Baseball coach coaching softball?

My daughter played baseball until this yr as she has switched to softball. She is 11 and the girls are 11-12. The coach is a second yr softball coach and he coaches a travel 18th baseball team. He teaches the girls in the same style ,drills etc as he does in baseball. Since this is my first yr around softball I wonder if his approach should be different? What are the most important drills and things to teach girls this age?

My humble two cents - the basics should be the same. High level throwing, fielding, hitting.... All the same. The only place it differs is in some of the rules. Many softball coaches will state strategy is different but I think strategy should be dictated based on team talent (physical and mental) and not on the fact that this is softball.

There are differences such as the speed of game. A lot of baseball guys have the 1st and 3rd infielders playing too deep, behind the bag for example. Small ball and slapping has to be learned, pitch calling is different because the pitches are unique (riseball) for older players. It takes some time for baseball coaches to adjust to fastptich but is done all the time with success if they take the time to learn the nuances of the game.

^^ agreed^^
However, I think I heard that Auburns coach Clint Meyers had won as a baseball coach too.
Much smaller field, no time to square up defensively, gotta charge agressivily on 90% of all infield plays otherwise your too slow

98.2% of softball coaches learned the sport from OJT, very few of them have played fastpitch softball. It is the nature of the beast in REC ball and the early years of TB. Baseball guys can become great coaches once they learn the nuances of the game. I would also like to point out that just because a coach played high level (college) fastpitch softball, does not mean they will be good coaches. Some of the most fundamentally unsound teams we have played this season have had former players as coaches....

JoeS said:

My daughter played baseball until this yr as she has switched to softball. She is 11 and the girls are 11-12. The coach is a second yr softball coach and he coaches a travel 18th baseball team. He teaches the girls in the same style ,drills etc as he does in baseball. Since this is my first yr around softball I wonder if his approach should be different? What are the most important drills and things to teach girls this age?

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25 years ago, a bunch of us local hot shots decided to give fastpitch a whirl. Some of us were still playing high level MUNY ball but at that age, you feel like you can do anything...so the young bucks got us an older FP pitcher and decided to play in the most competitive FP league in the area...

There was not one person on this team who was not "all-something" when in high school...many of us played in college.

First season: WE GOT SMOKED!!! Got mercied 5 times. LOL Next 4 seasons: We lost a total of 4 games because we adapted to "the game."

Without sounding like an rear, it had nothing to do with of lack of talent...it was because they are different "games."

Sure, the fundamentals of hitting, throwing, running, catching, etc is the same but the strategy is different...defensive positioning is different...infield coverages are different...and as noted, the game is just faster...

Now, I would have confidence in a guy coaching baseball at the 18U level. I would hope his experience would overcome the differences in the games.

As for the most important thing to teach girls at this age? People will argue this but IMO, I believe that every girl has to be moving on every single play. Every base is covered (properly so as to no get called for obstruction) and every base is backed up on Every play. For example, the game is so fast and the bases are 30 feet shorter than baseball, so if a ball gets by your SS at 2nd base by even 10-15 feet, that runner will be at 3rd in the blink of an eye if the base is not backed up.

I'm curious about one thing...who does he have covering 3rd base on a steal?

CP

They are indeed different games as has been pointed out. He may have troubles adjusting. However, what is vitally important at the age of your DD isn't wins and losses and coverages. It is getting great fundamentals and a strong base to work from.

Out in Left Field said:

There are instincts the baseball coach will never have.

Same as moving into any sport you did not play or grow up in.

I recommend getting a former softball player on your coaching staff pronto.

PS The Candrea and Kobata videos are a must.

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Just wow. You have such a complex about men coaching softball. and in the same post, also point out the best videos to get are from guys who grew up playing baseball.

I'm sure he will be great. The nuances are quickly learned; it's not rocket science, but takes a season or so.

coachbob said:

I'm sure he will be great. The nuances are quickly learned; it's not rocket science, but takes a season or so.

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Without a doubt. There is a learning curve. But to the good part of OILF's post, if he is humble and really wants to learn softball, he can do it quickly. I don't even remember how to play baseball.