Make an error

quincy said:

A couple years ago DD was playing 3rd and the coaches DD at SS and her could no coexist, they kept running into each other.

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Well that sounds like a coaching problem for the most part, 3B should always be well in front of SS and cutting off everything she can.

As to the general issue, I know it's hard but you need to tell her she need to play SMARTER and up her softball IQ. What is the worst that can happen in the infield if she lets the ball go by, now whats the worst that could happen if she tries to get the ball but misses it and the ball goes by. The only difference is she is afraid people will think she somehow failed. Now she also needs to be smart enough to know if she is in right field and its tied with a runner on first she should not dive for a ball down the line but make sure it stays in front of her and throw it in quickly. If you make her play out the game scenarios she will see almost all the time it is more beneficial to the team to try for everything you can.

Of course all this works if she is a logical thinker...if she is driven by the emotions of feeling like she does not want to look bad then logic is not going to help. I remember when I played I would run these scenarios in my head every at bat. What would I do if it was hit to the left, right, short, back, bloop, etc. I did not agonize over anything I just ran it through my head in a second or two, then adjust as you pick up on things how fast are the base runners, where did they hit it last time whats the score and inning, I think all these little things makes you a ballplayer not just someone who can play ball.

Quincy, I have a question for you. Did your DD ever play for a coach that wouldn't tolerate mistakes? Especially one that would pull a player out of the game right away if she made an error "so she could think about it" or some such nonsense like that?

That may not be the case here, but I often find when players are tentative it's something that's been coached into them. The "we don't tolerate" mistakes mindset can be tough to overcome. What ends up happening is kids don't take chances so they don't get yelled at. (Adults do that too, at work and other places.)

If so, and she has a supportive coach now, she should know that making mistakes is part of getting better. You never know what your limits are until you test them and all of that. Think about Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier. A lot of people said it couldn't be done, that the plane would break apart if you tried. He could've played it safe and come up just short. But instead he decided what the heck, let's see what happens, and before long pilots were flying at Mach 2.

I guess I'm a bit confused by the word "error" in the context of aggressive defense.

An "error" is a failure to make a routine play, not a failure to make an exceptional one.

Extending for a ball barely within reach and not getting an out is, contrary to the misguided opinion of some, NOT a fielding error, and not even a "mistake".



It's simply a great effort that didn't pan out, and a base hit to the batter.

Strike2 said:

I guess I'm a bit confused by the word "error" in the context of aggressive defense.

An "error" is a failure to make a routine play, not a failure to make an exceptional one.

Extending for a ball barely within reach and not getting an out is, contrary to the misguided opinion of some, NOT a fielding error, and not even a "mistake".



It's simply a great effort that didn't pan out, and a base hit to the batter.

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How about trying to make an off balance throw or trying to nail the girl at the plate and having a bad hop to the C. In both cases you can be charged with an error or if you are afraid just hold on to the ball or let the run score and throw to second. Sometimes just holding on to the ball is not a bad play, but you need to try sometimes or you just give up bases.

canyonjoe said:

How about trying to make an off balance throw or trying to nail the girl at the plate and having a bad hop to the C. In both cases you can be charged with an error or if you are afraid just hold on to the ball or let the run score and throw to second. Sometimes just holding on to the ball is not a bad play, but you need to try sometimes or you just give up bases.

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Most off-balance throws are rushed because that is necessary to make the play. By that definition, that's not routine, and not an error. A fielder should never be charged with an error for attempting a difficult play.

It's an error if it get by 1B and they get to 2nd or if the throw gets by the C and another runner moves up. Or in cases where P is scorekeeper if you diver for a ball in OF and it gets by it's a 1B and 2 base error.

shaker1 said:

Do you all work on extension? Any diving or sliding drills? Starting off the knees then working toward a full dive. Maybe get her confidence up in making those type catches. Once you make one, it's on!

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I like this suggestion. I grew up as a Mike Schmidt fan. A close second was Ozzie Smith. I spent time as a young player trying to imitate these two superstars. IMO, they were among the top fielders at their positions of all time. My DD is very similar to quincy's. Solid fielder, actually led her high school team in fielding percentage playing 1B and P. After 90 games between HS and travel, she has a grand total of 3 errors this year. But for the longest time she refused to push herself. Earlier this year I started to challenge her more and showed her some old videos of the Wizard and others. We practiced some of the things shaker is suggesting. Slowly but surely, she is beginning to get it. She is still inconsistent in this area, but she is improving.

https://youtu.be/0iDTsCSaXgU

Strike2 said:

I guess I'm a bit confused by the word "error" in the context of aggressive defense.

An "error" is a failure to make a routine play, not a failure to make an exceptional one.

Extending for a ball barely within reach and not getting an out is, contrary to the misguided opinion of some, NOT a fielding error, and not even a "mistake".



It's simply a great effort that didn't pan out, and a base hit to the batter.

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You're discussing the semantics of what constitutes an error according to scoring standards. That's not the point.

For some players, the fear of not successfully making the intended play (whether it's scored as an E or not) is a mental stumbling block that limits what they are willing to attempt. If I understand quincy correctly, his DD will only attempt to make a play on balls that are relatively easy for her to get to, which minimizes the odds of not making the play successfully. What we all want to see is players willing to push the limits of their abilities, even if it means that they aren't successful every time. Don't be afraid to make an error - whether it's in the scorebook, or your own head.

There is a section in the book The Mental Game of Baseball that talks about fear... Fear is something you create in your mind. The fear of failing, a failing that hasn't even happened yet. Have her remember;

The successes she has achieved in her past, are more real than the failures she fears in her future!!!

Eric F said:

You're discussing the semantics of what constitutes an error according to scoring standards. That's not the point.

For some players, the fear of not successfully making the intended play (whether it's scored as an E or not) is a mental stumbling block that limits what they are willing to attempt. If I understand quincy correctly, his DD will only attempt to make a play on balls that are relatively easy for her to get to, which minimizes the odds of not making the play successfully. What we all want to see is players willing to push the limits of their abilities, even if it means that they aren't successful every time. Don't be afraid to make an error - whether it's in the scorebook, or your own head.

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I agree that fear enters into it, but that fear of failure came from somewhere...probably external.

What I'm saying is that words have meaning, even to softball players.

It may be "failure", but it's not an "error" or a "mistake" when giving the best effort on a difficult play.