Question For Coaches

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I was wondering today why it seems there are alot of softball players that do not know how to "think" the game of softball.
So i asked myself what is different now than 10 to 15 or 20 years ago. I wonder if it is all the specialty coaches. Now please don`t get offended if you are a specialty coach I think there are some GREAT ones out there but I see more and more girls spend time working on the mechanics of a swing, pitches, catching stances ect.ect.ect than "learning" the game ...Is it just me..There seem to be so many worried about striking everyone out, hitting a homerun, batting 400, than knowing when to hit the ball to the right side with a runner on 3rd or when to take a pitch or work on the mental part of the game. When I played sports I always studied the other teams to find there weaknesses/strengths and my teammates weaknesses/strengths. now it seems like some (not all) girls worry about there own stats and do not put the teams first...any one else see this or am I crazy

 

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we talk softball IQ every single practice. Usually 2 or 3 times per practice. Part of our culture. They even see the reasoning in it today vs not so much at 10u. Just as important in our training as anything else we do. As we get older I believe it's more crucial. Part of a balance that we institute in our program. It's like stacking building blocks. Each time we get closer to building the "softball house of knowledge". I actually enjoy the challenge of getting them to see and feel what we are talking about. One key note, we try to do these "talks" in a very few short minutes. Otherwise, all they hear is Charlie Brown's teacher... waaa womp womp womp wa wa wa waaaaaaaa....

 

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Take this for what its worth, but girls as a whole DO NOT go out and play pickup or sandlot games out in the backyard like most of us dads did when we were younger. That is the single biggest reason for these young ladies lack of thinking and knowledge. Add in coaches that micro manage every little thing their team does and you have players that can't throw or take a swing without looking over at dad or coach for what to do next.

You don't see this as much in the warm weather states as these girls are out playing games or friendlies year around, absorbing all this knowledge or "game" under a controlled environment.

 

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Once in a while have your kids play whiffle ball - just sit back and watch em without coaching. I have found many of the kids grasp more than you might think.

I had a 12u player on 3rd in a scrimmage recently declare "I have a plan".

I said, "oh yea, what is it?"

She said "I can't tell you (3rd baseman is listening)".

The next pitch she delayed stole home. That was her reading the situation with a pitcher and catcher asleep at the wheel.

 

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I agree with LadyKnights. My brothers and sisters and I spent ALL of our spare time playing some kind of backyard ball. We weren't allowed to sit inside and watch TV all day and I don't think we would have if we were allowed. My dd's and her friends play whiffle ball ALL the time. I have base paths, batters boxes and position places wore into my yard. I also have about 100 small balls in my spouting that they thought were big enough to roll off. Alot of game knowledge, fundamental skills and lessons in sportsmanship are learned in the backyard....and it's fun as hell!!!

I believe that coaches should work on the mental game and explain strategies from the beginning. They may not understand everything when they are younger, but they will understand more than we realize. Get them off on the right foot and show them it is a game and you are trying to out think the opponents in every aspect, not just out hit or out pitch them. When they think for themselves and are successful, they will start playing with confidence and pride.......it's HARD to beat a team that plays with confidence and pride.

 

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Good thread and food for thought. The other thing that a lot of us did growing up was watch baseball games on TV, and hear the announcers talk about the strategy of the game. That's where I learned a lot of the fundamentals and strategies. But not many kids do that these days ... for many reasons I am sure including so many other entertainment options and the fact that the pace of a baseball game is too slow. Sure, there are more and more fastpitch games on TV, but still relatively few and only for a few months a year.

 

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And coaches, don't be afraid to repeat yourself 3 dozen times on a particular key strategic aspect of the game. I have seen truly brilliant girls come up to me and say "Oh, I get it now!". And that was after explaining it over and over again in a period of months. Sometimes things seem so logical to us as grownups, although it may take even some very talented kids several times for their growing brains to put it all together.

And likewise, as others have said, encourage the girls to go out and play ball with their friends, neighbors and siblings in the backyard. I love watching the big kids try to explain things to the really little kids, and the little kids catching on sooner than you would expect. It helps both of them mentally master the game!