Coaching Philosophy

You're A Role Model

It doesn't matter if you're coaching tee ball or coaching at the college level, you're probably the most important role model that your players have during the season. Players are going to look to you not only for guidance and instruction, but they will be watching and listening to how you react to every situation. I'm a strong believer that a coach can be one of the most influential people in a young players life. Many players and former players attribute a large portion of their success in life to the things they learned on the softball field and from a few great coaches. We're not talking about fielding ground balls, or how to hit; we're talking about teamwork, perseverance, work ethic, having a positive attitude, to just name a few. Skills that not only helped them on the softball field but helped them in life.

Often coaches think only of the present year; how am I going to develop the players to have a successful season. We'll get into a definition of successful in a bit, but the point here is often coaches don't realize the influence they have on their players. Coaches can help instill a love for the game that can last a lifetime. Good coaches can keep players interested in continuing to participate from year to year.

As a coach you have to decide how you want to be seen by your players and the parents of your players. What type of example do you want to provide? I hope everyone takes the responsibility of coaching very seriously. It takes a lot of hard work and effort to be a successful coach. The following paragraphs discuss some important issues that you should consider incorporating into your coaching philosophy.

Key Aspects Of A Coaching PhilosophyBe Positive

Players need a patient, supportive coach that can teach and motivate in a positive way. Knowing how to be positive and having the ability to communicate with your players is more important to a successful season than knowing many aspects of the game.

Show Them You Care

Each player needs to know that you care for him as an individual and that you believe she is an important part of the team. Take time to talk to all players individually. Try to take interest in what is going on in their life outside of softball.

Have Fun

Fun is essential for kids of all ages. Develop practices that let them do the things they enjoy. It's also important for you to have fun. Create an environment that is structured and varied enough for you to enjoy what your doing. If you're having fun, chances are your players will be having fun also.

Emphasize Improvement

Players want to improve and gain new skills. Make sure that you challenge all your players at an appropriate level to foster improvement. This may require that players focus on different skills than other players during practice.

Youth Coaching Advice

Don't make the mistake of emphasizing results instead of effort. I've seen and heard coaches who try to motivate players by offering rewards. This could be money or candy for getting a hit or getting on base. This focus on results puts additional pressure on the player to perform. This can be especially difficult for the less skilled player. A father once told me that his son's coach offered a candy bar for each hit during the season. His son started to get nervous the night before each game and it got worse as the season went on. The father talked to his son and found out that she felt like she was letting his team down because she hadn't got a hit and was the only kid on the team to not get a candy bar. she talked to the

coach and they eliminated the reward. Without the pressure of trying to achieve a results based reward, his son was able to relax and got a number of hits over the last few games.

Organization And Discipline

Kids quickly pick up on a coach that is unorganized and doesn't communicate his expectations. If you don't establish certain rules and don't follow up with an appropriate punishment if the rules are broken, you will quickly lose control of your team. I always have a rule about talking when I'm talking during practice. I expect when I'm explaining something that the players will have their eyes on me and pay attention. If they interrupt or don't pay attention, I stop talking and we wait as a team for the individual to stop. If she does it again in the same practice she sits down and watches for awhile. I rarely have a player sitting on the side after the first couple of practices.

Players Learn By Doing

I love the quote in Mike Krzyzewski's book 'Leading With The Heart'. "When teaching, always remember this simple phrase: 'You hear, you forget. You see, you remember. You do, you understand." Often coaches try to teach players a skill by talking about it. The younger the player the less effective it will be. Give a quick explanation while you show them the skill you want them to perform. Then have them do it.

Attitude And Effort

Coaches that believe winning is the everything have only one direction to take the team...down. Everyone wants to win, but when main goal is winning a really good season can be lost. If on the other hand you emphasize attitude and effort, a successful season can be had without a league championship. Winning games really will take care of itself if you prepare the team to play hard and always give their best effort.

Sportsmanship

The idea of sportsmanship seems to be lost on many youth players. The fact is, sportsmanship must be taught. If children watch professional sports then their idea of sportsmanship may be to trash talk, spike the ball in the opponents face, or to mimic some other visual statement that demonstrates their superiority. As a coach it's important that you teach the value of sportsmanship. I want my team to show joy when they make an exciting play, but not at the expense of the player on the opposing team. I want my players to always show the other team respect. Your leadership is the best way to get this across to your players. Interact with the players on the other team. Compliment them when they make a good play. Show your players that you appreciate the other team and the opportunity to play against them.

Dealing With Parents

Dealing with parents might be the most difficult part of being a coach. Research suggests that it's the single biggest reason that coaches quit. It's a common problem, but one that can be difficult to solve. In my experience as both a coach and a parent I have found some common mistakes that coaches make that can bring on the wrath of a parent along with some ways to deal with a parent that is causing you grief.

Communication - Parent Meeting

I believe that communication is the single biggest reason behind coach/parent problems. Many coaches don't take the time at the beginning of the season to hold a parent meeting and discuss with the parents how he/she is going to run the team. Hold a parent meeting right away. This will give you a chance to communicate your philosophy with your parents. The topics should include the importance of winning; how you are going to distribute playing time; how are you going to determine who plays where; what skills and values you are going to emphasize. Try to hit all the areas that are important. If for example you don't start a player if she is late or missed a practice, let the parents know that. It's important that they are aware of team rules and expectations. By holding this meeting right away, you have the opportunity to try and move players to a different team if you don't think it will work out. Let parents know that if they don't agree with how you are going to run the team, then this is the time to try and get the child moved.

Sample Parent Letter

Be Consistent

Stating your philosophy is one thing; implementing it consistently is another. Make sure you make rules for your team that you can follow up with. It is very frustrating for a parent to be told one thing and then see something else happen. I went through this myself last year with the team my son was on. We were told by the coach that all players would get a change to play many different positions and playing time would be distributed equally. The coach said that the emphasis would be on building skill not winning. Well, after 3 loses to start the season, the coach abandoned his philosophy and had the best players play more and play the most important positions. she would simply rotate those players around those positions. You can imagine the grumbling in the stands as parents began to realize that their child was going to play outfield all year and hit near the bottom of the order. There were complaints and it ended up being a frustrating season for many parents and the coach.

The lesson here is make sure you can live with the guidelines you set down. By sticking to what you told the parents at the beginning of the season, you will alleviate a number of parent problems.

Listen to Parent Concerns

I've seen many coaches with the "I'm the coach, don't question me" type of attitude. With some parents it can be difficult to not get irritated and show this type of attitude. Many parents won't say anything unless they are angry about something. When they finally do, they often are worked up and at that point can be difficult to deal with. I've found that when dealing with difficult parents, it's important that you listen to their concerns and take a real interest in what they are saying. Don't feel like you have to defend yourself right away. Sometimes listening to the concern and telling the parent that you will think about the situation and get back to them is enough to diffuse the situation. Just by doing that you validate the concern and show that you're open to suggestions. Parents want to feel like their input is taken seriously and that they have a say in what's happening with their child. You then can take the time to analyze the comments and see if there's any validity to the concerns. When you call the parent or talk to them at the next practice they will most likely be much calmer. It will also give you a chance to calm down. Parent complaints at the end of a game can be infuriating. Remember that you are a role model to the kids. If you can't handle the situation without getting upset, then it's best to tell the parent that you have to go and you will call them later.

If the parent is complaining and you don't like the attitude they have towards you, take them away from the crowd and the kids and let them know that you don't like the way they are talking to you. Let them know that you want to work out any concerns that they may have, but if they can't do so in a calm manner than maybe you should discuss it at another time.

Get Parents Involved

Getting parents involved can really help in avoiding potential parent problems. If you think that a parent is going to be a problem, try to get that parent involved in some way. If that parent only shows up to games, have him/her keep the score book, chart the hitters, or warm-up the next pitcher. If they feel like they are part of the team, they will often be less likely to complain. They also will have less time to focus on how their child is being "treated unfairly"

If the parent makes it to practices, have them help by working with some of the kids. They may soon find out that coaching is more difficult than it looks from the bleachers.

Document and Inform the League

If you think you're going to have a situation with a parent that you may not be able to resolve, document all the conversations that you have with that parent. What's their complaint; were they insulting or angry; what was your response. This way if you have to go to league administrators about the parent you can accurately describe exactly what has gone on. This will help the administrators in not having to take sides over a she said, she said type of argument.

Kids - What They Want

All kids are different and participate in sports for a variety of reasons. For my oldest son, participation is mainly a social event. she loves being with his friends and having a good time. He's athletic so he's beginning to realize the attention she gets when she has a good game, at bat, or play in the field. My younger son at this point just loves to play. she is in it for the enjoyment she gets while playing. she enjoys hanging out with the kids, but that seems secondary to playing the game.

What about other kids, why do they play? The reasons vary by age and personality. Obviously the high school player is going to have different reasons for playing then a 10 year old. Unfortunately parents and coaches often don't recognize what the kids want to get out of the sport. I believe there are some common themes that apply at all levels:

Fun

Kids don't want to play if it's not fun. Again, we must consider the personality and age of the player. A high school pitcher may think it's fun to practice as hard as she can in order to be successful. The competition is what's fun. For most younger kids the competition isn't as important. They are more interested in the action and excitement of playing. Winning and losing most often means a lot more to the coach and parents than it does to the kids.

Variety and Organization

Many people say that organized sports are boring to the kids. We've organized the fun out. Kids spend too much time standing around and not enough time playing. I disagree that organized sports are boring. It would be nice to still be living in an age when your child could head off to the local sandlot and meet his buddies for a game of softball. The reality is that parents won't allow it without supervision. It's really the lack of organization within the scheduled practices that cause the problem. When one kid is hitting and the rest of the team is in the field shagging balls, you have taken the fun out of the sport.

Kids want variety and action. They want to develop different skills and they want to run around and have fun. A practice that keeps them moving, playing games, learning, and has a variety of activities, provides an environment that kids will enjoy.

Building Skill

Kids love learning new skills. Just watch the joy of a child making contact for the first time or catching a ball for the first time. As their skill level improves, the challenges must also increase. If they are not challenged they will lose interest.

Friendships

All kids want to be accepted and liked by their peers. Playing on a team gives kids the opportunity to form friendships and interact with other kids in a setting other than school. The team gives the individual child a group identity and a common purpose. It fun sharing the experience with their friends. Many kids will only play because their friends are playing. That often is the main draw for them to be involved.

Action and Excitement

Everyone remembers shooting that winning shot in the championship game? Remember, the one you hit each time you went out to shoot baskets by yourself when you were a kid. By doing so you took an activity that might be fun and turned it in to something exciting and challenging. Kids seek that excitement in organized sports as well. They want action; they want excitement. It's up to coaches to put them in situations where that desire will be fulfilled.

Attention

Many kids get involved in sports because their parents signed them up. By playing the sport and doing well they receive special attention from their parents and other people close to them. Kids want to please their parents and by performing well they see that their parents are proud of them.

Competition

Competition is listed last for a reason. It's not that kids don't enjoy competing against their peers, many do. Many kids simply don't like the increased pressure of the competition that they feel from coaches and parents. It's that increased pressure that can take away from the enjoyment of the sport. Learning how to deal with competition and disappointment is important. It's also important that coaches and parents realize the desire for competition and the importance of it for the child will develop as their skills do...slowly. Many kids aren't ready to be pushed into highly competitive situations where they feel the pressure to perform.

Communication

Obviously this isn't a complete list of what kids are looking for when they participate in sports. It is important as a coach and parent that you realize that there are a variety of reasons that kids play. Making sure that your approach matches the desires of the players is essential in providing them with a rewarding season. Finding out what motives your child, and the players on your team, will help you develop a plan for the season that fits in with their desires.

Coaching with Constructive CriticismKids can be very critical of themselves when they make mistakes. In addition to that if they are also criticized by a parent or coach, it can lead to a player losing confidence in his ability and playing tentative for fear of making another mistake. As a coach or parent you can help build the confidence of players by handling mistakes in a positive manner. John Wooden, the great UCLA coach, understood the importance of positive reinforcement. It didn't mean she wasn't critical of his players, but she would provide feedback in a way that was beneficial. Constructive criticism is the process of providing both positive and negitive comments in a friendly helpful manner, instead of a negative manner.

Fear of Failure

Watch any game from youth through the professional level and you'll see plays not being made because the player was more afraid of failure than anything else. In my opinion, fear of failure, is a more important in a player not being able to perform during a critical situation than any other factor. Sure, it's true that a player may be over matched in a given situation, but even then the fear of failure will often take the small opportunity for success and reduce it even further.

Young players are motivated by achievements and most do not respond well to criticism. They want to get better and they will try hard when they feel good about what they are doing. If a player is practicing ground balls and his coaching is yelling, "Stay in front of the ball", "Keep your glove down", "Use both hands", and the player is struggling, she may want to give up. His confidence is being reduced by each instruction being yelled in his direction. As you read this over, you might think, "So, how else is she going to learn if I don't tell him what he's doing wrong?". This is a very natural way of providing feedback for most people. We compliment the good plays and criticize the bad plays. We label the criticism as "constructive criticism" which makes us feel like it's not a negative thing. How do the kids feel about this 'constructive criticism'? It, like many things, depends on the individual, but if they are not feeling good about their play or their ability, then this criticism isn't going to help improve their performance. If it's not going to help them then we can't label it 'constructive criticism'. In a game we want our players to have very short memories. We want them to forget about a bad play and focus on the rest of the game. Does criticism of a bad play, no matter what the intention, help the player do that? In my experience, the answer is no. It will not help lift them up and get them prepared for the next opportunity, it just gives them reinforcement that they did something wrong.

So that leaves a bit of a problem: How do we provide feedback to our players during a game that will help prevent the same mistake from happening again, while allowing them to move on and focus on the rest of the game?

1. Not every mistake requires that you give instruction. If a player knows what she did wrong and knows how to correct it, there's no need for you to tell him. Simply encourage the player with a positive statement.

2. If you feel the player needs some instruction or reminder to keep from making the mistake again, "sandwich" the instruction inside of supportive statements. Here is an example:

Player picks his glove up on a ground ball and it gets by him letting a run score. she comes to the dugout after the inning. He's upset and knows she cost his team a run.

Coach: "Billy, you did an excellent job of getting in front of that ground ball, your footwork was perfect." (positive supportive statement about what she did right)

Coach: "Remember to keep your glove on the ground and then move it up if needed." (instruction)

Coach: "In practice we worked on that and you were fielding really well. Now on the next ground ball that is hit to you, field it just the way you have been in practice and make a strong throw." (supportive statements that reflect on a positive experience along with the potential positive outcome of the next ground ball.)

By using this approach, I have found that the player will see that I'm confident in his ability to make the play and won't dwell as long on the mistake. I have found that timing is also important. Some kids need a couple of minutes to deal with the mistake before I talk with them, others will look for that support right away.

It takes practice to make this type of feedback a habit, especially during a game, when you have so much going on. I hope you find it to be a helpful strategy in dealing with player mistakes.

Playing Catch

Your Ability to Play Catch is a Critical Skill

Good defense revolves around a teams ability to throw accurately and catch the softball. Watch any high school level team or below warm up in the outfield and you'll see players using poor throwing mechanics and running after poorly thrown balls. If playing catch is such a core skill for defense, why aren't players better at it? One of the primary reasons is that many coaches don't teach their players how to throw.

Don't Assume that Playing Catch is a Skill Already Learned

Think your players know how to play catch? That's the assumption of many coaches. In the past when kids were out playing ball in the backyard all the time, kids were more skilled at playing catch. You may have a couple of kids that do that on a regular basis, but if you're like me you have a number of kids that don't touch a softball between practices. My own two boys are a perfect example as video games and TV normally win out over going outside and playing catch, especially during softball season when the weather isn't usually the greatest. They'll go out if I go out and play with them, but the hours I used to spend throwing a tennis ball against the house for entertainment has been replaced for them by TV and video games. The result for most coaches is that players are often lacking fundamental skills that many of us expect them to have.

