Hi, my name is Jake. Last spring I was told by my wife I'd be coaching 8u. When fall season was up for volunteers I couldn't resist. Problem is I barely know a thing about softball and now we are incorporating player catcher and player pitching. I am a part of enough forums to know that no one likes the same old questions. With that said I am looking for any advice on how to teach basics to these kids. Any pms or replies are appreciated! Thanks
Teaching 8u pitching and catching
- Thread starter Voluntold
- Start date
Welcome to Discuss Fastpitch
Your FREE Account is waiting to the Best Softball Community on the Web.
If you do not mind spending $70:
Catching:
The New England Catching Camp - Online Store
A Coaches Guide to Training Catchers DVD
Pitching:
Amazon.com: Building the House: Mechanics and Fundamentals of Pitching (House of Pitching Video Series): Bill Hillhouse, Leslie Wiser and Cara Johnson-Hirsch: Movies & TV
Then look at the sticky posts for the specific topic on this forum and post questions.
Catching:
The New England Catching Camp - Online Store
A Coaches Guide to Training Catchers DVD
Pitching:
Amazon.com: Building the House: Mechanics and Fundamentals of Pitching (House of Pitching Video Series): Bill Hillhouse, Leslie Wiser and Cara Johnson-Hirsch: Movies & TV
Then look at the sticky posts for the specific topic on this forum and post questions.
The Hillhouse video is great, I just got it and watch it every other day to familiarize myself with what is covered! Just ordered the NECC vid, eveyone here says it's the way to go for learning how to coach catchers.
Ray
Ray
For catchers, the NECC video is the "gold standard" for teaching catchers proper techniques.
For 8U beginning catchers, I would focus on...
1. Catching one-handed - Young players are typically taught to use their throwing hand to help keep the ball in the glove, but this habit puts catchers in a dangerous position. Catching one-handed is a critical skill that often gets over-looked by coaches who don't know any better, and something that can be easily practiced while warming up.
2. Basic receiving stance - Feet approx. shoulder width apart and pointed slightly up the line. Heels should stay on the ground when fully-crouched. As the players develop, this will be known as the "no runners" stance. Balanced on the toes, with feet close together creates an unstable platform for receiving, and limits lateral movement.
3. Protect your throwing hand (IMPORTANT!!!!) - In the receiving stance, the throwing hand should be where the pitcher can not see it. Tucked next to the ankle is a good place. KEEP THE HAND PROTECTED UNTIL AFTER THE PITCH IS CAUGHT (this is where catching one-handed becomes important). This is critical, and should be reinforced firmly until it's normal operating procedure.
My DD protecting her hand correctly...
A couple of 8U players doing it incorrectly...
For 8U beginning catchers, I would focus on...
1. Catching one-handed - Young players are typically taught to use their throwing hand to help keep the ball in the glove, but this habit puts catchers in a dangerous position. Catching one-handed is a critical skill that often gets over-looked by coaches who don't know any better, and something that can be easily practiced while warming up.
2. Basic receiving stance - Feet approx. shoulder width apart and pointed slightly up the line. Heels should stay on the ground when fully-crouched. As the players develop, this will be known as the "no runners" stance. Balanced on the toes, with feet close together creates an unstable platform for receiving, and limits lateral movement.
3. Protect your throwing hand (IMPORTANT!!!!) - In the receiving stance, the throwing hand should be where the pitcher can not see it. Tucked next to the ankle is a good place. KEEP THE HAND PROTECTED UNTIL AFTER THE PITCH IS CAUGHT (this is where catching one-handed becomes important). This is critical, and should be reinforced firmly until it's normal operating procedure.
My DD protecting her hand correctly...
A couple of 8U players doing it incorrectly...
I was watching NECC yesterday as a refresher and they do not advocate hand down behind the leg like your DD. Though what your DD is doing is 1000 times better than your incorrect examples.
Although maybe they do for no runners on and it is move the fist behind the glove with runners on but I thought they were teaching fist behind the glove for both.
NECC has evolved their teaching on a few things since the DVD was produced. One of those things is throwing hand position for "no runners", and my DD is demonstrating what they currently advocate.
Fist behind the mitt is for "runners on".
Good luck with coaching and congrats for volunteering... the fact you are here and admit to not knowing means you are on the right track to becoming an awesome coach...some other suggestions other than the videos posted here:
1) Look up companies/individuals in your area that provide lessons for pitching/catching. Most of their biggest gripes are volunteer coaches that dont teach the kids right and undo what they are getting paid to do... ask them if you can watch the lessons and if they would be willing to let you sit in so as to learn the fundamentals and ensure you are reinforcing what they are teaching rather than working against them... they will likely let you sit in on a few and may be a good source of info
2) Visit the ASA/USSA/whatever gov body your league is setup with and see if they have "coaches clinics".. some will have free videos/dvds- look to see if your league will sponsor you for some online courses or regional clinics
Best of luck... oh I forgot one: Find a coach in older division that has been coaching for a long time and ask him/her to give you their 10 top tips for managing the most unpredictable aspect of the game: the parents
1) Look up companies/individuals in your area that provide lessons for pitching/catching. Most of their biggest gripes are volunteer coaches that dont teach the kids right and undo what they are getting paid to do... ask them if you can watch the lessons and if they would be willing to let you sit in so as to learn the fundamentals and ensure you are reinforcing what they are teaching rather than working against them... they will likely let you sit in on a few and may be a good source of info
2) Visit the ASA/USSA/whatever gov body your league is setup with and see if they have "coaches clinics".. some will have free videos/dvds- look to see if your league will sponsor you for some online courses or regional clinics
Best of luck... oh I forgot one: Find a coach in older division that has been coaching for a long time and ask him/her to give you their 10 top tips for managing the most unpredictable aspect of the game: the parents
Similar threads
