Playing and using the Mental game on the field

[okiedad1961]

Wondering if I'm in the right mindset to believe that playing small ball ,forcing throws ,putting pressure on the defense is legit way of playing the game and sometimes the only way to beat better teams. And does it make the coach look bad using these methods to win.

 

[Pacerdad57]

you use whatever legitimate tools you have as a coach to win. if you have some fast girls that can lay down a bunt and have the speed to make it work, go for it.
it's all about finding out the weak points of a defense to utilize what you have. if they start moving in to stop bunts, no one questions a team for starting to try to drive the ball past the drawn in defense, why question the small ball approach?

 

[coachjwb]

Agree 100% that small ball is often a great way to be competitive against a team that might otherwise have more talent. A lot depends on the makeup of your team ... team speed is critical to make this work. And I do think coaches sometimes get criticized for this ... not so much from other coaches, but by the parents of their own players who want their DD's hitting away and can't stand seeing any baserunning outs which are more likely to happen with this approach.

 

[The3dm]

Agree 100% that small ball is often a great way to be competitive against a team that might otherwise have more talent. A lot depends on the makeup of your team ... team speed is critical to make this work. And I do think coaches sometimes get criticized for this ... not so much from other coaches, but by the parents of their own players who want their DD's hitting away and can't stand seeing any baserunning outs which are more likely to happen with this approach.

Jeff,

I think a coach is going to catch grief no matter the approach as long as the team is losing. If on the other hand the team is winning, you only have to deal with the parents that do not get that this is a team sport and not all about their DD. Pretty much the same as coaching by stats when you have parents that do not understand how to properly keep them. LoL

Doug

 

[bigdaddyo1972]

We're constantly telling our girls to get a long lead off so long it's uncomfortable and don't be so eager to get back make them think that they can get you and possibly draw an error. Now if can only get them to smile at the pitcher........

 

[wow]

We're constantly telling our girls to get a long lead off so long it's uncomfortable and don't be so eager to get back make them think that they can get you and possibly draw an error. Now if can only get them to smile at the pitcher........

This is a great point and underutilized strategy of the game. Just like with small ball, you have to put pressure on defenses. On the bases I see girls get leads and then hurry up and get back. Especially at 1st base. The first base coach is to blame. Don't get me wrong if you get a lead and get thrown out don't run yourself into outs the entire game. Know your limitations. But I think a certain part of the game strategy is to get that big lead draw the throw and the runner, recognize the throw behind them, and then steal. Think about everything the defense has to do perfect. 1 A good throw to 1st. 2. The first base has to catch the ball. 3. When the runner goes the 1st base has to make a good throw to covering SS. 3. The ss has to make the catch. 4. The SS has to make the tag. FAVOR the runner!

Most defensive strategies tell you to NEVER throw behind the runner.

 

[tjsmize3]

This is a great point and underutilized strategy of the game. Just like with small ball, you have to put pressure on defenses. On the bases I see girls get leads and then hurry up and get back. Especially at 1st base. The first base coach is to blame. Don't get me wrong if you get a lead and get thrown out don't run yourself into outs the entire game. Know your limitations. But I think a certain part of the game strategy is to get that big lead draw the throw and the runner, recognize the throw behind them, and then steal. Think about everything the defense has to do perfect. 1 A good throw to 1st. 2. The first base has to catch the ball. 3. When the runner goes the 1st base has to make a good throw to covering SS. 3. The ss has to make the catch. 4. The SS has to make the tag. FAVOR the runner!

Most defensive strategies tell you to NEVER throw behind the runner.

I would agree with above up to 10u/11u softball. Beyond that it should be an out too often to take that risk. At 1st and 3rd, get a healthy lead off the bag, make your read, if catcher gets it cleanly get back with a sense of urgency! With the possibility to advance on a straight steal, bunt, passed ball/dropped ball by catcher, wild pitch, steal on a change, misplayed defense (i.e. forgot to cover bag/went to wrong bag), etc... it is inexcusable to get picked off while getting in a stare down or dance competition with the catcher. Agreed at rec or some high school levels you can get away with it, but we had a 12u Beverly Bandits catcher give a few of our 11u girls a lesson about dancing around on 1st and 3rd!!!

 

[Buckeye_bomber00]

And to add to all the good points made, coaches have to coach to what players that they have added to their roster. We are not all blessed with 9 starters who can hit any pitch 250 ft. It is nice to have that luxury, but for most of us at 16U it is a thought that keeps us up dreaming at night about scoring 20 runs a game. The strategy is really more than against what defense we see, but what our players can execute, how quick (or slow) they are and how we manage our girls to exploit defenses, and as long as we have all coached and been around the game, we make mistakes, girls get too big of leads, they make mistakes, but we do the right things as well. That makes the game fun !

 

[okiedad1961]

Agree on the leadoffs at older ages Cs can gun behind runners and still get them at 2.Taking this too a personel level should coachs exploit weaknesess in players time after time or do you let up when your up 5?

 

[Pacerdad57]

Can you ever be up enough to rein em in and still feel comfortable? Lmao

 

[Buckeye_bomber00]

Agree on the leadoffs at older ages Cs can gun behind runners and still get them at 2.Taking this too a personel level should coachs exploit weaknesess in players time after time or do you let up when your up 5?

You would expect pert opposing coaches to make the adjustments to defend it....5 runs? Is that the comfort zone competing against quality competition. I personally would not put a run total gauge on it, it is more did the opposition change to defend the "short" game?

 

[FastBat]

Small ball is under-utilized and I believe that's the way softball was meant to be played. I think teams don't take advantage of small ball type play because they haven't experienced success with it, it does take practice. Also, the team with the least amount of errors has a higher probability of winning...so putting pressure on the other team's defense would create more throws, etc.

 

[Shane]

I agree 100%, pressure, pressure, pressure!!! Even on ball four, the ball gets away from the catcher, spring to first to give the impression of possibly taking 2nd. This kind of pressure can create mistakes and at minimum will cause physical/mental fatigue.