Teaching Kids How To Throw

I hear coaches at all levels complain that they get kids on their teams that don't have the skills necessary to be at that level. Often the blame is placed on the previous coaches for not teaching the fundamentals. While this may be the case, the blame should also be placed on the kids lack of practice at home.

So how should you deal with it?First, realize it's just something you'll have to deal with each year. You can complain about it and try to hide those kids in positions where they will do the least amount of damage. That would one approach. It's an approach that many coaches take even though they don't realize it. Another approach would be to emphasize the importance of those basic skills and work hard at improving those skills right away. Playing catch is one skill all players can improve on and is essential to the success of your team.

Second, realize that kids will practice at home if you give them specific fun drills to work on in between practices. For younger kids, I try and give them a task where they can count the number of times that they can do a certain skill. I'll send a piece of paper home with each player where they can record their best Since, the goal is to develop a love for the game, make sure the homework is fun.

I'll never forget my first day of fall practice in college. Our coach had us all stretch in the outfield and then before she allowed anyone to touch a ball, she brought us all together and went over throwing fundamentals. It was surprising since I had been throwing all my life and like most of the other guys on the team, I thought I was pretty good at it. I think the real surprise was that I couldn't recall any other coach teaching me how to throw. My throwing accuracy and arm strength increased dramatically that year as a result of practicing how to properly throw the ball.

Age Appropriate 6 and Under - keep it fun, help them gain confidence. 7 - 8 - emphasize the importance 9 - 12 - expectations need to be higher 13 + - no excuses

Playing Catch - Catching The Softball

Be Prepared

When a thrown ball gets by you it's easy to look over to the other guy and place the blame on a bad throw. The problem isn't entirely in the throw. It also lies in your expectation that the ball will be thrown right at you. When playing catch during practice or receiving a throw during a game, expect that the ball won't be thrown to you. If you start with that expectation then you will see the throw that isn't right to you as an opportunity to make a good play.

Position

When playing catch at the beginning of practice, use the time as an opportunity to practice not only throwing the softball, but catching it as well. When waiting to receive the throw, start by putting yourself in an athletic position. Is doesn't mean you have to be in the same ready position you would be when the ball crosses the plate, but you still want to have your knees slightly bent and your weight on the balls of your feet. Basically, you want to be ready to move.

Go To The Ball

Instead of standing in one spot and sticking your glove out hoping (or not caring) if you catch it. Move into a position to give you the best opportunity to catch the ball. If it's thrown over your head take a drop step and go after it. If it's thrown a few feet to your side, move and try and get in front of it. Playing catch gives you an opportunity to practice fielding and catching the ball.

Hands

Give the player your playing catch with a target to shoot for. Place both hands out in front of your chest prior to the player throwing the ball. This will give him an area to shoot for. If the ball is thrown above your waist you should catch the ball with your thumbs together, closing your bare hand over your glove as you make the catch. If the ball is thrown below your waist, catch the ball with your little fingers together and again close your bare hand over your glove as you make the catch.

Have Fun

If all this sounds dry and boring then all you need to do is turn playing catch into a little competition to make things interesting.

Give targets for your partner and see how many times she can hit the glove without you having to move it. Have him do the same and see who can get to 5 or 10 first.

Alternate throwing groundballs to each other, the person receiving the throw will play first base. The first person to not field the ball cleanly or to pull the other person off the base with a bad throw loses.

With younger players it can be fun counting how many throws can be made back and forth without the ball hitting the ground.

In the end softball should be fun and there's no reason you can't have fun and work on becoming a better player at the same time. Playing catch is certainly one opportunity to accomplish both.

Player Tip

You can set the tone for how your team approaches playing catch. If you make it a pre-practice activity for loosening up, then that will probably be the level of effort that you will get from your players.

Stretch as a team and play catch as a team. Have team throwing competitions and place emphasis on your team's ability to play catch. You will see the reward during your games.

Infield Play

Infield play is important to the success of any defense. The ability to field and throw accurately often is the difference in the game. Errors happen to everyone, but a solid infield that makes few errors and can make some difficult plays puts their team in a position to win. To become a great infielder you must possess athletic ability and quickness, AND have a strong work ethic and the desire to continually improve. Think about all the types of plays you have an opportunity to make or not make during the season. You have to move in all directions and field balls hit at various speeds and degrees of difficulty.

This section covers some of the techniques that you can use to improve your ability to play the infield. Try these techniques out and modify them to fit your style. With hard work and a lot of practice, you can improve all your defensive skills.

Infield Approach

Ready Positions

When you get in the ready position, you need to be ready to field a hot line drive AND ready to move. Many players forget the second part (ready to move). They crouch down with their feet very wide, their gloves almost on the ground, and their palms facing the hitter. When the ball comes, these players probably look like they're holding a skillet rather than a glove.

Just as a hitter needs to stay relaxed to be quick, the same also applies to an infielder. The ready position described above creates a couple of problems for the fielder.

1. It's not very comfortable to be that low, which can cause tension, not only in the legs, but in the arms and hands as well.

2. It's not the best position to be ready to move. You're certainly not going to stay that low as you go after a hard ground ball hit 15 feet to your right.

The ready position is an athletic position that allows you to move quickly in any direction.

1. Bend your knees and back comfortably 2. Place your feet a little wider than shoulder width apart 3. Put your weight on the inside balls of your feet so you can push off in either direction easily 4. Place your arms out in front of your body but comfortable and not too far away 5. Extend your hands naturally; while you don't want the back of your glove facing the pitcher, you

also don't need to have it completely open and facing the hitter. Many players have their palms facing each other at the ball crosses the plate.

Pre-Pitch Routine

Most players devise a pre-pitch routine that puts them in the ready position as the ball crosses the plate. This may be a shuffle of the feet or a little hop. Whatever method you use, make sure you're balanced, comfortable, and ready to move. Get your momentum moving forward. Don't sit back on your heels. You want to be aggressive and play the ball rather than have the ball play you. This can only be done if you're moving forward and ready.

Fielding Ground Balls

Ground Ball Hit At You

Unless the ball is absolutely ripped at you and you don't have time, get in the habit of moving toward the grounder as you prepare to field it. Notice the word 'charge' wasn't used -- that word implies running towards it as fast as you can. Unless it's a slow roller, you want to approach the ball in a controlled manner that is aggressive but not out of control. This allows you to make adjustments so you're not catching it off a short hop or taking it off the first bounce on the infield dirt. As you get closer to the ball, begin breaking down to get into position to field the ball. To do this, shorten your steps and widen your feet. Bend not only at the knees but also with your back. Put your hands out in front of your body and open your glove toward the ball with your bare hand on top.

Catching The Ground Ball

There are a few common problems that players make when catching a ground ball.

1. Not catching the ball out in front.By doing this, you cannot watch the ball all the way into your glove; most likely you are bending either with your knees or back but not both.

When you catch the ball under you, you loose the ability to give with your hands. You want 'soft hands', a term used to describe a fielder who catches the ball out front of his body and seems to suck up the ball from that position into a position to throw. With soft hands, you can make last second adjustments to a bounce that was different than expected.

2. Poorly Positioned HandsYour glove must be in a good position to field the ball: open and close to vertical. This gives you the most area to catch the ball.

Short Hop

In all situations, try to avoid catching the ball on a short hop. In the diagram below, the approximate area of the short hop is shown in red. Catching the ball on a short hop is a difficult play to make. It takes practice for players to get in good position to avoid fielding a short hop. The following link is a good drill for players to work on the necessary footwork for avoiding a short hop: Short Hop Drill

Backhand

The backhand play is one of the most difficult to make. Poor technique and lack of practice are two of the biggest reasons why players struggle with the backhand play.

As you approach the ball you will either field it with your left foot forward or right foot forward depending on when you get to it. Many players will practice fielding a backhand only one way, but the fact is you will have to make the play both ways so make sure you practice both ways of fielding a backhand. Either way you want to make sure you keep your glove in front of your face. You want to watch the ball all the way into the glove.

Playing First Base

Defensive PositionNot Holding a Runner On

You want to play deep enough that you can cover as much ground as possible, while being shallow enough to make it to first base prior to a throw being made from a position player. It would be difficult for a shortstop for example to have to make a throw to first base if you are still running there while she is delivering the ball. You need to get in position to give the position player a target to throw to.

Even though we want to be able to depend on the pitcher to cover first base on a ball you field to your right, we don't want to have to depend on him for every ball hit your way. Young pitchers will often forget to cover the base. Make sure you are shallow enough that you can catch the routine ground ball and tag the base yourself.

Holding a Runner On

Right-handed first baseman: Position your right foot against the bag with both heels about parallel to the base line. You want to be in an athletic position with your knees bent.

Left-handed first baseman: Position your right foot against the bag. Since you will be sweeping a tag with your right arm, you can open up more toward the pitcher.

As the pitcher goes into his stretch give him a target.

If she goes to the plate shuffle a few steps toward second base and get ready to field any ball hit your way.

Receiving The Throw

When catching the ball from infielders, you need to get to the bag as quickly as possible. Once there, turn and face the direction the ball is coming from. Make sure you do not stand on the bag in a position that doesn't allow the runner room to run by. Place your throwing hand foot on the edge of the base. Make sure you are in an athletic stance ready to move (don't assume the ball will be thrown right to you). You shouldn't stretch for the softball until it is well on the way.

The image below shows a first baseman waiting for a throw from second and from third. No stretch will be made until the ball is on the way.

Player Tip

Two common mistakes are made by many players:

1. Stretching towards the ball too soon.This puts you in a position of no return. Say for example a throw is made directly at you. You stretch out to catch the ball and realize that the ball is going to hit the dirt and it's not going to be an easy short hop. Your stuck. There is no adjustment that you can make other than trying to knock it down the best you can. If you would have waited, you would have options on how to field the ball.

2. Trying to stretch as far as you can on every play.On a bang bang play, stretching for the ball can be the difference between out and safe. On balls thrown off target it is necessary in order to keep your foot on the base. On plays that aren't close and the ball is thrown at you, stretching out only adds a level of difficulty that's not necessary to get the out.

Example: Ball Coming From The Shortstop

If the shortstop throws the ball directly at you or to your glove hand side, step out with your left foot (for a right-handed first baseman) in the direction of where you want to catch the ball. So, if the ball was thrown a few feet on the home plate side of first, you may need to step towards home (not directly down the line) to make the catch.

On a ball thrown to your throwing hand side, step across your body and catch the ball backhanded.

The image to the below shows an example of stepping towards each type of ball described.

Coaching Advice

Work on balls being thrown to the side of the first baseman. Make sure she does not step in the baseline on either side of the bag. It's a sure way for the runner to end up colliding with him. It's a dangerous situation for both players, so make sure all your first basemen know where to step to receive the ball.

Pulled Off The Bag

Sometimes the throw is so off line that the first baseman must leave first base to catch the ball. Many times just catching the ball will be difficult enough, but in some cases the first baseman may still be able to get the out.

Pulled Off Towards Home

If you're pulled off the base towards home, you may be able to catch the ball and make the tag on the runner as she goes by. When making this play remember the following:

Don't get in the base line. As you catch the ball, place your throwing hand in your glove over the ball to secure it before

making the tag. Try to tag the runner in the hip area as she goes by.

Balls In The Dirt

It would be great if you always received the ball chest high from the other fielders on a throw to first. Unfortunately there are many times when the ball hits the dirt before it hits your glove. As a first baseman, this play has the greatest impact on how coaches, teammates, and fans judge your defensive ability. While you won't have an error under your name if you can't come up with the ball in the dirt, it still reflects on your ability. Although you won't field all these "dirt" balls cleanly, it is a skill you should master to the best of your ability.

The Short Hop

When fielding a throw that is going to hit the ground, you will be forced to make the best of a difficult play. When fielding a ground ball you can move up or back to keep from fielding the ball on a short hop. When fielding a thrown ball you are limited in your ability to move since you are trying to keep your foot on the base.

As the ball comes toward you, quickly determine where it will hit the dirt. If you cannot stretch out far enough to catch it in the air, stretch out toward the ball or stride out at an angle that puts your glove in a position to catch the ball just after it hits the ground. The closer you can get to catching the ball as it hits the ground, the easier it will be to catch.

As the ball hits the dirt, move your glove forward and at a downward angle toward the ball. This allows you to catch the ball right after it hits the ground and most importantly keep it in your glove. When

catching the ball in this manner, you don't want to stretch out and then have your glove give or have it angled up. This most likely will result in the ball bouncing off your glove.

If you cannot stretch out in order to catch the ball on a short hop, then modify your approach. Instead of stretching out and trying to catch the ball just after it hits the ground, you will want to stay close to the base. This will give you extra space after the ball has bounced before you have to catch it. In this case footwork is very important. You want to put yourself in a good position to field the ball and at least knock it down. Try to position your body in front of the throw. You are going to act like you are fielding a ground ball, with the difference being your foot is on the bag. The image above shows an example of fielding this type of throw.

If you're a right-handed first baseman and the ball is thrown to the outfield side of first base, you may want to switch your feet, placing your left foot on bag. This will allow you to get in front of the ball thrown to the outside. The same footwork is required for a left-handed first baseman catching the ball on the home plate side of first.

From the Catcher

Occasionally you will need to catch a ball that has been fielded by the catcher. This could be on a bunt out in front of the base or a dropped third strike. After fielding the ball close to the first base line, the catcher will need to move to one side of the foul line or the other to make sure his throw will not hit the runner. You will need to position yourself the same side of the foul line that the catcher is on. If she is in foul territory, step across the base well before the runner gets there and use your right foot to touch first. If the catcher is in fair territory, use your left foot to contact the bag. Always give the first base to the runner.

Making The Out At First 3 Unassisted

If you field the ball and have time to beat the runner to first, you should. This is a much safer play than throwing it to the pitcher covering the bag.

Make sure you catch the ball first. Hustle to the bag after you have fielded the ball. Don't hurry the catch.

Never run across the bag in front of the runner. Always stay in fair territory and reach out to touch the base and then step back or to the side.

Feeding The Pitcher

There are times when you won't be able to beat the runner to the bag and will have to throw the ball to the pitcher. Sometimes you will be able to underhand the ball and sometimes you will have to throw it. Either way it is important to remember:

Always lead the pitcher. The pitcher is running at an angle toward first base, not towards the ball. Aim so she can catch the ball in stride.

Throw the ball on the infield side of the base. If you throw the ball over the base or in foul territory, you put your pitcher in a dangerous position.

Always try and get the ball to the pitcher before she reaches first base. It's a very difficult play for the pitcher to try and catch the ball on the run and touch first base at the same time.

When throwing the ball underhand, you will improve your accuracy by following your throw. So as you deliver the ball, let your back foot come forward and walk towards the base.

Starting the Double Play

A left-handed first baseman has a real advantage in starting a double play. When fielding a ground ball she is already lined up for the throw to second, where the right-handed first baseman must turn to make the throw.

There are two ways to make this play.1. The first is for any ball hit to your right. On this play, you will field the ball, make the throw to the inside part of second base if you were holding the runner on or to the outside part of second if you were playing behind. After making the thrown hustle back to first for the return throw.

Coaching Advice

On any ball hit to the right of the first baseman, you may want to have the pitcher always cover first. This way your first baseman can focus on fielding the ball and making a good throw to second. It's also good training for the pitcher to get used to covering first on that play.

2. The second is for any ball hit to your left. On this play you are so close to first base that you can field the ball, touch first base for the out and then make the throw to second. Make sure you call out "tag" as you make the throw to second. This lets the shortstop know that she must tag the runner to complete the double play.

On this play the runner will be farther down the base line. Make sure you step inside or outside the baseline after you touch the bag to make the throw. This will give you a clear path to throw the ball to second base. If you step inside then throw the ball to the inside of second. If you step outside throw the ball to the outside of second. The shortstop will see which side you're on and position himself towards that side of the bag.

Playing Second Base

No Runners On Base

Since the throw from the second base position is fairly short, you will be able to play fairly deep with no runners on base. Make sure you are not so deep that you have to hurry on a routine ground ball in order to make the out, or you can't get to first on time if the first baseman has to field a bunt.

