Hello! This is my first year coaching. I have a group of 6u girls that are actually pretty good. For the most part we have our act together. We do have a couple girls that are disinterested in the game completely. However for the first time in a month and a half we had our worst practice ever. None of these girls wanted to pay attention. One actually got hurt from lack of attention and it just didn't go well. Can anyone offer some suggestions? I have been considering making the girls run if they choose to play in the dirt and chase butterflies around. I'm hoping that collectively the girls that are trying will encourage the girls that aren't to pay attention because they don't want to run. Our second game is tomorrow and we are not prepared.
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I wouldn't think it would be advantageous to discipline a 6yr old unless they were doing something harmful, and then it would probably to sit them so they couldn't play in the dirt or chase the butterflies.
No advantage to discipline unless you want them to leave the sport- the only discipline I give is talk in a stern voice to STOP! when a girl starts trying to swing a bat around other kids.. the big eyes they get from coaching scolding them with a sharp STOP for it immediately stops them. Safety first...I then sweetly tell them thank you for not swinging I was afraid Susie behind you was going to get hurt...
I did think though that it would be a good idea to have them take turns in the pitchers circle, it seemed the only place where there was something going on constantly and it would be good to keep them all interested.
Yep we play 4 innings where half the girls bat in each inning and I rotate each girl through pitcher circle and I have 2 pitchers in there. Pitching circle, 1st base, and catcher - each girl gets to do this at least once per game to keep them in it and improve their skills.
At this age if the kids stand on the right side of the plate, know which direction to run when they hit you are doing great.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around 6U organized softball.