How fast to first base????

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May 18, 2009
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We have a 9 yr old on my DD's team that is a freak of nature when it comes to speed. She timed quicker around the bases than 9 out of 12 of the U16's on my oldest DD's team. I was told she was being timed at 11.9 around the bases. I've been around softball for 7 years now and I've never seen an athlete like this kid on any team at any tournament.
 
May 22, 2012
745
16
Boy opinions are all over the place on this. My DD did a tryout for a tournament team. She turned 11 last week. She was timed at 3.7. I have no basis to compare it to other than she looked faster than all but a few of the other girls. Is 3.7 above average at this age? How does one work at getting quicker to first? I assume 99% of it is what you are born with?
 
Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
Boy opinions are all over the place on this. My DD did a tryout for a tournament team. She turned 11 last week. She was timed at 3.7. I have no basis to compare it to other than she looked faster than all but a few of the other girls. Is 3.7 above average at this age? How does one work at getting quicker to first? I assume 99% of it is what you are born with?

Technique will help significantly and most girls that age have a lot to improve on in this area. I've seen it with my own 13yr old daughter going from 3.9 to 3.4 with big improvements in technique as well as working out etc...
 
Oct 10, 2011
3,117
0
There are a ton of videos that show proper technique on the internet. Here is one that is very basic. Proper Running Techniques | eHow.co.uk
I see a lot of girls swinging their arms in front of their body instead of using them in a forward motion- that is if they swing them at all. My DD is now swinging them a lot better except she could pump them higher and harder then she currently does to get more forward momentum.
 
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Aug 4, 2008
2,364
0
Lexington,Ohio
Our very own Marc Dagenais on this site is good. My dd got some very good pointers from him. Currently she is working with a former player from Ohio State, that was rated the fastest player in the state at one time. You can always get quicker, not just faster.
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
My dd(s) work with a football receiver. The single thing they work most is arms. He is always saying if your arms are fast, your feet will catch up, and cheek to cheek(face to butt). They work arm motion sitting holding 5 lb plates. Sit on floor feet out front straight a dumbell in each hand and move across floor just using arm movement to get momentum. The best thing that is helping them is a lot of work on the speed ladder.

Footwork: The biggest thing with kids coming into his speed class is overstriding and landing on their heel. They watch alot of video of olympic sprinters. They land on the balls of their feet and their feet land barely in front of their body. If you drew a line on their foot motion, it would be a circle. Their foot is moving back before it hits the ground, almost like pedaling a bicycle.
 
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Jul 28, 2008
1,088
0
One of my former players has been timed at 2.62 at the combines in CA last year. There's fast and then there's crazy fast. She is crazy fast. Whenever she got on base for me, I expected her to be standing on 3rd two pitches later. :)
 
Aug 12, 2012
165
0
NorCal
My DD's profile has her timed at 2.7 home to first. She is consider a speedy lefty slapper outfielder and verbaled to a mid D1 college as a jr. The secrete is exploding from the plate and her trainer taught her how.
 

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