Runner On First

With a runner on first you will want to take a few steps in toward home plate and a couple of steps toward second base. This will put you in position to cover second on a double play, force out, or steal attempt if you are covering on the play.

Covering Second on a Steal Attempt

Normally the second baseman will cover second on a steal attempt with a right-handed batter at the plate and the shortstop will cover second when a left-handed batter is up. Try to position yourself so you can still cover your area, but not so far away from second that you have to sprint to second to get there ahead of the runner. Once they see a runner stealing, I teach my players to shuffle towards second until the ball has crossed the plate, then to run hard to cover the base. By shuffling the first couple of steps they are still squared up to home and can stop and go quickly to their left if the ball is hit that way. This is something that really needs to be practiced with the catchers throwing down in order for your players to get a good feel for the timing required.

Double Plays

When the ball is hit in your direction and you believe you have a chance to turn a double play, make sure you don't rush. While a double play can be a savior for your pitcher and your team, you must make sure you at least get the lead runner. An error that results in no outs and possibly a runner on third can lead to a big inning for the opposing team. Concentrate on fielding the ball cleanly and making a good throw to the shortstop. If you can do this quickly but under control then you have given your team at least one out and the opportunity to get two.

Ball Hit Directly At You

When the ball is hit at you, you will want field the ball with your right foot slightly behind your left. This will allow you to easily pivot and throw because your hips will already be slightly open.Once you have fielded the ball cleanly, you have two options for delivering the ball to the shortstop:

With the first option, you will rotate your hips open toward second base as you bring the ball up from your glove. Your right foot will drop back to allow you to rotate farther and get more on the ball. Many players will move both feet at the same time to quickly open up and deliver the ball.

The other option is rotate your hips open toward second, dropping your left knee to the ground in the direction of second and throwing from your knee. Younger players may find that they are

more accurate using this method. It will probably take you longer to deliver the ball using this method, but if you can make a more accurate throw to the shortstop then it's worth the extra time.

Coaching Advice

Younger players may have difficulty with both methods, so it may be necessary for them to shuffle their feet in order to make this throw accurately. Make sure that you emphasize the importance of making a good throw and getting the out at second.

Ball Hit To Your Right

On this play you will normally be close enough to underhand the ball to the shortstop. Since you are going to your right, you should naturally be in a position where your right foot is slightly behind your left. This is the position your want to be in. Once you have fielded the ball, you will pivot on your right foot, clear your glove (this will give the shortstop a clear view of the ball), and deliver the ball. When tossing the ball underhanded you want to keep your wrist stiff, your arm motion will provide the power behind the toss. As your arm makes the underhand throwing motion, you will want to follow your throw with your left leg. This will help you deliver an accurate throw to second.

With both of the plays described above, it's important to remember that they should look seamless. Which in these cases means they should be performed from the crouching position. You don't want to catch the ball, stand up, and then rotate and underhand it. Simply field the ball, rotate from that position and deliver the ball.

Ball Hit To Your Left (Assuming You Are Fielding It On Your Glove Hand Side)

On this ball that takes you away from where you are going to throw the ball, you will want to field the ball, plant your right foot, pivot to your left and throw the ball to second. It's important that you don't whirl and throw blindly back to second. After you have planted your right foot, turn your head and pick up your target prior to throwing the ball. If you have any doubt about having enough time to get the runner at second, just throw the ball to first and get the sure out. A wild throw that pulls the shortstop off of second and results in not getting an out, means you were rushing the play and probably should have just made the out at first. Physical errors will happen, but sometimes they are the direct result of a poor decision.

Ball Hit To The Third Baseman Or Shortstop

With the ball hit to the left-hand side of the infield, you will most likely be the pivot man at second base. The only exception is when the shortstop is close enough to make the play unassisted. There are a number of ways for you to receive the ball and make the throw to first. Which method you use will be determined by the location of the throw and your position around the bag when the ball is on its way.

Straddle

One method is to straddle second base. You can use this method when you have gotten to the base quickly and the throw is on target. Position your feet on each side of second base and as you catch the ball you will take a short step with your left foot and throw to first. When using this method you are never really touching the base. Most umpires will not be in a position to notice and even if they did they most likely wouldn't call it. But, at lower levels such as little league, you never know. If you are concerned, either don't use this method or get in a habit of dragging your right foot over the bag as you follow throw with your throw.

The other problem with the straddle method is that it puts you in a vulnerable position as you are waiting for the ball. If the fielder drops the ball or has some other problem and you forget to move, you are exposed to taking a cleat in the side of your leg and if the slider comes up with his cleat your knee is in a vulnerable position to injury.

Youth Coaching Advice

For these reasons it's not recommended that young players use the straddle method. All second baseman need to be able to use the methods below, so have young players work on those pivots.

Left Foot

Another method is to use your left foot on second base. This method will allow you to go in any direction and get a good quick throw off. As you approach second base, breakdown your steps a few feet from the bag. This will allow you to time the actual step on second with your left foot and determine how your going to move off that foot.

There are a number of ways you can turn the double play from your left foot. Again, the location of the throw and when you arrive at second will determine what method you will use.

You're at second early, throw is on target.Normally this will occur when the throw is coming from the third baseman. In this case you will plant your left foot on second and step across the bag catching the ball as your right foot lands. From there it's just a step towards first with your left leg and a throw.

You're at second early, throw is to your right.This throw is going to take you behind second base and by using your left foot on the bag, this is an easy play. You will plant your left foot an push off on to your right foot behind the bag while catching the ball. From there just take a small step with your left leg and throw the ball to first.

You're at second in normal time, throw is on target. On this play you're not at the base early enough to cross over and make the throw, so you will want to use your left leg to push you back off the base where you will plant your right leg, step and throw. At first you might think this would be a slow way to turn a double play and that you would just want to use your right leg on the base and just step and throw. The key here is the timing. If you are on the base before you catch the ball, you can actually be pushing back with your left leg and planting with your right as you catch the ball. This will result in a very quick throw.

You're at second in normal time, throw is to your right.In this case you may need to go get the ball prior to touching the bag with your left foot. Try to catch the ball so your behind second in a direct line with first base. This will allow you to catch the ball and as you step to throw you will step on second base with your left foot. The key with this play is being aware of where the runner is. If you have a fast runner at first, you may be allowing him to slide into second safely as you go get the ball. Sometimes you have to abandon the double play and just get the out.

Right Foot

You will use your right foot on the bag when either the throw is to the left of the bag or you're late getting to the bag and the ball arrives before you. In the second case you will catch the ball on your way to second and when you get there you will step on the bag with your right foot, step toward first with your left and throw.

Low Throw

Occasionally the feed will be very low or in the dirt. This is a difficult ball to turn two on. Come across second base and try to catch the ball in front of the base. You will be acting more like a first baseman with this type of throw. In this situation you want to make sure you get the out at second.

Avoiding The Runner

With all the throws you make to first you have to always be aware of avoiding the runner that is coming at you. The first key to avoiding injury is to always point your left toe toward first when you make the throw. This will point your kneecap in the direction of the runner which is a less vulnerable position then having the side of your leg exposed.

The best method to avoid the runner sliding into second base is to hop on your left leg after making the throw and jumping over the oncoming runner. You'll often see second baseman who practice this hop

whenever they practice turning the double play. Having confidence in your ability to get out of the way of a sliding runner will add to your confidence in turning a double play.

Playing Third Base

Reflexes

As a third baseman, you won't need the quickness of a shortstop or a second baseman, but still must have quick reflexes. The ball often is hit very hard toward third base and the lack of distance doesn't give you much time to react. In addition to quick reflexes, you need lots of courage and toughness. When a hard hit ball comes to third, you often only has time to knock the ball down? with your body.

Ready Position

Since the ball can be on top of you so quickly, it's important to position yourself a little lower to the ground than the shortstop or second baseman needs to. You must have your glove lower as well. Be ready for the hot shot hit right at your feet. Remember it's easier and quicker to bring your glove up than it is to drop it down.

Movement

Fielders at other positions often have the time to round the ball and play it in front of them. For the most part, the third baseman doesn't have this luxury. At third base you must be able to cross over quickly and get to the ball hit to either side. Work very hard on your lateral movement and fielding ground balls, both backhanded and to your glove hand side.

Backhand Play

The backhand play down the third base line is one of the most difficult plays in softball to make. Even if you just manage to knock the ball down, you certainly can turn a double into a single. When making a backhanded play a ball hit to your right, make sure you keep your glove in front of your face. Watch the ball all the way into the glove and try and catch it in the webbing. On a backhand, if the ball hits the palm of your glove, it can pop out since you don't have the benefit of using your throwing hand while fielding.

You can field the ball with your left foot in front, your right foot in front, or while diving. No matter how you field the ball, position yourself to make a good throw after the play. Once you have caught the ball take a step or two to slow yourself down and then plant your right foot. Once you have planted, take a shuffle step toward first and make a strong throw. Make sure you throw the ball overhand with good 12-6 rotation. Throwing the ball sidearm causes the ball to tail and can make it difficult for the first baseman to catch it.

Slow Roller

Whether a bunted ball or chopped ball on a full swing, the slow roller is one of the most difficult defensive plays in softball. This ball can be fielded one handed or two handed, as determined by the speed of the ball and the speed of the runner. No matter how you end up fielding the ball, charge the ball hard and then break down with short steps for proper timing, prior to fielding the ball.

If you have time, the surest way to field the ball is two handed. The next best method of fielding the ball is catching it on your glove hand side while running. You should time it to catch the ball with your left foot planted and your glove out in front. Once you have fielded the ball, quickly transfer the ball and make a throw to first. The final method of fielding the slow roller is to use your bare hand. It's essential that you watch the ball all the way into your hand. Don't pick up your head prior to fielding the ball and leave the ball on the ground.

No matter how you field the ball, make sure you are balanced. Without balance, it is difficult not only to make the catch, but to make the difficult throw to first. Practice fielding the slow roller using all the methods described above. It's a difficult play and as a third baseman, it's one you have many opportunities to make over the course of a season.

Playing ShortstopThe shortstop position is one of the most important positions on the field. Many balls are hit in the direction of the shortstop and that player is normally the best defensive player on the field. she must have good range, a good glove, and a strong arm. This combination of skills and athletic ability are a tough combination to achieve. For a shortstop to continue playing that position a she gets older, she must possess a desire to continually improve his fielding and his arm. This section focuses on some plays specific to playing shortstop.

Position

Where you position yourself will depend on a number of factors. The basic shortstop position is one in which you are close enough to field an average ground ball to your left and right and still have time to throw out an above average runner at first. Arm strength is the primary consideration for determining depth. From there you will need to adjust your position depending on the speed of the hitter and whether or not you will need to cover second (double play; steal attempt). If a faster player comes up to bat, move in to compensate. It does no good to field a ground ball if you can't throw the runner out.

Coaching Advice

Don't position yourself so deep that you have to make a perfect play in order to get an out. Sometimes a clean transfer of the ball from your glove to your throwing hand doesn't happen. You don't want that to cost you an out. A good way to check yourself is to track how close the play is at first base. If you are barely throwing out a runner on a routine ground ball, you are probably playing to deep.

Covering Second on a Steal Attempt

Normally the second baseman will cover second on a steal attempt with a right-handed batter at the plate and the shortstop will cover second when a left-handed batter is up. Try to position yourself so you can still cover your area, but not so far away from second that you have to sprint to second to get there

ahead of the runner. Once they see a runner stealing, I teach my players to shuffle towards second until the ball has crossed the plate, then to run hard to cover the base. By shuffling the first couple of steps they are still squared up to home and can stop and go quickly to their right if the ball is hit that way. This is something that really needs to be practiced with the catchers throwing down in order for your players to get a good feel for the timing required.

Double Play - Delivering the Ball

When you are starting a double play, you want to get the ball to the second baseman quickly and accurately. You should be aiming to put the ball on his glove hand side at chest level. This will allow the second baseman to start his momentum moving toward first as the ball is coming. Make sure you don't try to lead him off the base, your throw should be in line with the inside of the bag.

Quickly delivering the ball to second shouldn't be mistaken with rushing. You want to make sure you get that out at second. We've seen, at all levels, the fielder that makes a fielding error or a throwing error because she was in such a rush to get the ball to the second baseman. Make sure you field the ball first, then throw. The image above shows a throw being made from the shortstop. This throw is being made from the "shirt sleeve". This is a short throwing motion that allows the player to quickly deliver the ball a short distance.

Ball Hit At You

On any ball hit directly at you or to your right that you can get in front of, catch the ball as you normally would and instead of moving your feet and body like you do when you're throwing to first, you will want to throw from the fielding position. As you bring the ball up, step slightly toward second with your left foot and use a small arm motion to deliver the ball to second.

Ball Hit To Your Right

On a ball hit to your right that you have to field backhand, you will want to plant your right leg after you make the catch and make a strong accurate throw to second. You may be tempted to jump and throw in one motion after catching the ball, but for most players the arm strength and accuracy aren't there to make this play. It will be quicker and you'll have a better chance if you plant and make a good hard throw to second.

Ball Hit To Your Left

On a ball hit to your left that you can get in front of, you will want to deliver the ball underhanded to the second baseman. As you field the ball out in front of you, turn your hips and clear as quickly as you can your glove hand to the left of your body. This will allow the second baseman to clearly see the ball as it's being delivered. As you underhand the ball step with your right foot in the direction of second base. This will help you follow through as you deliver the ball.

Sometimes you will field the ball behind second and won't be able to get in front of it. Fielding the ball off your left side will put you in a position that makes it difficult to underhand the ball. In this case you will need to make a backhand toss to the second baseman. This is a difficult skill and must be practiced over and over again to become good at. With the backhand toss you will turn your thumb towards the ground and with your elbow, toss the ball across your body.

Shortstop - Turning a double play

Double Play - Covering Second

When covering second on a double play, the most natural way to make the out and positon yourself to throw to first, is to approach the bag and straddle it. As the ball is being thrown, catch and drag your right foot across the bag to make the out. The motion is kind of a hop where you will drag your foot then perform a hop to position yourself out of the path of the runner and squared up to throw.

Player Tip

Time your approach to second so you can go any direction to catch the ball. The best way to do this is to hustle toward the bag and then as you get closer take smaller steps to help you get to the bag as the ball is being delivered. If the ball is on target you can continue across the bag and make the throw. If the ball isn't on target you still have some room to make an adjustment.

If the ball is thrown on the inside of the bag, you can use your left foot to make the out and then push off toward the inside of the bag to clear the baserunner and make the throw. This play is much more difficult for a shortstop to master because it's hard to get your body lined up to make a throw. Younger players will need to push off and then take a step or two to get lined up and throw. Older players with stronger arms should be able to push off and rotate on their right foot to make the quick and accurate throw.

Sometime the ball will be delivered before you can get close to the bag. In this case you can catch the ball and then use your lead throwing foot to make the out. Simply step on the bag as part of your normal throwing motion. You will make the out at second and the bag will provide you protection from the baserunner.

Double Play Drill

Double Play Workup

Outfield

Need for Fundamentals

When watching a Major League game I'm often amazed at the number of times I see a lack of fundamentals when it comes to playing the outfield. In the World Series between the Giants and Angels a runner scored on a shallow fly ball to right field simply due to the outfielder playing the ball so poorly. It wasn't a difficult catch, there wasn't any sun in his eyes. she simply drifted on the ball and was backing up as she caught it. The runner recognized the opportunity and scored on a play she normally wouldn't have had a chance on. This is just one example of many that can be seen daily in Major League games. I really don't understand why Major League Managers put up with poor play in the outfield. They would never stand for it from their infielders. This is not to say that there aren't some amazing defensive outfielders in the game, but more to point out that the expectations of defensive performance in the outfield seems to be lower.

