grateful!
I have always thought indoor softball just doesn't have the same feeling as outdoor softball. But, the worst part about indoor leagues is when they decide to change the rules, which makes me cringe.
Here are the rule changes for this league:
1. They start each inning with runners on the bases, except the first inning. How would that benefit the players? I think it just makes the weaker team, look weaker.
2. They start each batter with a 1-0 count. So they start the batter with one ball, no strikes. To me it seems to encourage the batter just stand there and wait to be walked. Even in men's softball they start with a 1-1 count, I understand that, but a 1-0 count doesn't benefit the defense.
3. The amount of players on the field. I.E. no right fielder, etc. Some of these fields aren't full size fields, but on the right side the field still has a larger area than usual for the second basemen to cover and I think this confuses the second basemen.
Am I over thinking indoor? Should indoor play simply be a way to get extra work in, in the snowy months? Are we wasting time/money playing indoor? The girls do seem to enjoy it and appear to be having a good time together. I just feel this isn't real softball! But, this time of year I start missing the ball field, so I should be grateful!