Having coached a couple of years at the youngest levels, below are some of my observations and comments about softball practice and the game in general. Feel free to add to the list.
1. Buy good equipment
2. 2 hour practices is about right
3. Condition the glove every week (preferably with Nokona or comparable oil)
4. It's never too early to teach the fundamentals
5. Repeat instructions, over and over again. Don't assume the girls get it.
6. Use the hitting "T" as often as possible
7. Challenge the advice you and your coaches give to the players. It might just be incorrect advice, passed down through the years.
8. Enjoy the time when they are young, make it fun.
9. Make sure to keep the parent "in the know" and be transparent.
10. Drill Stations. This last one in my opinion is the key to successful practices and team play. If possible, conduct 3 or 4 drill stations (separate the girls into groups for hitting, fielding, catching, etc) at the same time. Keeps the girls focused, not fooling around and creating drama, and they get more accomplished in 2 hours than any teams conducting one-off drills (i.e. 11 girls in a straight line, coach hitting grounders one at a time, etc..)
1. Buy good equipment
2. 2 hour practices is about right
3. Condition the glove every week (preferably with Nokona or comparable oil)
4. It's never too early to teach the fundamentals
5. Repeat instructions, over and over again. Don't assume the girls get it.
6. Use the hitting "T" as often as possible
7. Challenge the advice you and your coaches give to the players. It might just be incorrect advice, passed down through the years.
8. Enjoy the time when they are young, make it fun.
9. Make sure to keep the parent "in the know" and be transparent.
10. Drill Stations. This last one in my opinion is the key to successful practices and team play. If possible, conduct 3 or 4 drill stations (separate the girls into groups for hitting, fielding, catching, etc) at the same time. Keeps the girls focused, not fooling around and creating drama, and they get more accomplished in 2 hours than any teams conducting one-off drills (i.e. 11 girls in a straight line, coach hitting grounders one at a time, etc..)