You may agree or disagree, but either way you're probably wondering what my opinion on this subject has to do with coaching youth softball? It has to do with the value and priority you as a coach place on building a strong defensive outfield. If defensive play at the pro level seems to be held to a lower standard than other positions, do you think it's not at the youth level also? Many coaches want to hide players in the outfield and hope that they don't see much action. I'm not saying a coach should move his/her best players to left or right field, but I would suggest that by teaching outfield skills and raising the expectations, you can see significant improvement in the defensive ability of your outfield. As a coach you need to realize that outfield play can be improved drastically by implementing a system that emphasizes the importance of outfield play to the success of each play during a game.

Coach and Player Expectations

Due to the fact that outfielders often see less action than other players, it can be difficult for a player to stay mentally focused on the game. I'm sure we've all seen a ball being hit into the outfield and the player not being "in the game". While it's an embarrassing situation, it's also easy to understand. As coaches, we need to try and redefine for our players the definition of "action". Most players will consider action to be an opportunity to make a play with the ball. You need to try and relate to your players that action really is the act of being in the proper position to make a play. It requires hustle and paying attention to the game and can be achieved on each and every play during a game, whether the player touches the ball or not. If your players buy this definition of action, you will be much closer to having an outfield that is ready on each and every play during a game.

Turning Expectations into Results

Definition is one thing, results are another. As a coach how can I keep my outfielders focused? In the section Outfield Approach, a pitch by pitch preparation from a player standpoint is discussed. While this will help to keep an outfielder focused, it is really secondary to you defining the role of the outfielder and

the expectations that go along with it. Each player on the field has a role on each and every play during a game and that includes the outfielders.

Here's an example that you will see over and over again in youth leagues. An overthrow is made at a base. The ball rolls into the outfield where the outfielders were simply standing in their positions, the runner takes an extra base, maybe two. The coach yells out to the outfielders, "Why weren't you backing up?" The players simply shrug their shoulders and go back to their positions. They have no answer. It may have been discussed at practice, but they hadn't been backing up all game and the coach didn't say a word. How were they supposed to know there was going to be an overthrow?

Even though the coach may have talked about the importance of backing up during practice; by not mentioning it during the times when it didn't result on a chance to get the ball, he/she undermined the importance. In the section Backing Up the subject of where to be on each play is discussed in more detail. For now, the important thing to emphasize to your outfielders, is the value they provide to the team when they stay in the game on each and every play. Simply telling them won't be enough. You must provide positive feedback during practices and games when players hustle to the proper spot.

Coaching Advice Emphasize the importance of the outfield being involved in every play. Give positive feedback during practice and games when outfielders are in the correct position

(whether they were needed on the play or NOT). If they are not in the correct position, discuss between innings so they understand what is

expected of them. Realize that it takes time for players to learn where they are supposed to be in different

situations. Have a default spot for them to go if the ball is not hit to them. See Outfield - Backing Up

The remainder of the Outfield section discusses the skills necessary to become a good outfielder. Too often the skills are developed, but the kids still fail to perform the skill because they're simply not focusing during the game. Outfield Approach and Backing Up will give you some strategies to help keep your outfielders "in the game".

Outfield - Approach

Player Tip

Success in the outfield comes from repetition. It takes time and practice to become a great defensive outfielder. Try and make practice as fun as possible. Challenge yourself and your friends to make the plays during practice and in your spare time that you dream about making in a game.

Some spectacular plays can be made in the outfield, prepare yourself to make those plays.

Being Prepared

Keeping yourself prepared in the outfield can be difficult at times. It takes focus to be a good outfielder. There may be a number of innings where you don't get a chance to touch the ball. One way to keep focused is to come up with a routine that you can use when playing. The routine keeps your mind from wandering and keeps you alert and ready. Below are the parts of a sample routine.

Sample Routine

Pregame o Visualization - imagine yourself making all kinds of plays in the game today. From an over the shoulder catch to

throwing a runner out at the plate. See the pitch, the hit, your reaction, your success. Expect that you will have the opportunity to make those plays today.

o Check the field - are there any problem areas? Is there a warning track? How much space is there in foul territory? Between Innings

o Who's coming up next inning and what have they done so far? o What's the score of the game? What inning? -- Translates into how agressive you will be in certain situations.

Before Each Batter o What's the situation? Outs, runners on base, score.

o Who's the hitter? What's she done in the past? Before Each Pitch

o What's the count o What might the other team attempt? Steal, hit and run, bunt. o Where do I need to be in each situation?

Come up with your own routine. Something that keeps your mind working and focused during the game. Chances to make a play might not happen every inning, but when the chance comes, you want to be ready.

Youth Coaching Advice

Depending on the age of the kids, you may be able to teach them part of a routine. Each year, they will be able to grasp a little bit more. By teaching them a routine at any position you are helping them understand the game of softball. Start the kids off by backing up. Kids love to run and by having them back up on each play, they get to run and make a decision about where they should be. Even if they don't go to the right spot they are still running around and trying to respond to the play. That's certainly an improvement over standing still and looking at the clouds or building a mound of dirt with their shoes.

Starting Position

Start in an athletic position. Many times, outfielders stand up or rest their upper body weight on their knees while the pitcher delivers the pitch. These outfielders are not ready to get a good jump on the ball. Prepare yourself in much the same way as you would if you were playing in the infield. The main difference is you don't need to be as close to the ground. Bend your knees, keep your feet shoulder width apart, bend your arms, and place them in front of you.

The Pitch

As the pitcher throws the ball, get yourself ready to move. To do this, put your weight on the balls of you feet. This allows you to push off quickly in any direction. To get from the athletic to the ready position, use some sort of movement. Take a slight hop to put yourself in this position, or take slight steps forward transferring your weight from side to side. Whatever way you choose, time it so you distribute your weight evenly and are on the balls of your feet when the pitch crosses the plate.

The picture on the right demonstrates a shuffle forward to get into position. Notice that the hands are not on the knees in the ready position. You don't need to have your hands out in front as far as they are demonstrated in the picture, but they need to be in a position that enables you to move quickly.

Outfield - Backing UpOne of the best ways to keep yourself in the game and to help your team is to back up on every play when the ball is not hit to you. By backing up you can keep a runner or runners from advancing on an errant throw.

Here are a couple examples to give you an idea:

Position - Right Field

Situation: Runner on First, batter bunts the ball, ball is fielded and an errant throw is made to first. If you are backing up first on the play, you may be able to keep the runner from going to third and you most likely will keep the batter on first.

Position - Center Field

Situation: Runner on First, ball is hit back to the pitcher, Ball is fielded and an errant throw is made to second. If you don't move, the runner will easily make it to third. If you are backing, the runner will most likely have to stay at second.

Position - Left Field

Situation: Runner on first, double play ball hit to the first baseman, first baseman overthrows the shortstop. If you are backing up second you will probably keep the lead runner from advancing to third base. If not, it's an easy extra base and maybe a run.

Situation: Runner on second, batter bunts the ball, ball is fielded by the pitcher who makes an errant throw trying to get the runner going to third. If you are backing up the play, you may keep the runner from advancing, saving a run, and the batter from going to second.

As the above examples illustrate, backing up can prevent a bad situation from getting worse.

Coaching Advice

Another benefit of backing up should be mentioned. By backing up on every play you will not only show your coach, but every player on the team the type of hustle and work ethic you have. Two attributes no leader can be without.

Outfield - Backing Up

Situations

I've included some situations along with responsibilities of the outfielders. I haven't attempted to include all scenarios, but hopefully this will provide some information to players or coaches who don't know where outfielders should be to properly back up a play. In all situations it's important to realize that an outfielder may be needed in a rundown play. By backing up, the outfielder she has placed himself in a position to help in that situation also.

Ball Hit To The Left Side Of The Infield

Left Fielder

Primary responsibility is to back up the infielder fielding the ball. After the ball has been fielded, move into a position to backup up any play that may be made at

second or third base depending on base runners.

Center Fielder Primary responsibility is to back up the infielder fielding the ball or second base if the ball is hit

back to the pitcher and a double play will be attempted. After the ball has been fielded, move into a position to backup up any play that may be made at

second base.

Right fielder The primary responsibility is to back up second base on double play ball and first base when

there are no runners on. If the ball gets through the infield, stop and back up second base.

Ball Hit To The Right Side Of The Infield

Right fielder

Primary responsibility is to back up the infielder fielding the ball. After the ball has been fielded, center fielder should move into a position to backup up any play

that may be made at second.

Center fielder Primary responsibility is to back up the infielder fielding the ball or second base if the ball is hit

back to the pitcher and a double play will be attempted. After the ball has been fielded, move into a position to backup up any play that may be made at

second base.

Left fielder The primary responsibility is to back up second base or third base.

Outfield - CommunicationWhen the ball is in the air the center fielder has authority over every other fielder on the field with the left and right fielders next. When a ball is hit in the gap between outfielders, it's critical that the outfielders communicate. If you're the left fielder and you're running towards the ball in the left field gap, you want to make sure you make a call for the ball as soon as you're comfortable that you can make an easy catch. Then listen for the center fielder to call you off or confirm that you have it.

The above situation requires that you put a system in place for calling for the ball. Below is an example that has been used in many programs successfully.

Different Call

The fielder who has authority to call off another, will use a different statement to call for the ball.Example: Left and Center fielder are converging on a fly ball. The left fielder will yell "I got it", or "mine". If the center fielder wants to take it she will yell, "Get out".It's important that the fielder understands where she is and who has control. Another example would be a fly ball hit in the shortstop area. If the shortstop has to come in on the ball, she is in control and would make a "Get out" call in any communication with another fielder. If the ball is hit over his head, she then has to make an "I got it" call since she could be called off by the left fielder or center fielder.

Confirmation

Using the first example above, if the left fielder calls for the ball and doesn't hear anything from the center fielder, she may be tentative going after the ball, thinking that she may get called off. If on the other hand she gets a confirmation back from the center fielder, "You got it" or "Yours", then she can be confident that she is going to field the ball without risk of colliding with the center fielder.

Jump

When the ball is hit, get a good jump. A good jump depends on your reaction time, which can improve through repetition. Watch the ball all the way to the plate; both the location of the pitch and your knowledge of a particular hitter helps you anticipate where the ball may go and give you a chance for a better jump.

Footwork

It's difficult if not impossible to get a good jump without good footwork.

When the ball is hit to your side, your first move will be a crossover step.

When the ball is hit over your head to the side your first step will be a drop step, followed by a crossover.

If you overrun the ball you can stop and take an inside step back to the direction you came from. You should face the ball as you change directions.

When the ball is hit directly over your head, you first step will be a deep drop step with your throwing hand side.

The reason to drop with your throwing hand is if you need to switch sides as your running back on the ball it's much easier to switch from your throwing hand side to your glove hand side and make the catch then the other way around.

One of the most difficult fly balls to judge is the ball hit directly at you. If you don't immediately recognize whether the ball is going over your head or going to drop in front of you, freeze. The worst thing you can do is guess. Simply freeze, try to determine where the ball is and listen. The other outfielder may be able to see the trajectory better than you and yell at you to go in or go back.

Run Hard

Once you have determined approximately where the ball is going to land, start running hard to that spot. This will give you time to make adjustments if you misjudged the ball. If you coast toward the ball and you find out the ball is going to land farther away than anticipated, you may not have time to get to that spot.

Don't Run On Your Heels

If you run on your heels toward a fly ball, you will notice that the ball is bouncing. This often happens when you coast toward the ball. Run hard and try to keep more on the front part of your feet and the ball will stay steady in your vision.

Get Behind The Ball

You will dramatically improve your velocity and the time required to throw the ball if you get behind the ball as it comes down and start moving in the direction of your target as you catch the ball.

Circle The Ball

Sometimes you have to sprint as fast as you can just to have an opportunity to catch a ball. Other times the ball will be hit high enough that you will have extra time to get yourself in a good position to get behind the ball. One technique that will help you get in position is to circle the ball. With a ball hit to your side it's risky to try and take a direct angle to cut it off. If you miss judge the distance and speed at all, the ball may get by you. By taking an angle that is deeper you can circle behind the ball and catch it moving forward with the ball in front of you. While it might take slightly longer to get to the ball, you will be in a better position to not only catch it but make an accurate throw. The diagrams below show the incorrect angle and proper angle to take when running to the ball.

  

Turn Your Back

When dropping back on a ball hit directly over your head, it's important that you drop to your throwing hand side. If you drop straight back on your glove hand side, turning your back on a ball on the other side will require you to make a backhanded catch. This is a more difficult play. By dropping back on your throwing hand side, you are in position to turn your back quickly to the ball if it's curving toward the line. This is common for a right-handed right fielder or a left-handed left fielder. The turn should be made as quickly as possible.

Although it's a skill that isn't used very often it is one that takes a lot of practice to become good at. Of course a spectacular catch might be your reward.

Inside Turn

The inside turn is used when you are going after a fly ball at an angle and you need to change directions. You will plant and push off with your outside leg and open up with your trailing leg in order to change directions. The advantage to the inside turn is that you can keep your eye on the ball the entire time.

Playing the Fly Ball in the Sun

One of the most difficult plays in softball is the fly ball or line drive that is hit directly into the sun.

The Jump

It's important to get a good jump on the ball and quickly anticipate where you think it will land. Often the ball is lost soon after being hit, which means your first analysis of where the ball is going to land is essential.

Listen

Once you have lost the ball in the sun, continue in the direction of where you believe it will land. Listen for other outfielders to tell you if you're going in the wrong direction.

Shielding Your Eyes

When you turn to find the ball, either while running or after reaching the spot you think it will land, use your glove to shield the sun from your eyes. It's important that you don't stare into the sun directly. If running at an angle that makes it difficult to get the glove up, use your throwing hand to shield the sun.

Fly Ball Above the Sun

As your running, if the ball is above the sun, shield your eyes by looking over the top of your glove towards the ball.

Fly Ball in the Sun

Once the ball has dropped into the sun, switch to shielding your eyes with the bottom of your glove. You will be looking under your glove for the ball to drop out of the sun. Many players make the mistake of continuing to look over the top of the glove for the ball. This is incorrect since the ball, as it is coming down, will be visible first below the glove. If you look over the top of the glove, you may never see it.

Outfield - Ground Balls

Approach

How you field a ground ball will often be dictated by the situation and where you are in relation to the ball.

With nobody on base, and the ball hit near you, your goal is to make sure you keep the ball in front of you and field it cleanly to keep the baserunner from advancing to second. You will in this situation want to field the ball like an infielder.

  

With a runner at second and the ball hit sharply to you, you may determine you have a chance to throw the runner out at home. In this case you will want to field the ball off your glove hand side.

Charging

The speed at which you charge the ground ball will also be determined by the situation. If you have time to field it like an infielder you will want to approach the ball under control and get yourself in position to catch it. Even if the situation dictates that you rush to get the ball you will need to break down and get under control before you get to the ball. This will allow you to set yourself up to make a good throw which will more than make up for the time you used in slowing down.

Other problems with charging the ball at full speed are difficulties in timing your approach to catch the ball on a big hop and being able to handle a bad hop.

Circle The Ball

If you have time, make sure you try to circle the ball and keep it in front of you. With a ball hit to your side it's risky to try and take a direct angle to cut it off. If you miss judge the speed at all, the ball may get by you. By taking an angle that is deeper, you can circle behind the ball and catch it moving forward with the ball in front of you. While it might take slightly longer to get to the ball, you will be in a better position to not only catch it but make an accurate throw.

Backhand And Forehand

Even with the goal of trying to circle and get in front of the ball, there will be times when you will need to catch a grounder going hard to each side. Practice catching ground balls both on your forehand side and

backhand side. When catching these ground balls try to keep low to the ground and your glove near the ground. Remember it's easier to raise your glove to the ball then it is to drop your glove to the ball.

