Softball IQ....

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JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
After watching my DD's HS season, and some college fall ball, I would like to take a moment to emphasize to all DFP parents to work with your DD's on improving their softball IQs. Everyone practices the physical skills it takes to play softball at a high level, but I am astonished at the number of high level players who are either ignorant or have not been properly coached in the fundamentals of the game. Know the rules, know where to go with the ball when it is hit to you, find the lead runner, hit your cutoffs. Preventing a base runner from taking an extra base can be the difference between winning and losing in a tight game.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
With amount of quality games on TV, no good excuse for not knowing some of the stuff you mentioned.

DD, niece and me occasionally have a good time laughing at the announcers. They know the game better then some of them.
 

Me_and_my_big_mouth

witty softball quote
Sep 11, 2014
437
18
Pacific NW
After watching my DD's HS season, and some college fall ball, I would like to take a moment to emphasize to all DFP parents to work with your DD's on improving their softball IQs. Everyone practices the physical skills it takes to play softball at a high level, but I am astonished at the number of high level players who are either ignorant or have not been properly coached in the fundamentals of the game. Know the rules, know where to go with the ball when it is hit to you, find the lead runner, hit your cutoffs. Preventing a base runner from taking an extra base can be the difference between winning and losing in a tight game.
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.
 
Jun 12, 2015
3,848
83
Do you think this is something some kids are more naturally prone to picking up? I don't feel like we've done anything special with our DD for softball IQ, she just gets it. It's funny because in all other aspects of life she is a total space cadet. Loses everything she owns, dawdles for everything, a kind of naive type personality. She's totally different on the field. We're only 10U so often you'll see a girl catch a pop fly and she stands there like whoo hoo! I caught the ball! Meanwhile the runner on third is tagging up and heading home. Some of our girls who do this have been in travel ball 2-3 years by now. Mine is always aware of where the runners are, where the play is, etc.

We've got a girl on our team who has never played travel ball before this fall. The coaches took her based on potential, a risk but a good one, it turns out. Besides how fast she's progressing on her physical skills, she seems to have that knack for the mental game. She was on 1B for a small scrimmage and made a play, and immediately knew where to go with the ball next to stop the lead runner from advancing. A simple skill, but she's fresh out of rec where normally you just toss back to the circle to stop the play. Plus 1B is not her normal position, we're just hoping to teach it to her since she's a tall lefty. So to me that shows a natural instinct for how the game works.

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.
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
With amount of quality games on TV, no good excuse for not knowing some of the stuff you mentioned.

DD, niece and me occasionally have a good time laughing at the announcers. They know the game better then some of them.

I love watching college softball with my DD and pointing out all good and bad plays!
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
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.

I always tell my DD she learns a lot more when they lose than when they win. When they win all the little things that they could have done better get glossed over...
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
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.

A lot of college teams stream their games online, and some of them are less polished than others...
 
May 23, 2015
999
63
It's all a part of kids being coached by people who haven't played at an equivalent level before or people haven't had the opportunity to really play for a great coach. Most HS teams are coached by whatever teacher volunteers. TV and the internet will not prepare a coach for higher level training
 

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