After being an AC for Little League for the last 3 years, I finally got the opportunity to coach my 2 daughters in HS this year. I have a ton of questions about rules and such. I am familiar with Little League softball rules but now that I am tranisioning to HS ball, are there any major changes or differences in the rules of play? I will be coaching a Division VI Northern California HS team. I have attempted to find information on the NCIF website on rules, but can only find info about rule changes. I don't want to look like someone who doesn't know what they are talking about so I want to be well informed. also, I understand that CIF rules don't require that a player must play, but in my experience tells me that game experience is invaluable compared to practice situations. How can I apply this philosophy to the other coaches who are more interested in winning at all costs? I welcome any and all advice. thanks in advance.
New HS AC HAVE QUESTONS
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I am not sure about even the LL rules. 
If you are used to batting the entire order you need to figure out the 9 person batting order and substitutions. Someone else can explain it better than me.
DD played MS the last few years and everyone played, not equally, but everyone played. It is a hassle for the coaches. It would be much easier to throw the best 9 players out there and take a nap.
(Last year DD was attached to the C for a few games, if the C got on base DD was able to get into the game and run for her. Everyone played, just not equally.)
(We had playoffs at the end of the year which seemed to be their focus. They did restrict playing time a little bit come playoff time but still managed to play almost everyone)
If you are used to batting the entire order you need to figure out the 9 person batting order and substitutions. Someone else can explain it better than me.
DD played MS the last few years and everyone played, not equally, but everyone played. It is a hassle for the coaches. It would be much easier to throw the best 9 players out there and take a nap.
(Last year DD was attached to the C for a few games, if the C got on base DD was able to get into the game and run for her.
Everyone played, just not equally.)(We had playoffs at the end of the year which seemed to be their focus. They did restrict playing time a little bit come playoff time but still managed to play almost everyone)
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Even at the schools here in San Diego who have no chance of making it to CIF playoffs (and haven't in years), it's about playing the best players and winning...you're going to have a hard time keeping upper classmen engaged if everyone that shows up is guaranteed playing time...
The ASA website has a table of the differences between ASA-College-NFHS (high school) rules...suggest you print those out for starters...http://downloads.asasoftball.com/umpires/pdf/2015ASANCAAandNFHSRuleDifferencesRev3Final.pdf
Good luck...
Right...
At varsity level, the time for developing lesser players is over. The best play, the rest sit.
A kid earns her spot on the field by doing well in practice. When she gets on the field, she has to deliver. If she doesn't, it is back to the bench.
I don't understand your question. Do you mean other coaches on your team? Do you mean opposing coaches?
If you're an assistant coach, and a rookie at that, I doubt you'll have much influence.
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At what point do you allow the kids to grow up, and learn lessons that everyone isn't equal, you must work hard to be the best? Varsity sports IS about winning, and to win you play the best players.
I think you need to understand a couple points....
You're not coaching rec ball anymore. Please do not try to turn high school ball into rec ball. It's a sure fire way to have your team look like a rec team against other schools.
The younger age teams, rec leagues, etc are in place to train kids to play, to provide activities for kids to do, and give back to the communites. School ball is where you should see the benefits of earlier teachings. It is not the place to make sure everyone gets a medal.
High school head coaches are employees of schools. Their jobs, in most cases, are contigengt upon winning. In other words, it is their job to win ball games. NOT to make sure Sally gets an inning each game.
Your definition of "winning at all costs" is quite a bit different than most everyone else's who coaches or follows competitive softball. Playing the best players who give you the best chance to win in a given game is good coaching. NOT "winning at all costs". Winning at all costs is better defined, to me at least, as a coach who will pitch his ace 5 games in a row, or catching the same girls for 4 games in 95 degree heat, or telling Suzie that she can still bat with her pulled hamstring but just not to run too fast.....basically ignoring player safety or well being to win a game (or displaying poor sportsmanship).
I would imagine you will find your way back to LL pretty quickly if you insist to the head coach that all players should play in any scenario other than a blowout.
And don't forget all the politics involved. With 2 daughters on the team coming out the gate, I think it is a lose/lose. Don't take it personal when others accuse you of having ulterior motives. And they will. Heck, I am already wondering and I don't have a dog in the race.
I am not a coach, nor have I ever coached, and if my kids have their way, I never will.
That being said, I see something HUGE missing from this discussion.
OP is now a HS AC.
What about the HC? What about the AD?
It would seem to me that the HC and the AD might have some very strong opinions about how HS softball should be run. I would think that whatever the OP does as AC should reflect the coaching philosophy of the HC and the AD. Assuming, of course, that OP wants to be an AC next year as well.
That being said, I see something HUGE missing from this discussion.
OP is now a HS AC.
What about the HC? What about the AD?
It would seem to me that the HC and the AD might have some very strong opinions about how HS softball should be run. I would think that whatever the OP does as AC should reflect the coaching philosophy of the HC and the AD. Assuming, of course, that OP wants to be an AC next year as well.
I just disagree with some of the above comments but I am sure we have all have had different experiences.
DD’s Team screwed up last year and we had no player’s a year younger then DD play SB this year. It was all 6th and 8th graders which hurt the Teams.
The best of the best plays might make sense if it actually happens and you have some shot at making the starting lineup.
DD’s Team screwed up last year and we had no player’s a year younger then DD play SB this year. It was all 6th and 8th graders which hurt the Teams.
The best of the best plays might make sense if it actually happens and you have some shot at making the starting lineup.