Outfield - Throwing - Page 1As I relate in the Playing Catch section, the first time I remember being taught to throw by someone other than my Dad or brother, was in college. The reason I believe it's important to mention here is for an outfielder, the ability to make a long accurate throw is an important skill. More importantly it's a skill that can be improved and learned. After learning how to throw properly and working on that skill, my ability to throw the ball well became one of the skills that I was most proud of. I used to circle the ball (covered in the Outfield - Ground Ball section) on a base hit and I would act as if I wasn't in a hurry, just hoping that the runner would see that and try to take an extra base or take a big turn. Either way, I was trying to set up a situation where I could gun him out. For me that was confidence in my ability. In the outfield you want to get the ball in quickly to prevent a runner from advancing, but in my mind I was always hoping they would try for that extra base. I enjoyed that feeling of confidence. If your a player, know you can always improve your ability to throw the ball well. Hopefully you will give it the attention necessary to develop it into one of your most prized softball skills.

More information on throwing technique can be found in the Playing Catch section of this site.

Youth Coaching Advice

If your players can throw and catch, don't assume that means they know how to throw and catch. In the outfield, incorrect grip and throwing mechanics will lead to balls being thrown all over the place. Throwing should be worked on every year.

Hitting The Cutoff

Many coaches continually yell out to the outfield during the game, "Hit the cutoff man", "Make sure you hit the cutoff", "Why didn't you hit the cutoff?". But, unless you practice plays which require a decision to be made during practice, your outfielders may not really understand why it's important. During practice don't always have the ball go through to the base. Have your players use "Cut" followed by a different base.

When working on hitting the cutoff man in practice. Don't overlook the positioning of the cutoff. The following is a common example from an outfielders point of view. The outfielder in question has a strong

arm. A runner is on first and there is a hit. The runner is going to attempt to make it to third base. The outfielder knows she has a great chance of throwing the runner out at third. The problem is the cutoff man has come out way too far. If she hits the cutoff man they probably won't get the runner at third. If she throws the ball to third, she has failed to hit the cutoff man. Either way he'll probably feel like she did the wrong thing. You may give him positive feedback if she hits the cutoff man on that play, but it's not that often that she gets a chance to throw a runner out and believe me your positive feedback won't take away from the fact that she had an opportunity taken away from him.

Infielders need to be taught to be aware of the arm strength and position on the field of the outfielder making the throw. You want your cutoff man, if necessary, to make a short accurate throw. They shouldn't be cutting the distance in half. They should be trying to maximize the arm of the outfielders. Remember this is two sided. If the cutoff person errors on the side of being too far away from the outfielder, the outfielder must recognize his limitations and throw the ball on one hop to the cutoff person.

Player Tip

There is no quicker way to a negative reaction from a coach then to miss the cutoff man.. Always aim low. If the cutoff man is too far away and you think you need to throw it real high to get it there, aim low instead. A nice long one hop bounce will be easy for him to field and will get there quicker than tying to get it there in the air. It will also save you from a dugout discussion about the importance of hitting the cutoff man.

Crow Hop

The purpose of the crow hop is to put you in a throwing position quickly after fielding a ball, with the added benefit of giving you some momentum toward your target.

You should only use the crow hop when: You know where you are throwing the ball. You need to get the ball in quickly to either throw a runner out or to keep a runner from

advancing. You are fielding the ball in front of you. You are moving in the direction that you want to throw. See Circle the Ball in the Fly Ball and

Ground Ball section

Below are two progressive images of a crow hop being used on a fly ball and ground ball. Study the images and then we'll discuss the steps involved.

Crow Hop - Approach

It's important that you are moving in the direction that you want to throw when fielding the ball. The crow hop is used to put you in a throwing position along the same path that you are moving. It is not useful in changing your direction.

The crow hop is a controlled move. Meaning you can't be running full speed and perform it. On a fly ball if you have time to get behind the ball and move forward in a controlled way as you catch it, you are in a good position to use the crow hop. If you are catching the ball on a sprint, running to the side, or backing up, you're not in a position to use the crow hop. The same applies to a ground ball. The difference in the ground ball, is that you don't have to wait for it to come down. You can sprint hard towards it. This adds the need to break down as you approach the ball. Breaking down is the process of changing from a full sprint to a controlled speed in which you can field the ball. It's more than just slowing down, it involves timing the bounce of the ball and your feet position. Remember you want to field the ground ball off your glove hand side with that foot forward. Breaking down puts you in that position as you continue forward.

You'll notice in the photographs above that the glove side foot is forward when catching the ball. After catching the ball trailing leg will initiate the crow hop. This is done by kicking it up and forward passing in front of the other leg. Turn your foot as you bring it forward to be perpendicular to the target. At that same time you want to point your lead shoulder and lead hip towards the target. The combination of these actions will align your body for the throw.

Cow Hop - Result

As you land you will now be in a position to throw the ball. Simply continue the motion by stepping forward and making the throw. From catching the ball to the follow through on your throw, the entire action should be one continuous smooth motion.

Player Tip

The crow hop is a controlled move that requires good balance. It is used to put you in a good position to throw the ball. Don't rush it! If you try and get through the crow hop too quickly, your arm will not be in a position to follow your body and make a good throw. You have to transfer the ball from your glove to your hand, get a good grip, and drop it down to begin your throwing motion. This takes time. The resulting throw of making that transfer correctly will more than make up for any lost time.

Teaching The Crow HopCoaching Advice

Have the player perform each step and hold.

1. Have player stand still with glove side foot forward, ball in glove. (like they just made the catch)

2. Have them move their back leg forward (no hop yet), moving the foot high and in front of the other leg, planting it perpendicular to the target.

3. The other foot is now behind. Have them pick up that foot and bring the knee up about belt high with the shoulder pointed towards the target.

4. Now have them step and throw

As they become comfortable with the movement reduce the hold period until it is one natural movement. Shuffle

There are many times when you can't get yourself set up to use a crow hop. So how do you gain momentum to make a long throw? The answer is a shuffle of the feet. It's very similar to the type of shuffle you would use when leading off a base. The difference is that on the last shuffle before throwing the ball you will cross your back leg behind your front leg, plant it, push off and throw.

Below is a shuffle being performed from right to left. The fielder has just backhanded a ground ball and has planted his right leg. He's too deep in the outfield to be able to just step and throw. So to gain momentum towards his target, she is going to shuffle towards the target and then throw.

Steps:

1. Ball is fielded and player has slowed down and planted his back leg. 2. Step forward with front leg toward the target. Keep shoulder closed. 3. Plant front leg and start to bring back leg forward. You're gaining momentum. 4. Cross back leg behind front leg. This is similar to the hop in the crow hop, but since you're body is

already lined up towards the target, it's much easier to cross your leg behind. This also keeps your front shoulder and hip closed, ready to throw.

5. Plant your back leg, stride with your front leg, and throw the ball.

Use Anytime

The example above was on a ball that was backhanded, but the shuffle can be used on any play. Some players prefer this method to the crow hop and use it even when they could have used a crow hop. Personally, I find I can get more on the ball using the crow hop, but the shuffle throw is still a necessary skill that you will use on a regular basis.

Arm Strength

There's no substitute for throwing a softball. Often players ask what they can do to improve their arm strength. While there are some great resources for weight lifting and other conditioning exercises that can help, I believe long toss is the single most beneficial thing you can do to gain arm strength.

Player Tip

Some keys to throwing accurately from the outfield include:

Always use a full arm motion, don't use a short throwing motion like an infielder or catcher. Always grip the ball across the seems. Improper grip on the ball can cause it to tail and or dip

when you throw.

Throw overhand not three-quarter or from the side. Throwing the ball overhand with the proper grip will allow you to throw the ball on a line.

Pitch Count and Other ASMI Recommendations

Pitch CountsAge Max. Pitches

Per GameMax. GamesPer Week

8-10 52 211-12 68 213-14 76 215-16 91 217-18 106 2

Recovery TimesAge 1 Day Rest 2 Day Rest 3 Day Rest 4 Day Rest8-10 21 34 43 5111-12 27 35 55 5813-14 30 36 56 7015-16 25 38 62 7717-18 27 45 62 89

Age Recommendation For Learning Various Pitches

The survey also presented recommendations for the age at which a player could learn different types of pitches. These are listed below.

Survey - Age Recommendation for Learning Various PitchesPitch AgeFastball 8 - 10Change-Up 10 - 13Curve ball 14 - 16Knuckle ball 15 - 18Slider 16 - 18Fork ball 16 - 18Screw ball 17 - 19

Pitch Count Plus Other Factors

Other factors to take into account as you determine, "How many pitches should I allow my player to pitch?".

Some Additional ASMI Survey Conclusions: A pitcher should be limited to two appearances per week. Participation in multiple leagues, playing other positions, and practice should be considered when

defining and regulating rest. Improper technique is a major factor in injury potential. Conditioning of the throwing arm and entire body can reduce a young pitcher's risk of injury. While the number of pitches should be limited, the young athlete should be encouraged to throw.

This includes playing catch, playing other positions besides pitcher, and practicing pitching. When symptoms of arm discomfort or fatigue arise, longer periods of rest are recommended.

You can find the complete ASMI research at: http://www.asmi.org/SportsMed/youth/PITCHCNT.PDF

Softball Hitting Tips and MechanicsWhat does it take to be a great hitter?

It's obvious Edgar Martinez, Tony Gwynn, and George Brett have all discovered the answer.

What about the rest of us? How do we maximize our potential and become great hitters?

Be Willing To Try Things Out

Since you love playing softball, your goal is to become a better hitter. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone will give you advice and hitting tips. Whether qualified or not many people believe they are qualified to provide hitting instruction. Your job is to take all the advice and weed out everything that doesn't fit your hitting style. How do you know what to weed out? There are certain fundamentals common to all good hitters. Use those fundamentals as your building blocks, then be open to other advice. Try out different ways of hitting, different stances, different approaches, different hitting drills. If something works for you, keep it; if it doesn't, throw it out. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses, incorporate these into how you practice, and how you approach each at bat. If you want to be a great hitter, there's no substitute for desire and hard work, both mentally and physically. Don't be satisfied with a certain average or other statistics. There's always something that can be improved.

Hitting Instruction

As a coach, one of your jobs is to improve the hitting on your team.

It's said that hitting a softball is the most difficult skill in all sports; not surprisingly, giving hitting instruction is also one of the most difficult skills a coach has to learn. Teaching softball hitting is difficult because every player is different in the many combination of skills required to hit a softball. While teaching infield or outfield skills, you can run the same drills and teach everyone uniformly. However, with hitting, each player will require his own set of instructions and hitting drills to maximize his/her understanding and potential. Like hitting itself, teaching hitting will require a lot of hard work and study. Too many coaches want to apply a cookie cutter approach to hitting instruction. That approach will not work since every player has his own style at the plate. Watch a single Major League Softball game and you'll see a wide variety of hitting styles and approaches. As a coach you're going to have to be able to differentiate the aspects of hitting for each player and apply changes to help that particular aspect of the swing.

The first piece of advice would be to avoid drastic changes in a player's hitting style until you know what that player can and can't do. Except for very young players, they're hitting the way they are for a reason. If you change them right away, you won't know why they had adopted the style they had.

For example: I saw a coach who in the first practice noticed that a player was hitting with a very open stance. The player was struggling during batting practice to make contact. The coach believed that a square or slightly closed stance was better. Immediately she changed the player's stance. What she didn't know and didn't take time to find out was the player's dominant eye was his right eye. she had developed an open stance over time in order to be able to see the ball better. Now there are many great players at all levels that hit with an open stance, but for some reason this coach wanted to mold everyone into the stance she believed to be the best. This particular hitter couldn't hit well with that stance and struggled for the early part of the season before she finally abandoned the coach's instructions and went back to an open stance.

So what are the morals of the story? Here are a few.

Be Open Minded When You Work on Hitting With a Player

Why would a player like that stance? Not sure, ask him.

Take Your Time As You Work On Hitting With A Player

Many times coaches feel like they have to have the answer immediately. When a player struggles, the coach may feel the need to correct the problem. It can't always be done; actually, it almost never can be done as quickly as the coach would like. Analyze the problem. Assume that what you perceive as the problem isn't the problem. What else is the player doing that could cause the problem? In the example above, the player may not have been tracking the ball, may have been too far away from the plate, may

have been just too rusty.

This is a good time to talk about video taping your hitters. If you don't videotape your hitters, you're missing out on one of the best ways to figure out how to turn them into good hitters. Tape hitters, analyze the tapes, and then review the tape with the player. Often players can't feel that they are doing something wrong. You may tell them that they are dropping their hands below the waist before the swing, but they won't feel it. Videotapes don't lie. You can show them exactly what their swing looks like and come up with some drills to make modifications.

Before you get worried that you have to come up with different strategies for each hitter, there is some good news. There are certain fundamentals that are shared by good hitters. A coach often falls into the trap of being too concerned with what a hitter is doing before the ball is even pitched and not enough attention to what the hitter is doing after the ball is released from the pitchers hand.

When you learn the fundamentals that are shared by good hitters, you'll be able to take that videotape of your hitters and make very small changes necessary to turn a hitter around. Don't try to change everything at once. Make small adjustments and have the player practice that new skill until it's natural. Then move on.

In the next few pages, we'll cover the fundamentals of good hitting. Often we'll give a variety of different methods. Hopefully this will provide you with the necessary information to help you help your players.

Softball Hitting Drills

There are many good hitting drills that you can use in our softball drills section.

Softball Hitting TopicsHitting Approach

Get a Pitch You Can Do Something With

It's difficult to teach plate discipline to players of all ages. One reason is we want players to be aggressive; from a young age most coaches and parents are telling kids to swing the bat. Umpires in many youth leagues expand the strike zone to try and get kids to swing. We are teaching them from a young age that you better swing at anything close or you'll strike out. In most cases players don't swing because of a fear of getting hit, not because they simply don't want to swing. Spend time with each player at a young age working on the proper way to get out of the way of a pitched ball.

The problem with this "swing at anything close approach" is as a player gets older and pitchers gain better control, this aggressiveness will be used against him as a good pitcher won't throw a strike if a batter is willing to swing at a ball. Ted Williams was once asked by a young ballplayer for some hitting advice, she told the young player that the most important part of hitting is to get a pitch you can do something with. Barry Bonds is a current example of a player that has great plate discipline; she simply doesn't swing at bad pitches. she has a great approach at the plate. The pitcher is going to have to throw him a pitch that Bonds likes or she won't swing. she doesn't give in to a pitcher trying to get him to swing at the pitcher's pitch. What's a pitcher's pitch? That's the pitch the pitcher wants you to swing at and hit because she knows that even if you hit it, it will most likely result in an out.

Plate discipline and having an approach at the plate are essential for development of a hitter. One of the most important lessons you can teach a hitter is that it's okay to strike out. You want a player to be a tough out, but too many young players fear striking out and end up swinging at bad pitches simply because they don't want to strike out. They need to understand that they will have a better chance of success if they go up to the plate with a plan. I heard Joe Morgan explain his approach at the plate and have tried to instill a similar approach with my players. Joe Morgan explained that with 0 strikes, she took 2 inches off of each side of the plate. So instead of the plate being 17 inches wide, she treated the plate as being 13 inches wide. With 1 strike she would use the whole plate and with 2 strikes she would add 2 inches to each side of the plate. I try to emphasize with my players that all strikes are not equal and explain that there is a certain zone that each hitter likes to hit the ball in. With no strikes, I want my hitters to look for a pitch in that zone. We call this his 'hitting zone' and she has to know it well to determine whether to swing or not with a 0 strike count. I equate that to Joe Morgan taking 2 inches off

of each side of the plate with no strikes. Below are a couple examples of the strike zone versus the hitting zone with a 0 strike count. The two drills and hitting zone chart listed under 'Related Softball Drills' below can help you work with players on developing an approach and defining a 'hitting zone' with different counts.

In the images below, notice the hitting zone is smaller than the strike zone for a 0 strike count and expands as the strike counts increases. The 0 strike pitch is the pitch location that the hitter really likes and can handle. The ability to handle the pitch is important. A hitter may love to hit eye level pitches in batting practice but can't handle them well in the game. That pitch shouldn't be part of the hitting zone. This 0 strike pitch is the one that the hitter is confident he/she can drive somewhere and may be a little different from player to player.

