Softball IQ....

[Dabears17]

Edited to add:

One other thing, I have found out that many dds like ours need to have a sit down with Mom and Dad concerning those things called boyfriends. (BFs were brought up in another thread.) You have to tell your young lady that she has to let the BF win once in a while. Mine didn't with the first one and actually embarrassed him a 3 point shooting contest. (He was our school's stud at every sport.) The second one actually said once that he couldn't beat her at most sports but hockey. So, BFs don't like that. Just a heads up for those of you going through this.

Right after my DW and I got engaged we went miniature golfing with some of my friends from High School. The guys wanted to go in the batting cage after. I demurred. My future DW went into the cage and made contact with every ball... crushing most of them. The look on my buddies faces was priceless.

I joke my DD got my younger self's long/lean body type and my DW's athletic abilities.

 

[kjmpa]

Initiated giving out Smarties with 11-12yo LL softball. Coaches started by identifying and awarding Smarties after games for those making the "smart" plays. They didn't have to get the out - just attempt the correct play. Shortly after starting we had the girls coming to us identifying the smart plays made by their teammates. Everyone was engaged and learning - then a parent complained to LL Director of Softball and our manager got the call to stop. We weren't handing out Dum Dums - thank goodness we found ASA Rec then travel...


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[Cannonball]

I hope neither of my DDs ever thinks she needs to let a boy win for the sake of his ego. I'd much rather they find boyfriends who admire strong women instead of thinking they shouldn't be better just because they're girls. I hope they end up choosing men who are like their dad.

I have to remind myself avoid giving advice with my tongue in cheek. As an FYI, the first BF was First Team All Area 4 years in a row in 4 sports. He was also All State 2 times. He is 6'5" and about 230. He was drafted in baseball. The second BF was a state champion soccer player who went on to hold the record for wins in goal at the university that my dd attended. He is also 6'5" tall. While neither liked losing to the kid, they were/are good people. The second BF was really bothered when dd showed him up when shooting target practice. Ok, I'll weigh out now.

 

[Greenmonsters]

I have to remind myself avoid giving advice with my tongue in cheek. As an FYI, the first BF was First Team All Area 4 years in a row in 4 sports. He was also All State 2 times. He is 6'5" and about 230. He was drafted in baseball. The second BF was a state champion soccer player who went on to hold the record for wins in goal at the university that my dd attended. He is also 6'5" tall. While neither liked losing to the kid, they were/are good people. The second BF was really bothered when dd showed him up when shooting target practice. Ok, I'll weigh out now.

The want for a sarcasm font grows stronger by the day

 

[CoachJD]

IMO, many of us have "coach's kids." What I have found regardless of sport that I coach is that "coach's kids" have developed a sports IQ which, believe it or not, translates to all sports. IOWs the know how to compete and a part of that is learning the intricacies of the game. That would mean all games. That one girl I mentioned before is a stud at bocce ball, racket ball, ... since she knows how to break all games down into basic parts. JMHO!

This is absolutely true.

I think there's an inherent knowledge of geometry and physics, a certain kind of spatial intelligence learned through years of playing sports, etc. And it's not just natural athletic ability. As an adult I've played sports with people, and I can always tell which ones played sports growing up because they adapt to new/weird adult "sports" (Whirlyball, anyone?) a lot faster than others. And some of them aren't what I'd call great athletes, but they just have a sense of "how sports work" and they more quickly adapt and pick up on the unique variables for each sport.

 

[CoogansBluff]

I touched on this before, but I think some of these high-softball-IQ players are the result of their competitiveness and desire to win. Since that is their goal, they are looking at the game in ways that others don't. The competitive ones are more curious and eager to solve the riddle. I can think of many examples of this. In high school, I became pretty good at chess and backgammon. People thought I was smart, or a fast-learner, etc. But it was because I wanted to win more than everybody else. So I didn't just wait on people to teach me. I sought out the expertise of others and came up with my own ideas and strategies, and through trial and error, I got better much quicker than everybody else. Meanwhile, I didn't care about the insides of frogs and failed biology. I suspect those with high softball IQ correlate highly with those who hate to lose.

 

[YOCOACH]

My team, while not winning most games at he 18U level, has had 18 DP's in 3 tournaments. No excuses for losing but defensively, we are the BOMB!...lol It all comes down to coaching and teaching the right moves or plays. The old adage is to get the lead runner if possible, get the out if not at first and make absolutely sure you keep a single to a single. The 3 B's are a must! Ball, base/bag, backup. Ball first if your main position has the responsibility to field it. If not and you have a bag or base to cover, then go there. Otherwise, you are backing up. If every player isn't moving on the hit, then they aren't playing the game right.

 

[doublenickel]

I wish we had more access to televised 16u and 18u games. Watching the high level girls play has helped my DD so much. College games are great, but they are usually pretty polished. I like watching girls her own age, so she can feel more connected to what they're doing.

Last tournament, they got spanked by the Corona Angels (wow, didn't see that coming /s), and I asked her what she took away. She said she needs to talk to her SS more - and help OF know where to go when runners are on.

Coaches could say that to her all day, every day during practice - but a big ol' spanking during game time gets the message through loud and clear.

Get an Amazon FireStickTV and you can watch a lot more college softball through the WatchESPN App.

 

[JAD]

Get an Amazon FireStickTV and you can watch a lot more college softball through the WatchESPN App.

Love my FireStick, but you can also use a computer, iPad or your phone with the WatchESPN app.

 

[redbirdone]

I'm 100% positive it can be taught too. It just seems like some are soooooo slow to pick it up. Kind of like me and chemistry.

I respectfully disagree. Whether it's softball, baseball, football, tennis, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, etc...some people just don't seem to be able to grasp the instincts of the game, for lack of a better term. I'm not sure when/where/why it develops, and why some have it and some don't. Instincts can take a B level player and let them play A level. And lack of instincts can make a A level player look like a B level player.

Sports instincts are like a lot of things in life. Some people just can't grasp math. Or art. Or finance. Or music. I can try painting a landscape for 100 years, and it will look bad, even with a teacher. Some 7 year old can paint one that looks like a Monet next to mine on her first try. Some people can practice the flute 30 hours a week for 5 years and they will be okay, but then someone new will pick it up and be at their level or better after 5 hours. We are all built different as far as shape, weight, IQ, senses, etc.