Little sister has shown interest in wanting to play softball.

[softgabby]

Over the last month or so this season, I've seen my 8 year l sister sitting out in the stands with our parents watching me play softball. Well, about a month into our season, my 8 year old sister is wanting to play sofball. I asked her if she knew where on the field she wanted to play? She said she wants to play catcher like me or maybe first base or third. My parents are taking her to get her signed up to play in the league for 8u. How do I go about getting her a base for her first coach to work with? I don't know how first or third works esecially on defense.

 

[BobInMadison]

You are putting the cart before the horse.

First off, it is really cool that she wants to play softball. My DD 3 started the game by helping my DD 1 practice. My youngest really loved practicing with her older sister. In the end, older sister quit softball after a few years, younger sister is a very good player for her age.

Defensively, the first thing your sister needs to do is just to learn to play catch. Throw the ball. Catch the ball. If she can throw and catch, she is WAY ahead of most girls her age, and will do well wherever she plays.

At that age the kids generally play ALL positions.

In fact, for the younger age groups, the local LL has a rule that every kid MUST play at least 1 inning as an infielder and at least 1 inning as an outfielder.

it is great to have a kid who can play multiple positions. Good utility players are gold, esp. at that age.

my youngest, my DD 3, has played every position out there. I remember one tournament game where, by the end of the third inning, she had played 4 different positions. (SS, 3B, CF and 1B).

For her last team her main positions were P, SS and 3B. So far for her current team she is P, 3B and emergency C.

my advice is -- have a lot of fun with your sister playing catch, then some batting practice (off a T, soft toss, whatever). There are things you can do to help her learn different positions, but that can be later.

For example, one time DD 1 needed practice playing 3B. So, I put DD 3 on 1B, I would toss grounders her way, and she would have to field them and throw to 1B. Before long, she was a strong 3B, and DD 3 learned another position (1B).

 

[Eric F]

Bob pretty much nailed it.

I'm sure you are excited that your little sister wants to follow in your footsteps, and I'm sure you want to fill her head with everything you've learned just as quickly as possible. Slow down! Help her build the fundamentals of the game first - hit, throw, catch, field. At younger ages, especially, it's important that they play all positions and build their skills and knowledge for the overall game. As her skills develop, she will find the niche that fits her abilities. For now, try to help her become a player than can play EVERY position, and do it well. Players like that are a huge asset to their team.

My DD (currently playing 12U TB) is primarily a catcher, but also plays 3B, 2B, and has had innings in the OF. Since she started playing at 8U, she has played every position on the field - including P. Some positions suit her strengths better than others, but she is never a liability to the team in any position (except at P ).

 

[softgabby]

You are putting the cart before the horse.

First off, it is really cool that she wants to play softball. My DD 3 started the game by helping my DD 1 practice. My youngest really loved practicing with her older sister. In the end, older sister quit softball after a few years, younger sister is a very good player for her age.

Defensively, the first thing your sister needs to do is just to learn to play catch. Throw the ball. Catch the ball. If she can throw and catch, she is WAY ahead of most girls her age, and will do well wherever she plays.

At that age the kids generally play ALL positions.

In fact, for the younger age groups, the local LL has a rule that every kid MUST play at least 1 inning as an infielder and at least 1 inning as an outfielder.

it is great to have a kid who can play multiple positions. Good utility players are gold, esp. at that age.

my youngest, my DD 3, has played every position out there. I remember one tournament game where, by the end of the third inning, she had played 4 different positions. (SS, 3B, CF and 1B).

For her last team her main positions were P, SS and 3B. So far for her current team she is P, 3B and emergency C.

my advice is -- have a lot of fun with your sister playing catch, then some batting practice (off a T, soft toss, whatever). There are things you can do to help her learn different positions, but that can be later.

For example, one time DD 1 needed practice playing 3B. So, I put DD 3 on 1B, I would toss grounders her way, and she would have to field them and throw to 1B. Before long, she was a strong 3B, and DD 3 learned another position (1B).