After 1 strike the zone expands to the approximate size of the strike zone and after 2 strikes the hitter will be protecting the strike zone plus a little. The opposite can also be true if the hitter gets ahead in the count. 2-0 may shrink the hitting zone even further. 3-0 may result in a very small hitting zone if given the green light.

The main point is a hitter must be aware of the count and have a plan when stepping up to the plate. Having discipline at the plate is difficult and takes a lot of practice but it will increase a hitter's ability to be successful at the plate. Once a hitter has a plan and good plate discipline she can more easily adjust to the strengths of any opposing pitcher as outlined in the strategy section below.

Related Softball DrillsPlate Discipline Tee DrillPlate Discipline Batting Practice

Hitting Zone ChartsHitting Zone - ExampleHitting Zone Template

Know Yourself

How do you step in the box?

Many players don't get prepared for an at bat until they slip on a helmet. Getting ready to hit must first start during practice and we're not talking about the mechanics of the swing (which will be discussed later), but as a hitter, you must know your strengths and weaknesses.

Possible Strengths/Weaknesses: Quick or slow bat? Tough time handling the inside heat? Tough time with breaking pitches? Uncertain about personal strike zone?

When you know your strengths and weaknesses, you can incorporate them into your approach at the plate.

This process is not only important during practice but it's essential to recognize during each at bat in order to be successful.

Know Your Opponent

Players should study the opposing pitcher prior to the game, during between inning warm-ups, and while she is pitching to other hitters.

Things to look for: What pitches is she throwing? How is his control? What pitches is she throwing for strikes? What pitches does she seem to struggle? What type of delivery does she have? What are his strength?

Strategy

Apply what you observe and develop a plan for this particular pitcher. For instance, perhaps she primarily throws fastballs; while you hit fastballs well, she throws hard and you have difficulty getting around on a hard inside fastball. Knowing this, your plan may be to look for a fastball middle or away, trying to drive it up the middle or take it the other way. If she throws a fastball inside, take the pitch until you have two strikes. By doing this you will swing at fastballs that you know you can handle, and you won't be striding too early because you're worried about getting around on the inside heat. This also has the added bonus of allowing you to adjust to his off-speed pitches.

Don't be afraid of going deep into the count or of striking out. Many hitters swing at pitches they can't handle simply because they don't want to strike out. They don't give runs or hits for not striking out. You need to realize that the best chance for you to be successful is to swing at pitches you can handle. Why hit a weak ground ball back to the pitcher on an inside fastball that you know you can't handle when you have less than 2 strikes?

Know the Situation

Great players (notice we didn't say hitters) always know the game situation and what they need to do to help their team in a particular situation. It really comes down to your willingness to sacrifice stats for the team when the situation dictates. This may entail laying down a sacrifice bunt or moving a runner forward by hitting behind him or taking a strike so a baserunner can try to get into scoring position by stealing second.

The game situation may fit with your strategy that you are using against this pitcher or it may dictate that you try something else. Make sure you have taken everything into account when you approach the plate. Each team gets a limited number of outs during a game; don't waste this one.

Be a Tough Out

No matter what the strategy, situation, or the pitcher, always strive to be a tough out. This means you battle when you are at the plate. You don't swing at bad pitches. You foul off tough pitches. To be a tough out, you need to take a different approach when you have two strikes on you. The main thing you want to do is shorten your swing slightly. It doesn't mean that you won't swing hard, but it does mean that your swing is taken down a notch. This allows you to wait a split second longer before committing.

Gripping The Bat

Loosen Up

Tension is your worst enemy when it comes to a fluid swing. Tension throughout the body is often the direct result of gripping the bat incorrectly. A player with a relaxed grip on the bat will be able to react faster and wait longer on a pitch than a player with a death grip on the bat. You want to be relaxed in the box; this starts when you pick up the bat.

Pick It Up Like An Ax

Many players will hold the bat back in their hands. Doing this causes a couples of problems.

A decrease in flexibility. A tendency to tighten your grip. When you hold the bat in the palm of your hands and tighten

your grip, your entire body can tighten up. The end result is a negative effect on your swing.

The proper way to hold the bat is out on the fingers. Pick the bat up like an ax. Once you get the bat in your hands, keep it in your fingers. Your middle knuckles will naturally line up when you pick up the bat this way. Some players leave their knuckles in this alignment and some will close their knuckles slightly. Make sure you don't close the knuckles too far; you could lose the ability to use your wrists during your swing. Closing your knuckles also may increase the likelihood that bat will end up in the palm of your hands and not in your fingers.

Keep Loose

Once you are in your stance, make sure you don't tighten up your grip. If this is difficult, you may want to do something to help yourself to keep your grip loose. For instance, you can lay the bat back slightly but keep it out in your fingers. To do this, you have to have a loose grip on the bat. You can also move your fingers on and off the bat.

Whatever mechanism you use to keep your hands relaxed, make sure it is comfortable and does not disrupt your concentration on the pitcher. If you're worried about throwing the bat or loosing your grip, don't. Once you start your swing, your hands will naturally tighten up on the bat and you will be in control.

Fear of Being HitThe fear of being hit affects most young softball players. Young pitchers that don't have much control can often throw very hard. This combination gives many kids a real fear of stepping into the batter's box. This fear of being hit affects their ability to develop a good swing and approach at the plate. In addition it quickly reduces confidence and enjoyment of the game.

The younger they are, the more chance that they will freeze when a pitched ball is thrown at them. Often they try to get away from the ball by backing away. This puts them in a position to get hit in the side or front of the body or possibly the face. Once a hitter has been hit a couple of times, it can be a major task for them to overcome those painful experiences.

One of the most effective ways of dealing with the fear of being hit is to teach kids the proper way of getting out of the way. Often young kids that are afraid of getting hit will step in the bucket and bail out of the box. There is no way they are going to hit with this approach, and honestly, if their fear is great enough they are probably happier about not getting hit than they are sad about striking out. By teaching the player to get out of the way properly, you can also emphasize that stepping in the bucket actually exposes the front of their body and face to the pitched ball. Below are three images demonstrating how to properly get out of the way of a pitched ball. This method protects the front of the body and the face. It also puts the back in a position that allows the ball to glance off, which hurts much less than a direct blow.

You can practice this method as a station during batting practice as follows. First couple of times you work on it, have a parent or coach stand 10-15 feet away from a player in the batter's box. Use either tennis balls or soft incredriballs. Start by tossing the ball softly over the plate, the batter should not swing. Then start moving the ball inside. When the hitter thinks she will be hit, she should turn his body away from the pitch. Rather than giving the kids instructions about how to bend their back and where to keep their arms, etc., I tell them to turn and place the end of the bat directly on the ground behind them. This forces then to turn away and duck down to place the bat on the ground. They seem to get this and have an easy time repeating it.

As the kids get good at turning away from the ball, I add to the drill by throwing some of the balls over the plate and some that they have to get out of the way of. On the balls over the plate, have them hold or stride like they are going to swing.

If during the drill, the player starts stepping in the bucket and tries to back away, stop the drill and have them hold their position. Show them where the ball can hit them in this position and ask them if they think it will hurt worse getting hit in this position or in a position where they are better protected.

When a player is comfortable getting out of the way, they will have much more confidence stepping up to the plate.

Hitting Stance

Stepping Into The Batters Box

Comfort, confidence, and balance! You need all three of these characteristics when you step into the box to hit.

Confidence begins when you step into the box. Do it with a sense of purpose; dig your back foot in and let the opposing pitcher that you're there to battle.

Comfort and balance depend on your stance and how you prepare to hit the ball. If you're not comfortable, you won't be relaxed. When working on your stance, strive for a position that comfortably puts you in a balanced position to hit.

Location In The Batters Box

The first priority when getting into your stance is to make sure you have good plate coverage. Have a method for determining this for each at bat. During practice, have someone watch you take some practice swings from in front of the mound. Simulate swinging at an outside pitch. Is your bat covering the outside corner? Adjust your distance to the plate so you have the correct distance.

Create a method for measuring that distance. Many players tap the plate with their bat the same way each time they get into the box. If the bat hits the same part of the plate each time, then they know the distance is correct.

Depth

While every player wants good plate coverage, the depth you stand in the box is more a matter of preference. If you stand deep in the box (towards the catcher), you may have more time to wait on a fastball, but you may find it more difficult to hit breaking pitches. By standing forward in the box, you may be able to catch the breaking pitch early but it will be more difficult to get around on a good fastball.

What's the right position for you? Analyze your strengths and weaknesses to help you decide. But, wherever you stand make sure you feel confident in that position. Most big league hitters tend to stand toward the back of the box. You, like most of them, may find the extra time to react is important.

Open, Closed Or Square Batting Stance

Most hitting coaches claim that the best stance for hitting is a square stance -- where your feet are parallel to the plate. This stance puts your body in the best position to coil, stride, and swing.

However, there are other stances and you have decide what works best for you. Try to avoid radical stances at the plate, experiment with stances that give you the ability to make a smooth coil (discussed later) to get into the launching position.

Weight and Hands

When you get into your stance, your weight should be slightly back, but not completely on the back leg. Have your hands near the top of the strike zone. Many players prefer to have their hands slightly off the back shoulder. Having your hands off your shoulder and at the top of the strike zone puts them in the best position for swinging the bat. It's very difficult for any hitter to catch up to a high fastball and hit anything but a pop fly if their hands start below the ball.

SwingThe pitch is on the way, you've coiled and taken your stride and now you're ready to swing. The first thing to realize is that your swing should not be driven by your arms, but by your legs and hips. We'll take a look at each area of your body and follow it through the swing.

Legs

As your weight moves forward from your back leg to your front leg, your back foot will pivot towards the pitcher and your knee will turn in. The front foot will not pivot and you will want to keep that leg stiff. It's not necessary to keep it completely straight, but you don't want to flex it as you transfer your weight. (This can cause your head to drop as your tracking the ball.)

Hips

While you pivot on your back foot, you also will open up your hips. The degree to which you open your hips depends on the location of the pitch. On inside pitches, you need to completely open the hips to get your hands through right next to your body. On outside pitches, you have to keep your hips more closed to get your hands out and drive the ball the other direction. An important point on feel for the player: It should feel as if the back hip is driving the hips open, not the front hip pulling the hips open. It may seem like a subtle difference, but a player that is pulling open will often start by pulling his front shoulder open. This can cause all types of problems.

Your legs and hips are going to drive your swing and provide power. Work hard on both of these and you will see a difference in the batting cage and on the field.

Arms And Hands

When you begin your swing, you want your hands to be at the top of the strike zone. Any lower and you will be swinging up at a high strike. This most likely will result in a fly ball or pop-up.

To have a quick bat, you must start your swing by bringing your hands through close to your body. On inside pitches, your hands stay closer to your body longer than on outside pitches. Remember to extent the bat towards the ball just before contact. If you extend the bat too soon, you will slow down your swing. As you make contact with the ball, your bottom hand should be palm down and your upper hand should be palm up. This means that you haven't yet rolled your wrists over. Rolling your wrists happens naturally after hitting the ball. Concentrate on driving through the softball. Sometimes players are in such a hurry to start running that they actually start slowing down their swing before contact. Hit the ball hard first, then run. As your hands continue forward and your wrists roll over, it's natural to let you top hand come off the bat. This allows you to continue with a good follow through on your swing.

Head

It's essential that you track the ball from the start of the pitch to the bat. Often hitters want to see where they hit the ball before contact. Concentrate on watching the ball all the way through contact and look at the contact spot for a split second after you hit the ball. This ensures that you have tracked the ball the entire way.

Another way to think about tracking the ball is shoulder to shoulder. Start your chin near your front shoulder; after you swing, your chin should end up on your back shoulder. If it doesn't, then you're leaving your head out in front of the plate and not watching the ball all the way in.

Hitting: Common ProblemsTeaching the art of hitting can be a difficult task. To help you evaluate and fix some common hitting problems, we're putting together some flash animations to demonstrate some common problems that you will find with your hitters. We hope to have more ready soon.

We hope these will help you in evaluating your hitters.

Common Hitting Problems - Head LevelCommon Hitting Problems - Hitch

Catching - Blocking

Not Even Close To The Plate

There are going to be pitches that are thrown farther from the plate that you will still be able to block and require more movement than described in the techniques on page 1. These pitches require quick reaction and are difficult to get to. The momentum you generate as you move to the ball makes it difficult to keep your balance. You will need to practice this technique over and over to become comfortable and skilled.

If the pitch is outside and bounces to your right:

1. Step out with your right foot. Make sure you turn your foot in the direction you're going as you step.

2. Sit down on your right knee with your left leg extended out along the ground. This will help you keep your balance as you go after the ball.

3. Keep your upper body as you would in the technique described on the page 1.

These instructions really over simplify the skill required. You'll understand the first time you try the technique. It requires quick lateral movement and balance. Two things that are difficult to achieve when you move from a squatting position to sitting on one knee.

One of the most common problems in blocking this ball is allowing your upper body to turn in the direction you are going. This causes the ball to bounce away from you to the side instead of staying in front of you. In most cases this allows the baserunner to advance. To keep your upper body square, it's important to slide on your planted knee and use your back leg to stabilize yourself. This takes practice to learn how to keep your balance and keep yourself square to the ball at the same time.

The Pitch You Can't Get In Front Of

When using the technique above, you'll find that sometimes you just can't get in front of the ball. When this happens you have no other option than trying to catch it. In this case you will perform the same technique as above with a couple of adjustments.

1. Step out and drop as you normally would on a ball you can block. 2. Let your glove continue out past your body to position it to catch the ball. 3. As you reach for the ball allow your upper body to rotate and bring your back leg forward. This

will give you greater range for reaching out and catching the ball.

Breaking Pitches

A fastball is the easiest to block since it bounces more true than a breaking pitch. With a breaking pitch, you must take into account the spin on the ball and the trajectory of the pitch. For example, a curveball breaks down from a higher trajectory than a fastball. This results in a higher bounce than the fastball. The spin of the ball can cause the bounce to go to one side or the other. To successfully block a curveball, be aggressive in getting close to where it will bounce and position your body off center to

account for the bounce. As with all pitches, experience will help you determine where a ball is going after it bounces.

Youth Coaching Advice

Blocking a pitch is a difficult skill to master. Start by working on blocking the pitch directly in front and slightly to the side. Once your catchers have this skill, then work on having them take a slight step and block. Depending on the age and skill level this may be all they are able to handle.

1st and 3rd Situations (Page 1)

First and Third - Throw ThroughNormally you will call this play when you have a catcher that is capable of throwing out the runner stealing second and that potential run is more critical than the runner at third, meaning it's late in the game and you're up by 2 or more runs. If you have a catcher that lacks arm strength, then this play may end up with a runner at second and a run scored.

When throwing through to second, your first goal is to try and get the runner stealing second. If the runner at third breaks for home, it's up to the second baseman to let the shortstop know that she is going home. But, if the out is more important than the run, the shortstop should get the out at second and let the run score. Responsibilities

CatcherAs you come up to throw to second, you must pick up the runner at third. The general rule is, if you see his shoulders squared towards you, you throw to third. If he's not coming then make a good throw to second.

Third BasemanYou have to be ready for the snap throw from the catcher. Make sure the ball isn't hit and then quickly cover your bag.

PitcherSame as on any steal, except there may be a return throw from the shortstop, so make sure you stay out of the way. You must be prepared to get involved in a rundown between first and second or home and third.

First BasemanYou must first hold the runner on first and then break towards home as the pitch is delivered.

Second BasemanYou're responsibility is to watch the runner at third and let the shortstop know if she goes for home.

ShortstopYou will be covering second base. Don't worry about the runner at third. Listen for your second baseman to tell you if he's going. If you don't hear anything focus on receiving the ball and making the tag. Occassionally, the runner may stop and get in a rundown. His purpose is to keep a rundown going so the runner can score from third. It's essential that you run as fast as you can at the runner and make him go back towards first hard. This will force the runner at third to make a quick decision. Your goal should be to run the runner back to first and either tag him or make one throw to the first baseman for the out. Listen for the second baseman to tell you if the runner is breaking for home.

