We used to scrimmage ourselves at 10U. I would pitch HC would catch and the kids played Infield and Of if we had if not a dad or mom did. We got through a lot of situation stuff quickly. Truthfully at 10U(Rec) I just hoped the kids did something when the ball was hit. We didn't work too much on getting the lead runner as usually they would have stolen so we often lost the force anyway. What they did get was a lot of reps making real plays against real kids not just put on baserunners. We would sometimes start with a runner 3rd to simulate, but at that level we are just hoping to make plays. We were easily the best defensive team in the league that year.
Information Overload?
- Thread starter dadofadirtlover
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- Aug 26, 2015
- 590
- 16
Then, I'm going overboard! Gotcha. We were really close on 5 of the potential 9 force outs today. I'm talking footwork shift and they would've had every single one of those 5. I'll lower expectations to a realm of normalcy.
shaker1
Softball Junkie
Keep it simple, work on what you struggled with in games. Don't overload them with too much information. Canyon Joe is on track about working your defense against actual runners, really makes a difference when you put pressure on them to make plays.
I don't know if you are overboard. It's worth teaching the proper footwork, but make sure it's in the realm of what they can do. A good way to determine is
1. See if any other teams you play make the same type of plays.
2. Watch the next level up and see how they do it. If they are making them you should still teach it.
I just see some coaches that worry so much about situations that never really happen. At that level if you can make more routine outs than the other team you will
win.
My motto even to our 14U team is "If in doubt get the out". We sometimes miss the lead runner, but we almost always get an out.
- Aug 26, 2015
- 590
- 16
We made the most outs thus far and are one of 2 teams (in a 7 team league) that made ANY outs. Everyone else had max runs and the games ended in ties pretty much. Not sure what the 12U were doing, but I'll be sure to check them out to see.
You are dealing with 10YOA kids. KISS--keep it simple, stupid!
You want to wax eloquent about softball? Call in to an AM sports talk show.
Otherwise, shut up and hit ground balls. Tired of hitting ground balls? Roll them ground balls. When you are tired of rolling ground balls, hit pop ups.
Most of the runs were scored because your SS did an imitation of an open door, not because of "mental errors".
This is going to sound like bragging (and maybe it is) but me record in rec league softball was something like 200-10. Why did I win so many? Because I had a "secret" (which every other coach on the board knows): Rec games are won and lost on catching and throwing the ball.
If your team catches and throws better than the other team, and you will win. If you don't, you lose.
My practices were 2 hours of ground balls, popups, throwing and catching...over and over and over gain. The drills were different, and the pace of the practice was frenetic.
Lots of station work, lots of drills. If each player get 50 popups and 50 groundballs, you'll be beating everyone in the space of one week.
*AND* make the worst player on your team better. She'll be the one who will win the close games for you.
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If you're so worried about mental errors, instill the 3 B's to the point where they will throw up at even the mention of it. If you're not so worried about it, then instill it even more and follow sluggers advice.
- Aug 26, 2015
- 590
- 16
Thanks for the advice all. I followed the KISS approach and it was flawless. Spent the entire practice working on throwing, defensive situations for infield, and closed it out with a couple games that instilled the defensive situations we went over. It was a great practice. Girls were gassed, better than when they played their games yesterday, and all smiles. Can't beat that combo.
