Who plays in your outfield?

[Balldiddly]

I am curious as to who typically plays in your outfield, understanding that some situations require a change in the normal plan? Are they girls that classify their primary position as an outfielder? Or are they players whose primary position in on the infield, but you can put them in the grass as a secondary position? Also curious, if the answers change related to the age of the players?

 

[wow]

As the girls get older some of the best and fastest kids are out on the grass... At 16u and above these kids play and enjoy the deep ball...Yes they sometimes have other infield positions but primary are in the grass.

 

[GeneralsDad]

True outfielder. Came up a shortstop, but found her home in the grass. 16U.

 

[Westler33]

Travel ball is so much more advanced than in the past when you could hide that kid in right field that maybe was only a bat in your lineup but now even at the younger age girls in the outfield have to be athletic and able to play.

 

[FastBat]

Most softball teams: 10u and lower I think they put the worst kids in the grass. Then at 12u and up coaches start to put faster kids in grass.

IMHO: I think all fast 10u kids should start in the outfield. But, I have a sibling that got all complete full ride to a D1 college playing CF, so I'm a little bias to outfielders.

 

[ApogeeDemon]

Outfield rule #1) Don't run into the wall!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hms1xlIa7y4

 

[Balldiddly]

ouch… that looked a bit painful.

 

[Westler33]

That was painful for sure. I'll take me some first base lol.

 

[GeneralsDad]

At higher levels there is no where to hide a kid, plain and simple. The ball will find you.

 

[Stephen_Matthews]

Travel ball is so much more advanced than in the past when you could hide that kid in right field that maybe was only a bat in your lineup but now even at the younger age girls in the outfield have to be athletic and able to play.

Need to pound this in some parents heads.

 

[CoachP]

Primary position would be outfield. CF is key to success. I would probably rank it as my 3rd highest slot to fill after Pitcher and Catcher.

 

[spartansd]

Hold on CoachP. No way your 3rd spot is CF. Finding a very good SS is probably the toughest position to fill. Even more that pitching IMO. And once you have a really good SS you have a hard time ever playing without one.

I would say my wife has coached for 20+ years and she has the best SS ever and what a difference it makes.

 

[hpifm]

Starting at 10U travel, you don't "hide" players in the outfield. You need gloves and arms out there, along with some speed. How many times have you seen a "smart" right fielder throw the runner out at first? when you get to 12U a good outfield is a must. I saw some very good arms this past summer and they did make a difference.

 

[TClarkson]

You need an athlete at CF and speed in RF (as how many times have you seen that ball tail to the right).

 

[sprunger]

2 of our 3 pitchers play lf, cf...hard to beat arm strength

 

[stewed71]

DD is a true outfielder as in she LOVES it. CF, RF, LF it does not matter. She plays middle infield for fun. Outfield is her job! She knows she is the last line of defense when the infield doesn't make that play. She loves throwing out the runner to first who decides to take it lazy on the run. She loves doubling people up when they think there is no way in heck that fly ball or line drive to the grass is going to be caught.

There is a big difference in a player that knows how to play the outfield versus the player you just put in the outfield cause they are athletic. Knowing where to back up the play, what spot to be in, where the ball needs to go. That comes with practice and experience. I love watching those outfielders that can play!! With how good players have become hitting, you better have a good outfield that is going to get the job done.

 

[FastBat]

Well said stewed! Your dd sounds like she's my kind of player. It takes years to master fly balls, backing up, where to stand with certain hitters in the line up, how wind affects a ball, where to throw the ball with how many outs, etc. While other players are fighting over SS your kid is fine tuning her skills. OF is the best kept secret in softball especially for smart fast kids! Unfortunately for fastpitch, tee-ball and coach pitch coaches ruin OF for most kids.

 

[coachjwb]

Last time I counted every college team needs 3 outfielders in the lineup every game. My pitching DD was in the starting lineup every game the last 3 years of her college career because she learned to play outfield when she played travel ball.

 

[Westler33]

How many times do you see a stud SS in travel ball end up playing right field in college It's because you need those kind if athletes in the outfield at the higher levels.

 

[LeftField16]

As you can tell by screen name, you could guess where my DD plays. She loves it out there and knows her coverage well. She has on more than one occasion thrown a runner out a home stealing. We always yell " No no no, not today" when a runner rounds third or tags up.