Left FielderBack up third base.

Center FielderBack up second base.

Right FielderBack up first base.

Baserunning

Every Player Can Be Good At Running The Bases

Good teams are often judged on their ability to manufacture runs. What this means is they didn't string together enough hits (or any hits for that matter) to score a run. An example would be a hitter reaching on a walk, stealing second base, going to third on a ground out hit to second, and scoring on a fly ball. In this case a run was scored without the aid of a base hit. Other skills are important in a teams ability to manufacture runs, but one thing for sure, poor baserunning will inhibit a teams ability to manufacture runs on a regular basis. Worse than that, poor baserunning will take your team out of scoring opportunities. There may be no worse feeling in softball than being picked off a base or making a mental baserunning mistake. There is no where to hide when this happens and it can be a long walk back to the dugout.

You may consider yourself a base stealing threat every time you get on base, or maybe you look for certain situations to take an extra base. Whatever your running ability, your value as a baserunner is important to your team.

Know The Value Of Your Run

As a baserunner you always need to be aware of the value of your run. This is dependent on the game situation and your ability. Your strategy on the bases will be different depending on the inning and the score. Have you seen a player being picked off first base when their team is down by 4 or 5 runs? It can be the nail in the coffin for the team. It's a mental error and should never happen, but it does, even at the major league level. This next section will cover many of the fundamentals necessary to be a good baserunner.

Baserunning Topics

home to first ¦ first to second ¦ sliding ¦stealing second ¦ first to third ¦ stealing third ¦ third to home

Baserunning - Home To First

Getting Out Of The Box

Regardless which side of the plate you hit from, your first step out of the box is a crossover step. Drive out of the box as if you were stealing a base. Get in the habit of getting out of the box quickly; this helps you at the close play at first and may just turn that long single into a double.

As you take your first couple steps, pick up the ball. Assume there will be a play at first base on any ball hit on the ground or on a line. Once you know where the ball is heading, focus in on where you are going.

Run Every Ball Out! Hard!

Few players in the Majors run out every ball. As with many things in the big leagues, it may okay to do it when you get there but you shouldn't do it when you're working to get there. Lead by example, run every ball out and run it out hard. It doesn't matter if it's a slow roller to the pitcher or a pop fly to the center fielder, get your legs going and hustle down the line.

Run Through First Base

Once you've determined that the ball is going to be fielded by an infielder, focus on the front part of first base. As you hit the base, start breaking down. This gives the illusion to the umpire that you were at the bag sooner than if you breakdown after you pass the base. After you have crossed the base, slow down and look to your right to see if there was an errant throw.

Take A Turn

If the ball is going to make it past the infield, get ready to round first base. Do this by moving off the line and into foul territory to set yourself up for the turn at first. Try to hit the inside corner of the bag. Be aggressive with your turn, put pressure on the outfield to field the ball cleanly and make a good throw. There's a fine line between being aggressive and being stupid. Put yourself in position to take advantage of any mistakes but don't get caught being too far off the base.

Coaching Advice

Hustle is mandatory! As a team rule, every player must run hard on all hit balls. Make sure there is a penalty for breaking the rule (i.e. - Player will not start the next game.) and stick to it. Stand by the penalty, no exceptions.

Baserunning - First To Second

Leading Off The Base

Once you have reached first base, your first priority is to look over to your third base coach for signs. There is nothing more frustrating for a coach than to try and give a sign and not have the player on base or at the plate looking at the same time. Get in the habit of looking to your coach for the sign right after each pitch.

Stay on the base until you have received the signs from your coach and the pitcher has made contact with the rubber. Once the pitcher has made contact with the rubber, you can start taking your lead.

When taking your lead, remember the following:

Stay in an athletic position. Don't walk to take your lead. Keep your eye on the pitcher the entire time. Do not crossover with your left leg going in front of your right. If you do so, your back will be

toward first; then you are not in a position to dive back. Pitchers are trained to look for a crossover step by the runner and make a pickoff move the moment they see a runner crossover when taking their lead.

Assuming you are not stealing. o Do not get picked off if you are not attempting to steal second. Always know the value of

your run. You worked hard to get to first base, make sure you are not picked off because of a mental mistake. (ex. taking a larger lead than necessary, not paying attention)

o Early in the game, if the pitcher has not made a move to first, take a larger lead than you normally would and try to get the pitcher to throw over. The entire team should pay attention to see what kind of move the pitcher has. It is essential when you do this that you expect the pickoff move and are ready (actually anticipating) going back to first.

Shuffle

Once the pitcher has started his delivery, you want to take your secondary lead. The purpose of the secondary lead is to shorten the distance to second base and have some momentum going toward the base. To get to your secondary lead, you want to take two shuffle steps toward second base. The goal is to complete the second shuffle step as the ball crosses the plate. If the ball is hit on the ground, you just crossover and continue to second base. If the catcher catches the ball, return to first base quickly.

On Contact

When the ball is hit, you quickly need to read the trajectory. If it's a ground ball, perform a crossover and run hard to second. If the ball is hit on the line, freeze and make sure it makes it past the infield before continuing on to second.

Baserunning - Sliding

It was a summer softball camp that I attended in high school where I was first formally taught how to slide. How many scabs and a jammed wrist could have been avoided if I was taught at a young age how to slide properly. Don't assume because kids can slide that they know how to slide. That's like assuming a player can hit because she can swing a bat. The most important slide to teach is the bent leg slide. The biggest problem with the bent leg slide is that kids tend to slide on their side. The proper and less painful way to slide is on your butt. The second problem is that kids often want to put their hands down as they slide. This can lead to jammed fingers and wrists.

Bent Leg Slide

A good way to teach a bent leg slide is to teach it the way you teach many skills, in steps.

  

1. Start by finding out which leg is going to be bent during the bent leg slide. With the player standing have him stand on one leg and bend the other leg at the knee, bringing it behind the other leg.

2. Have the player raise both hands over his head. 3. Have the player start to squat, while she keeps his bent leg up, then sit down. The player will

naturally roll back on his back and his feet will come up in the air. Although this won't happen when she slides, it will during this stage. When she has rolled back to a seated position, she should still have their hands up and his front leg should be bent not straight.

4. Once comfortable with this, have him take a couple steps and slide (I always practice sliding on grass). Then have them jog and slide and finally run full speed and slide.

Checkpoints for each step:

Hands should above head not on the ground. Don't worry too much about how high the hands are. Keeping them above the head is used to avoid the natural reaction to put them on the ground.

Player should be sliding on his butt, not side. Front leg should be bent to allow for give when sliding into the base.

Unless you're stealing second, don't slide head first into second base. The chances of being stepped on and injured are too great. For younger players, the head first slide is not recommended for anything other than diving back to first. A head first slide puts you in a vulnerable position where it is easy to injure your hands, shoulders, and head. A good bent leg slide straight into the base is the best and safest way to get to the bag, protect yourself, and break up a double play.

Go to any youth softball game and you'll see players who have scrapes all over their legs from sliding. Player's mistakenly think that a bent leg slide is performed by sliding on the side of the leg. The proper way is to slide on your butt. Practice sliding in grass and check the stains on your pants. If they are on the side of your leg, you're not sliding properly. Another common problem in sliding is putting your hand down during the slide. This is often the cause of jammed fingers, wrists, and sometimes shoulders. Get in the habit of sliding with your hands up. If you can remember to slide on your butt with your hands up, you will be sliding pain free from that point on.

Baserunning - Stealing Second - Page 1

Leading Off

After you get your sign from the third base coach, make sure you act exactly the same as you do when you don't plan on stealing. Often young players get a sign from the coach and then they change things.

What To Look For

Once you take your lead, your focus is solely on the pitcher. What you look for depends on whether the pitcher is a left-handed or right-handed pitcher.

Head

A pitchers head position and movement will often tell you what she is going to do before she does it. There is nothing as specific like there is with the heels to look for. What you want to look for is patterns or a movement that gives away his intentions. It may be the 3rd or 4th inning before you discover something, but if you do you can use it to your advantage. An example would be a pitcher that always glances towards a certain location when she is going to make a move to first but focuses on a different location when she is going to the plate.

Rhythm

Some pitchers fall into a rhythm when pitching, especially if they are throwing the ball well. They want to get the ball from the catcher, get on the mound, take their stretch and throw the ball. You can often time them when you are on the bench or in the batters box. If you think you have a pitcher timed and you want to use this method to get a good jump, you may not want to take your maximum lead. You want to take an average lead to give him the impression that you are not a threat to steal.

RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERHeels

The most common focal point to watch on a right-handed pitcher is his heels. If the pitcher lifts his left heel first, she is throwing home. If she lifts his right heel first, she is throwing to first. When using this method you may find it easiest to concentrate harder on the right heel than the left. The reason is if you see movement with left leg but the right heel remains still you know she is going home. If you concentrate on the left heel you may anticipate any movement as the pitcher going to the plate.

So if watching the heels is so cut and dried, why focus on anything else? The pitcher may give away where she is going to throw the ball before she lifts either heel. If you can find out something that gives away what she is going to do before she lifts a heel then you are greatly improving your chances of being able to steal second off the pitcher.

Shoulders

This often is a good place to focus with a pitcher that comes set with an slightly open stance. she does this to get a better view of you as you take your lead. The advantage to you is the pitcher will often close his shoulder before she lifts his left heel as she goes to the plate. So, when you see the shoulder close...you're gone. If the shoulder comes toward you, then she is throwing to first.

Baserunning - Stealing Second - Page 2

LEFT-HANDED PITCHERLeg Kick

Often a left-handed pitcher will have a higher leg kick when going home then when coming to first. This can enable you to get a great jump as you can actually start stealing as the leg moves up past the point where she normally would make a move to first. When using this as a key, make sure you don't

anticipate what she will do. You will get a good jump if you simply wait for the leg to get past the position and then move.

Foot

You may be able to tell which direction the pitcher is going by looking at his foot. When going to first, the toe will be pointing down and you won't be able to see the bottom of his shoe. When going home the toe will be pointing up and you will be able to see the bottom of his shoe.

Shoulders

The shoulders on the pitcher can also be an indicator. Some pitcher's will keep their shoulders perpendicular to you if they are throwing home. On a move to first they will rotate their upper body toward first in order to get more on the throw. You can think of them as pointing where they are throwing. If you see the right shoulder rotating toward you, get back.

Conclusion

These are a few of the most common indicators that can be used when leading off first base. With a good left-handed pitcher it can be difficult finding a good indicator. The runner, the first base coach, and the team on the bench should all be looking for keys that the baserunner can use.

Getting Back To First

It's bad enough getting picked off at first. It shouldn't happen often, but it does happen. Getting picked off at first because you went back to the base standing up instead of sliding simply shouldn't happen. It's a sure sign of laziness and proof you're not paying attention. Sliding back to base is the one time a head first slide is the preferred method. On the pitcher's move to first, you will make a crossover with your right leg and dive towards first.

First Steps

There is no substitute for a good jump when stealing base, but many runners lose time with the first few steps they take toward second base.

Crossover Step

The first move towards second should be a crossover step. Often a baserunner will move their right foot first, picking it up and moving it an inch or two. All this does is take time and gets you no closer to second base. Whether stealing a base or playing defense, picking up and putting your lead foot back down will cost you time. It's a bad habit and one you need to break.

Stay Low And User Your Arms

Want to be more explosive towards second? Start with your arms. As you pick up your left foot to start your crossover, also use your arms to get your movement toward second started. Take your left hand and throw a punch toward second base. This will get your upper body twisted quickly toward second base and get you moving quickly. Stay low as you start, standing strait up will only slow you down.

Take A Glance

If you are stealing on your own or a run and hit has been called, you will need to take a glance toward home plate when you anticipate the ball will be crossing the plate. The reason is to pick up the ball as it crosses the plate. If the hitter hits a pop fly, you need to see it and quickly stop. You may find you want to do this on every steal. The batter may have missed the sign and is swinging when you expect him to be taking. The glance can also help you decide on how you are going to go into second base.

Slide

The main thing to realize is that the quickest way to second base is a strait line and slide that is strait into the bag. Many players learn to hook slide in addition to a strait slide, in reality the only reason to use a hook slide is to avoid being tagged when you are sure to be out if you slide strait in. If you are sure your going to be tagged out, you may find a strait slide to the back side of second base is your best chance to get in safe. This works best when the infielder covering the bag is not straddling the bag but is to the inside.

Baserunning - First To Third

Make Sure The Ball Gets Through The Infield

After you determine from first that the ball will land safely in the outfield or make it past the infield on the ground, you need to analyze your chance of making it to third base on the play. Start to flair out on your way to second to prepare yourself for the turn towards third.

Ball Hit To Center Or Left Field

If the ball is hit from center to left field, you will have the play in front of you and it will be up to you to determine if you are going to attempt to make it to third or not. Remember, by making it to second, you are in scoring position. Do not take chances going to third if an average to good throw will get you out.

If you determine that you are going to try and make it, make sure you focus on hitting the inside part of the bag as you turn the corner. Once you have made it past second look up and pick up your third base coach. If you look over your shoulder trying to pick up the ball, you'll only slow yourself down. The third base coach will let you know whether to slide or go in standing.

Ball Hit To Right Or Right Center Field

If the ball is hit from right center to right then you must rely on the third base coach to let you know whether to stay at second or go for third. This often happens after you have rounded second base! When you're about 3/4 of the way toward second, you should have already picked up the ball and the position of the outfielder and determined whether you will try for third on the play. Since you only get one chance to take a look, you will want to pick up the third base coach. she may be giving you a sign to stay on second, or to keep running, or she may not know at that point. If you get no sign before getting to second, you must use your determination from the picking up the ball. If it looks like it was hit hard and directly to the right fielder, you will want to go straight in to second base and pick up the right fielder or third base coach as you do so. If the ball was hit down the line or in the gap and you are anticipating trying for third, take an aggressive turn. You must pick up the third base coach immediately after touching second. she will be able to let you know whether to continue on or to stay at the bag. The big difference between scenarios is in the first, you plan on staying at second unless the coach lets you know otherwise; in the second scenario, you plan on going to third unless the coach signals you to stop.

Player Tip

It's essential that you remember to pick up your third base coach once before touching second base and once immediately after touching second base.

Leading Off

Get the signs from your coach while you are standing on the base. This is more critical than at any other base because your back is toward the pitcher. Once you have received the signs, take your lead. The biggest difference in taking your primary lead from third base rather than from first base is your need to stay clear in foul territory. You don't want any question if you are hit by a batted ball, you are in foul territory. Another difference is the pitcher may be pitching from the stretch or from the windup position. It's easier to be more aggressive in your secondary lead if the pitcher is pitching from the windup; regardless, the goal of the secondary lead is to get your momentum moving toward home plate to maximize your jump on a batted ball. Make sure you don't move into fair territory when taking your secondary lead. Strive to have your right foot hit the ground as the ball is entering the hitting zone. Always watch the ball all the way from the pitchers hand to the plate. The trajectory of the pitch will give you a good indication of what might happen.

Another important point when taking your secondary lead is to make sure you keep your hips and shoulders square to the field so you can easily continue towards home or get back to third quickly if necessary. A good catcher who sees the shoulders squared towards him will make a throw to third. This position therefore will not only cause the runner to be slower getting back to third, but will encourage more throws from the catcher.

Getting Back

Once the ball has entered the hitting zone, it will either be hit, fouled off, get by the catcher, or be caught by the catcher. If the catcher catches the ball, have your weight on your right side. Push off your right foot and crossover back towards third base and fair territory. Even though you took your lead in foul territory, you want to return to the bag in fair territory. The reason is if the catcher is going to attempt to pick you off, she has to throw the ball accurately to the inside of the bag. This makes it more difficult for the third baseman to make a quick tag and it may result in a bad throw that either hits you or ends up in left field. Whatever the end result, you have placed more pressure on the catcher by returning in fair territory.

Any ball hit in the air, you should start back towards third base. The general rule of freezing on a line drive doesn't apply at third. If it's a line drive that gets through the infield, you'll score easily even if you start back towards third. If it's a fly ball, then you need to return to third to tag up.

