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I appreciate everyone's suggestions. While this age group is fun it is challenging as a coach. There is a large mental aspect to the sport. You can't just say "Do it this way" and expect it to happen. As much as I want to win that's not really the goal for this age group in this league. I want every girl to have a fun and positive experience and learn the mechanics of her position and the fundamentals of the game.
I practice with these girls, all 14 of them, for 1.5 hours twice a week. At the beginning of each season, I buy a bucket of 11" softballs out of my pocket and give each girl a ball to keep at home and practice with somebody, anybody.
Don't want to hijack your thread but don't want to start a new one over my dumb question. How do yall teach a kid to field a ground ball?? Legs apart,bent at knees, and glove on ground? Or(how I was tought) take a knee, glove on ground and get your right knee kinda behind your glove, with your body.If your glove misses your body will keep ball in front of you.
Legs apart, knees bent. The one knee technique creates too much opportunity for the ball to get away if you get a bad hop. As a catcher, and part time 2nd baseman, I've always felt that your best bet is to keep the ball in front of you is to stay as square to the ball as possible. When you go down on one knee, you have to turn to one side, which leaves your shoulders open. When this happens the ball is more than likely going to get away in the direction of your shoulders. You also sacrifice lateral mobility if the ball does get away from you when you are on one knee.
Legs apart, knees bent. The one knee technique creates too much opportunity for the ball to get away if you get a bad hop. As a catcher, and part time 2nd baseman, I've always felt that your best bet is to keep the ball in front of you is to stay as square to the ball as possible. When you go down on one knee, you have to turn to one side, which leaves your shoulders open. When this happens the ball is more than likely going to get away in the direction of your shoulders. You also sacrifice lateral mobility if the ball does get away from you when you are on one knee.
Guess I'll stop confusing my girl. I hate teaching something the coach does a different way. I'm just tired of watching gloves 2inches off the ground and ball trickling to the outfield. If you do that with a knee you still stop it. Also with left knee forward your already set to throw. Knees bent is obviously the best way to do it or it wouldnt be tought by everybody. ThX for your response.
Left foot on bag - so runner can see pitcher, catcher & home plate.
I agree with the comments about having the weak hitter switch hit. First of all, that would be illegal. A batter has to finish the bat the way they start it. If they take 1 pitch as a RH, they must bat the entire bat RH. Also, our job as a coach is to teach ALL the kids (not just the better athletes) to hit. We should never just concede that they can't hit.
My question for you would be why aren't they hitting? If their timing is ok, then try having them keep their feet still. If their timing is off, have them count 1-2 or something like that so at least the bat will be coming through the strike zone at the right time. I had a child on my team with a learning disability. Everyone told me he "would never hit." His swing wasn't good either but they were right that he "would never hit" if the bat couldn't come through the strike zone at the right time. I did the 1-2 thing & he started hitting about 1 out of 3 at bats. The reason he had never hit before was that his other coaches had been working on his swing. But it didn't matter how great his swing was if he didn't swing at the right time.
RE: how to field a ground ball - outfielders field with a knee on the ground; never an infielder. Teach the infielder to get the glove in the dirt.
Guess I'll stop confusing my girl. I hate teaching something the coach does a different way. I'm just tired of watching gloves 2inches off the ground and ball trickling to the outfield. If you do that with a knee you still stop it. Also with left knee forward your already set to throw. Knees bent is obviously the best way to do it or it wouldnt be tought by everybody. ThX for your response.
This is a great drill, try fielding softly thrown ground balls bare handed it is an excellent way to get the technique down. She really has to square up and bend to grab the ball because of the lack of the glove.
Can you guys explain the knee down method of fielding a ball? I'm sure I've seen or even used it but I'm having a hard time visualizing what you are describing. I teach my girls that "Softball Ready" is both feet on the ground, knees bent, hands next to the inside of their knees in a ready position, facing the batter. Be ready to slide step left or right to get the ball while staying square to the ball. Once squared up and upon arrival of the ball the player bends over further, fields the ball, and throws towards the forced base or tags the closest base or runner. Of course it doesn't always happen this way.
Can you guys explain the knee down method of fielding a ball? I'm sure I've seen or even used it but I'm having a hard time visualizing what you are describing. I teach my girls that "Softball Ready" is both feet on the ground, knees bent, hands next to the inside of their knees in a ready position, facing the batter. Be ready to slide step left or right to get the ball while staying square to the ball. Once squared up and upon arrival of the ball the player bends over further, fields the ball, and throws towards the forced base or tags the closest base or runner. Of course it doesn't always happen this way.
Just take your normal ready position (what you describe above) and turn your left knee in and down. That's what you're looking for in that position. It's supposed to help keep the ball in front of you, but personally I disagree with this method. It's fine for outfielders who are less likely to get a bad hop. I just think it limits too much lateral movement, if the ball gets away from the player. Make sense?
