I'm a Guy. . .

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Aug 30, 2015
286
28
As a guy, I like to break things and then fix them (sometimes I just leave them broken. . . oops). I like to build things.

I like to stop and watch big machines moving dirt on a construction project. I like to watch YouTube videos of military things, practical joke things,and magicians - not sure if that last one is guy-specific but I think it is.

Most notably, I often exercise my God-given right to expend only about 500-1,000 words per day. Anybody heard this one? After about 750 words, I just don't have much left to offer. In other words, I'm just not much of a talker. I'm not a social butterfly. Got a problem? Let's fix it, not just talk about it.

Now. . . I completely understand females are social creatures. They need to talk. They need to connect. They need to "feel".

No problem. I think its awesome! I'll never try and change that.

But. . . why does it always seem to be a pre-requisite of a "good" softball player that she's loud? She's always chattering. Coaches--mostly women, but some men--want to hear the girls "talk it up" and "be loud". . . "make some noise!"

This always manifests as a few stronger personality girls on a team yelling at the top of their lungs, "One down! Innies go 1, outies cut 2!". But to nobody in particular. They're just yelling. They're not communicating especially as they're facing home plate so the outfielders can't even hear what they're saying.

But somehow these girls are viewed as the stronger players, the more competent and reliable, higher quality.

I'm not mad about this, just wondering if this drive to be loud and talk it up is mis-directed energy. Why is it so important? Does it really help the game?

Just some thoughts. . . not looking for solutions or arguments.



Edit: Just wondering if I've already used my 750 words for today, just in this post. . . hah!
 
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JJsqueeze

Dad, Husband....legend
Jul 5, 2013
5,436
38
safe in an undisclosed location
I'll see your annoying chatter and raise you a WTF. To me it seems to indicate that the players have short term memory loss issues, or are poorly coached if all the players need to be reminded of the outs and what to do after every play.

Saw a team yesterday that had 9 vocal girls yelling over each other constantly and the old man in me had to stifle an urge to tell them to STFU and play ball.


I don't see baseball players needing to yell out this stuff constantly.

I guess it comes down to the fact that the girls are coached to be "leaders" and that is equated with verbal vomiting after every play. I think catchers and CF have a role to play doing this, and there is a need for communication, but the constant yapping seems to be less focused on actually making sure the team is on the same page and more about girls being coached to try to stand out by being vocal.

Give me the quiet girl that leads with her skills and not her words every time.
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
I'll give a players perspective here since I am one.

I am a catcher. So, I have to be somewhat vocal on the field encouraging my infielders to keep playing the way they are or to buckle down. We have our own system though as to what we're going to signal.

Between batters is usually when I shout some form of encouragement to my infielders. Usually it's something along the lines of "good job, good hustle! One more...one more"! And I'll display the outs on my fingers. Then to set my individual players, I'll use my signals to the pitcher to set my defense. We usually have a short meeting ten to fifteen minutes prior to our game to discuss what we want to do. Sometimes we create confusion amongst ourselves...but...most of the time it's worked for us.
 

Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
It just seems to be the nature of women's Fastpitch, particularly as they get older. Once they get into college, the noise is non-stop.
 
Dec 15, 2012
102
18
There is a big difference between senseless chatter and communicating on the field. Communication is an absolute must for a great team and will set you apart at a tryout or a college camp. My daughter had a coach (who had multiple D1 players) that was adamant about communicating when you were on the field. His mantra was if you don't talk you don't play. Now with that being said he stressed what type of communication you needed to have. Outfielders - help with balls hit right at them. "In, In" or "back, back" helps players find the ball. "Fence, fence" or "you got room". Catchers calling for balls to be "cut". Assisting infielders/pitcher with ability to get leader runner at 2 or going 1. Acting as a "base coach" for other runners after scoring. Helping catchers locate passed balls or pop ups with verbal cues "1" was catchers left, "2" was directly behind you, "3" was catchers right.

Good communication will help you win more games!
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD had a coach that told them to shut up, they were loud. So they shut up.

Then he told them to cheer thier teammates, you can not have it both was IMO.

I think HC got a headache.
 
Dec 5, 2012
4,143
63
Mid West
Its just encouraging chatter at younger age groups. As they get older, and schemes get more complex with specific cuts or relays, the "on field" verbal needs to have purpose! While in the dugout, she's a cheerleader, and a student, studying and looking for pitcher tells, signs, grips, or weaknesses in the other team.
 
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marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
I have way bigger things to worry about.

I do like the noise for the most part - it seems to keeps them in the game more often than not. When it is quiet, softball can be very low energy. Like a lot of boys baseball games I see.
 
Sep 17, 2009
1,637
83
Because the opposite -- too quiet, not engaged -- isn't great. Like anything, there's a point where = too much of a good thing.
 

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