Ground Ball

Knowing when to run home on a ground ball with 0 or 1 outs is very difficult. The depth of the shortstop and second baseman will let you know if they are willing to give up a run for the out or not. If they are deep you should be able to score on any ground ball hit to them. Most third base coaches will let you know what to do depending on the situation, she may tell you to hold if it's hit to the pitcher or third baseman and run if it's hit anywhere else. Even if those instructions are given, you must still read the play and determine what you will do.

Infield Fly RuleThe infield fly rule always seems to be a point of confusion for players, coaches, and parents watching a game. The purpose of the infield fly rule is to prevent a defensive team from purposely dropping or not catching an infield fly with the intention of trying to turn a double play.

Why we need the infield fly rule

If there was no infield fly rule, the following could happen: Runners are on first and second with less than 2 outs. Pop fly is hit to the third baseman. she intentionally drops the fly ball, picks it up, touches third and then throws to second for a double play. It's an easy double play because both runners are tagging up on their bases expecting the ball to be caught.

When can the infield fly rule be called? Less than 2 outs. It's purpose is to prevent a double play. Runner on first and second, or bases loaded. (There must to be a force at third base)

So where's the confusion?

As usual, the confusion is in the details and the combination of things that can happen. One point of confusion is that many people mistakenly think that the infield fly rule applies when there is only a runner on first base. This isn't the case. When there is no force play at home or third, the only way to turn a double play, by intentionally dropping the ball, is if the batter doesn't run to first base. In this case the infield fly rule doesn't apply and the defensive team could turn a double play. I don't think anyone will feel bad for the batter in this scenario.

So now that we know the game situation that the infield fly rule can be called, let's move on to the call itself. The main thing to remember is that the infield fly rule is a judgment call by the umpire. If the umpire determines that a player can make the catch with ordinary effort, then he/she can apply the rule. After the ball is hit in the air, you should hear the umpire yell, "Infield fly, batter is out." If you don't hear the umpire yell that, then assume the rule doesn't apply. The rule is written to give the umpire the ability to determine whether to apply the rule or not. Here is an example when the rule may not applied by the umpire. Runners on first and second. The third baseman charges toward home on a bunt coverage. The batter swings away and pops the ball up by third base. The umpire determines that the ball cannot be caught with ordinary effort, so she says nothing. The infield fly rule is not applied and the third baseman can pick the ball off the ground (if she missed it) and touch third base for a force out if the runner hasn't made it to third yet. Make sure you and your players don't assume that the infield fly rule is automatically enforced based on the situation. It is still a judgment call by the umpire.

Another point of confusion (and this is confusing) has to do with the ball being fair or foul. For example, you could have the umpire call out "Infield fly, batter is out.", and then not have the batter be out. How can that happen? The infield fly rule only applies to a fair ball. So let's say a pop up is hit down the third base line. The umpire makes his call and then the ball drifts into foul territory. Whether the ball is caught or not, the infield fly rule no longer applies. So, if the ball is dropped by the third baseman in foul territory, it's simply a foul ball and the batter is still up. In this case, umpires are taught to yell, "Infield fly if fair". The umpire may mistakenly make the first call and just because she called the batter out, doesn't mean she is out in this situation. The correct call is simply a foul ball.

A similar situation can happen if the ball hits in fair territory (before the bases) and then rolls foul (before being touched by a defensive player). You might see this on a pop-up to the catcher or pitcher. The ball is missed and the backspin takes the ball foul after it is missed. In this case just like the last, the infield fly rule doesn't apply and it's a foul ball.

To keep the same line of thought going, let's say a popup is hit to first base, the umpire yells "Infield fly, batter is out.". The first baseman misses the ball and it hits in fair territory and rolls into foul territory after going past first base. Since this would normally be a hit, the infield fly rule does apply and the batter is out.

Is that all of the confusion?

Nope, there's more. Where the ball is caught can be another point of confusion. Let's say your second baseman is playing on the dirt and takes a few steps back onto the outfield grass to catch the popup and you hear the umpire call the infield fly rule. You think the player is on the outfield grass, so the call shouldn't be made. Again, the rule is written to give the umpire the ability to make the call based on his judgment. If you think about it, it really makes sense. In this situation can the umpire really determine whether the ball is going to land in the grass or the dirt? What if the grass is really close to the infield on this particular field? Or how would she make the call on an all dirt field? What she can do is judge whether the second baseman is in a position to make an ordinary catch and to visually determine and make a judgment as to the depth of the fielder. she can then determine to call the infield fly rule even if it ends up being caught in the outfield grass.

What if in that same situation the right fielder calls off the second baseman and makes the catch? The answer is that the infield fly rule would still be in effect. The rule is based on the judgment of the umpire while the ball is in the air. If the right fielder calls off the second baseman she is still catching what the umpire had determined to be an infield fly.

What about the other base runners?

The other runners can try to advance at their own risk as they would on any other fly ball. If the ball is caught, the runners must tag up before advancing. If the ball is not caught, there is no need to tag up. The difference for the runner is that since the batter is out, there is no longer a force play and the runner doesn't need to advance, even if the ball is not caught.

What about a line drive or bunted ball?

The infield fly rule doesn't apply to line drives or a bunted ball. There's an additional rule that applies to an intentionally dropped ball including line drives and fly balls when the infield fly rule is not called. This rule states that the batter is out if a defensive player intentionally drops the ball with the intention of gaining a defensive advantage by not catching it. An example is there's a runner on first and a line drive is hit to the shortstop close to second base. The shortstop drops the ball in order to try and turn a double play. This rule differs from the infield fly rule in a number of ways:

This rule can apply with a runner on first base or first and third in addition to the force plays listed for the infield fly rule

This rule can be called by the umpire after the play occurs. An infield fly rule must be called when the ball is in the air.

Once the umpire has made the call, the ball is dead and the base runners must return to their original bases. They cannot advance on the play.

An important part of this rule to understand is that the rule doesn't apply if the infielder permits the ball to drop untouched to the ground. So, if the shortstop, in the example above let's the ball hit the ground before fielding it (even though she could have caught it in the air), the rule doesn't apply.

Base Runner RulesThis section doesn't cover one rule, but rather a number of rules that apply to a baserunner.

Touching the Bases in Order and Retouching

It's understood that a runner must advance from first to home by touching the bases in order. Where the confusion comes in for some people is when the player must go back to their original base. In this case the player must retouch all bases in reverse order. This situation occurs most often in the following example:

Runner on first base. Ball is hit into the outfield and the runner thinks it's going to drop. she runs past second base and the ball is then caught by the outfielder. she needs to get back to first base before the throw in order to not be forced out.

The correct way for him to do this is to first retouch second base before running back to first. If she runs back to first without retouching second base, the correct call would be for him to be out.

The only exception to the rule is on a dead ball. If the ball goes foul for example, the ball is dead and the player doesn't have to retouch second on his way back to first.

Tie Goes to the Runner?

There is no rule that states that a tie goes to the runner. Well at least not in those exact words. The portion of the rule in section 6.05 that applies to this states, "A batter is out when after she hits a fair ball, she or first base is tagged before she touches first base." Since the rule states "before", it is easy to assume that a tie does in fact go to the runner. But, since this is a judgment call you won't win an argument by yelling "a tie goes to the runner".

Two Runners Occupying a Base

Two ruuners are not allowed to occupy the same base. If two runners are touching the same base, the lead runner is entitled to the base. Most coaches will teach their defensive players to tag both runners when they are occupying the same base. When this happens the lead runner is safe and the other runner is called out. With all things being equal (meaning I wouldn't have a player run around one runner without tagging him to tag the other), I tell my players to tag the following runner first. The reason for this is: If they tag the lead runner first, and the other runner starts to go back to the other base before she has been tagged, no out has been made. We now have a rundown and no out. As you know, especially in youth softball, anything can happen at this point. If the defensive player touches the following runner first, she is out as long as the lead runner is still on the base. If the lead runner takes off then at least we will have a rundown to get the lead runner rather than a rundown where the players have to keep an eye on the lead runner.

Overrunning First Base

There is one common misconception about overrunning first base. Some people want to argue that a player has to turn to the right (foul territory) after crossing first base in order to safely return to the base without the chance of being tagged out. This is incorrect as there is nothing in the rules that state which direction the player must turn. The rule states that the runner cannot be tagged out after overrunning first base as long as he/she immediately returns to the base.

Of course there is an exception to this rule, in that the runner can make no attempt to go to second base or she can be tagged out. This comes down to the judgment of the umpire and not whether the player turned into foul territory or not after crossing first base.

The other exception to the rule has to do with immediately returning to the base. If a runner overruns first base and thinks that she is out or that there are 3 outs, and proceeds to walk towards the dugout or his defensive position, she can be called out on appeal after the base or the runner is tagged.

Although it's not stated in many of the rule books, the reason for overrunning first base is based on the fact that the momentum of the runner doesn't allow for him to stop on first base. So keep in mind that if a player runs to first base and then stops on the base, she is not then allowed to overrun the base and get back without the chance of being tagged out. Once she steps off the base in any direction in that scenerio, she is fair game.

Some weird things can happen on this play, one being the first baseman attempting to tag the runner as she returns to first (believing she made an attempt at second) and the runner attempting to not be tagged as she gets back to first base. Although it may make him appear to be guilty of of trying for second if she attempts to avoid the tag, she should be called safe even if tagged, if she didn't make an attempt toward second.

Finally, some leagues allow a batter-runner to overrun first base on a walk or hit by pitch while others do not. Even though it shouldn't come up, it's a good idea to know how your league rules regarding this situation. Little league for example allows this.

Taking the Mound, Pitch by Pitch

By Tom House, NPA Head Pitching Coach

Pitchers are constantly faced with strategic choices. With every pitch, the pitcher has to decide what pitch to throw and where in the strike zone to throw it. With the ability to throw multiple pitches and knowledge of the pitch percentages, a pitcher can maximize his effectiveness on the mound.

For any pitcher to have a complete set of choices she must have command of three pitches: a fastball, a breaking ball (curve/slider), and a change-up/splitter. And she must be able to ?locate' each of these pitches in four different locations: low-inside, high-inside, low-outside, high-outside. Three pitches and four locations calcualtes to 12 different possibilities from the mound.

The best hitters in softball are successful only a third of the time. When the pitcher has command, that is, when the pitcher is able to 'get ahead' in the count and 'hit his spot' with his pitch, the pitcher will win more than 80% of the time. So, what is the most important pitch? The most important pitch is: the next pitch! All great pitchers have learned to pitch one pitch at a time. Strategy happens between pitches and constantly changes with each new count. During a pitch, the target is all the pitcher thinks about or sees.

In picking a strategy, the pitcher has to decide the type of pitch and the location of the pitch. she will have to consider the abilities of the batter and the count. For the purposes of this discussion, we will assume that we don't have information about the batter and will think mainly about the type of pitch, the location and the count.

Pitchers learn early in their careers that it is better to stay ahead of the batter in the count. Most think that the throwing a first-pitch strike is the most important pitch in softball. Certainly, it is important to get ahead of the batter quickly.

However, the first pitch strike may not be the most important pitch. Let's take a look at some of the rules that should guide pitching strategy.

The most important pitch is the 1-1 pitch. Throw a ball on the next pitch and statistically batters will bat over 300. Throw a strike on the next pitch and batters will hit only less than 200. This is the pitch that changes the batter chances most significantly.

Never throw a curve ball unless you are ahead in the count. The only counts in which to throw a curve all are 0-2 and 1-2. Make the batter hit the ball.

When behind in the count, throw the pitch that you can command the best to a good location. Make the batter hit the ball.

Throw a change up any time a fastball is in order. Don't waste pitches. Get ahead and finish the batter off. There is nothing worse than getting the

batter in a hole and then letting him out. The more pitches she sees the better chance she has of reaching base.

Any pitch you throw at 2-2, you should be prepared to throw at 3-2. When the batter is ahead of the ball, keep the ball away. When she is behind the ball, bust him

inside. Every pitcher must learn to throw 'in'. No pitcher can afford to give the batter half of the plate all

the time. If the batter is hitting your fastball, slow down. Trying to throw harder usually results in the ball

being hit harder.

It is hard for hitters, especially young hitters to hit the curve ball. Don't fall in love with the breaking ball too early. Not only is it harder on the arm but few pitchers can be successful long term relying primarily on the breaking ball. The most successful pitchers throw:

Fastballs 60 - 65% of the time Curveballs 20 - 25% of the time Change-ups 15-20% of the time

The old adage that Babe Ruth is dead seems like good advice. Throwing strikes is the key to becoming a good pitcher at every level. The best pitchers can throw three pitches to two locations-for strikes.

Using the right strategy can help a pitcher win even when she doesn't have his best stuff. Get ahead, stay ahead, be aggressive, don't waste pitches, throw the high percentage pitch even if the batter thinks it's coming. And if you can throw a first pitch strike, get the lead-off batter out in every inning and retire the side without any runs after your team has scored, your pitching staff will win more than two-thirds of their games.

Obviously winning two thirds of the games will make any team a force to be reckoned with. And while that may be a lofty goal, knowing how to utilize strategy on the mound will increase your chances of getting closer and closer to that goal. Good luck!

Reprinted by permission of the National Pitching Associationwww.nationalpitching.com

Baserunning - Scoring From Third

It gets more difficult and happens less often as players get older, but in youth softball a wild pitch or passed ball often presents a great opportunity to score a runner from third. In one game this year our 11-12 year old team won a game 5-4, scoring four of our five runs on passed balls, three of them with two outs. I watch many youth softball games and I'm amazed at how many scoring opportunities are missed because players don't take an aggressive lead and aren't prepared for the ball to get away from the catcher.

It can be a difficult decision for a player to decide whether to try and score or not on a passed ball. That hesitation is often what takes away the opportunity. The first thing I try to do is take the pressure of making that decision away from the player. Our philosophy is that we're going on a passed ball until we see that we can't make it. The player is to look to score on every opportunity and as the third base coach I will help him in determining when NOT to go. Obviously there are situations where we are going to be more conservative, but I can handle those on a case by case basis from the third base box. I try to get my players to expect a passed ball on every pitch. I find it's much easier to stop a player from going home than it is to get them started. Communication is essential from the third base coach and needs to happen on each pitch. Once a player gets to third base I remind them of the situation and I let them know how aggressive we're going to be in trying to get home on a passed ball. In situations where I want to be really aggressive I remind them on each pitch to anticipate a passed ball and to be aggressive in taking their lead.

Pressure on the CoachBeing aggressive on passed balls will put pressure on the third base coach in knowing when to have a player go home and when to stay. If you're not confident in making that decision then it may be tough for you. What I have found is that you will pick it up quicker than the kids because you're there every inning. No matter what player is on third you'll be learning when you can score and when it's better to stay. It takes practice and you'll probably have some kids thrown out at home, but you'll also score some much needed runs during the season.

At practice put a pitcher on the mound with a catcher behind the plate and runners at third. Take the third base coaching box as you would during the game. Instruct the pitcher to throw pitches and every couple throw one in the dirt. This is good practice for the catcher on trying to block the ball; the pitcher on covering home; the runner on being aggressive; and for you in making a decision on when to go. Run this drill at a couple of practices and you and your players will be more confident in these situations during a game.

What to Look For at the FieldOne of the most important things you can do is find out how the ball comes off the backstop. Some that have wood will bounce right back to the catcher and make it difficult to advance. Others will bounce to the sides or stop dead at the fence. Try to find out what the ball does before the game. This will help you make quick decisions as the ball gets by the catcher.

Older PlayersOlder players must take more responsibility in determining when to go as being too aggressive on a ball handled by the catcher can lead to an easy out at third. For older players it's important for them to watch the trajectory of the pitch to look for opportunities. When they read the pitch as one that's going

to hit the dirt, they can be more aggressive in taking a secondary lead and reading the opportunity. Here is a drill you can use to help develop that skill: Pitch Trajectory