My brother and I have been playing catch with her since she was 6. She's fairly decent at it and is developing pretty decent hand/eye coordination from our little sessions. We're using trainer balls with her right now. One nice thing about where I live is that I live on an old farm. So we have some older buildings that have a dirt floor. Those are the buildings I have been using for our practice sessions which is great for when it's been raining or has been cold out. I also have a couple of tees here too that she can practice hitting off of as well. One thing I'm wondering is this...I have a hitting aide that my brother and I use that we stick a ball into. We throw the ball to get it started winding up and hit it when it releases so the ball winds up again. Would something like this help her or would it be something more advanced?

 

[softgabby]

Bob pretty much nailed it.

I'm sure you are excited that your little sister wants to follow in your footsteps, and I'm sure you want to fill her head with everything you've learned just as quickly as possible. Slow down! Help her build the fundamentals of the game first - hit, throw, catch, field. At younger ages, especially, it's important that they play all positions and build their skills and knowledge for the overall game. As her skills develop, she will find the niche that fits her abilities. For now, try to help her become a player than can play EVERY position, and do it well. Players like that are a huge asset to their team.

My DD (currently playing 12U TB) is primarily a catcher, but also plays 3B, 2B, and has had innings in the OF. Since she started playing at 8U, she has played every position on the field - including P. Some positions suit her strengths better than others, but she is never a liability to the team in any position (except at P ).

I am excited she wants to play...but I know she's not ready to take to a game yet. We do play catch with her. Her throwing isn't accurate but she's improving. I want to start her slowly and build her up to where she's ready to take on what they throw at her. We have a couple of hitting tees here as well. We have been playing whiffle ball with her and she's good at hitting them. I'm just not sure what I should be showing her and what her coaches will be showing her because I only ever played a few positions (pitcher, a little shortstop and a little center field). Any advice on what I should be doing and what my cut off should be?

 

[Eric F]

In addition to tee work, do front-toss with her. Hitting off a real person is better work than a machine at any age. Put a little speed on it so it has a fairly flat trajectory. Soft lobs are harder to hit. That said, any hitting work is good for building bat-ball coordination.

I also recommend finding out what kind of balls the local leagues use for 8U, and get a couple for throwing/catching/fielding work.

EDIT: As for being "game-ready", don't worry about it. I've seen more than a few players whose first time holding a ball, putting on a glove, or swinging a bat was at their team's first practice.

 

[BobInMadison]

My brother and I have been playing catch with her since she was 6. She's fairly decent at it and is developing pretty decent hand/eye coordination from our little sessions. We're using trainer balls with her right now. One nice thing about where I live is that I live on an old farm. So we have some older buildings that have a dirt floor. Those are the buildings I have been using for our practice sessions which is great for when it's been raining or has been cold out. I also have a couple of tees here too that she can practice hitting off of as well. One thing I'm wondering is this...I have a hitting aide that my brother and I use that we stick a ball into. We throw the ball to get it started winding up and hit it when it releases so the ball winds up again. Would something like this help her or would it be something more advanced?

So far you are doing great.

The most important thing is to have fun. I am sure she is thrilled to practice with you and your brother.

I like Eric's idea of hitting off the tee and also some front toss. That would be great for her. In fact, that is now my DD 3 wound up as a pitcher. DD 1 wanted to practice hitting, so she made a deal with DD 3 that they would toss the ball for each other.

On some days, some easy fielding. Have her get a grounder tossed her way.

If she can ever throw the ball to first, she will be WAAAAAY ahead of most other girls her age.

Whatever you do, just have fun. If she has fun, she will continue. If she continues, she will get better. Don't expect her to be as good as you are anytime soon.

 

[Eric F]

Don't expect her to be as good as you are anytime soon.

...but don't be surprised when she's better than you sooner than you expect.

 

[BobInMadison]

...but don't be surprised when she's better than you sooner than you expect.

I remember talking with DD 3 not too long after she started playing rec ball. She got drafted by some coaches who had previously coached DD 1. I explained that at the beginning, she would be "DD 1's sister", but at some point she would make her own reputation.

She replied that at some point DD 1 would be known as "DD 3's sister" in the softball community.
She was right.

 

[softgabby]

...but don't be surprised when she's better than you sooner than you expect.

Nothing would surprise me with her, lol.