Coaching softball--philosophy 101

mrslug01 said:

Mudbug-

Your philosophy doesn't work. There are many times that the players have to assess a situation and make split decisions. The coach can't possibly make every decisison: Few examples:

Baserunner advancing on a ball in the dirt near cacther
Defender going after or not going afer lead runner in the field
Baserunner tagging up
Baserunner understanding how to play a halfway on a shallow bloop trying to avoid getting forced at second if it's not caught.
Catcher picking off someone leading off too far from the base
Fielders knowing an outside drop is coming to a righty so they position themselves accordingly

The list goes on and on and all have inherent risks that the player needs to understand. But the game is a game of reaction the the players need to understand.

Being a coach requires that we coach these and other aspects of the game so the players understand them and can react when the time comes.

Click to expand...

Yeah good examples. I expect Mudbug is speaking from another perspective that will make more sense when he elaborates.

mrslug01 said:

Mudbug-

Your philosophy doesn't work. There are many times that the players have to assess a situation and make split decisions. The coach can't possibly make every decisison: Few examples:

Baserunner advancing on a ball in the dirt near cacther
Defender going after or not going afer lead runner in the field
Baserunner tagging up
Baserunner understanding how to play a halfway on a shallow bloop trying to avoid getting forced at second if it's not caught.
Catcher picking off someone leading off too far from the base
Fielders knowing an outside drop is coming to a righty so they position themselves accordingly

The list goes on and on and all have inherent risks that the player needs to understand. But the game is a game of reaction the the players need to understand.

Being a coach requires that we coach these and other aspects of the game so the players understand them and can react when the time comes.

Click to expand...

Some misunderstand. The girls are taught and practiced what to do in game situations when the ball is in play, that is practiced until it happens in their sleep. Including throwouts to 2B on a steal, and picks at 1B and 3B when a runner is too far off the bag.

When to steal, when to bunt, when to slap, when to hit-away, when to take a pitch, slash, double steal, delayed steal, specialty pickoffs, what pitch and location to throw to which batters are coaches responsibility, so may even be stealing home on a passed ball if the field has a backstop very close to the plate.

Even taking a pitch on 3-0 isnt necessarily a given as usually taught. In tournament ball there are many times you will have 2 outs and no one on or little chance of scoring several needed runs left, and must GET OUT quickly to start a new inning before time to do so passes. A signal to strike out, etc may be needed as girls are oblivious to what the situation may be, and yelling it to them might notify the other team who might stall until it passes, etc.

You simply DO NOT let girls make risk-taking or strategy decisions. If someone uses poor judgement and loses a game, a tournament, or possibly even a national championship it has to be the coach, no ifs, ands, or buts. Coaches coach, players play. Maybe some teams have never spent $20,000 +for a week at nationals, plus another $15,000 or more spent by parents as well, but it is not a trivial amount of effort and $ to be nullified by a girls decision making ability.

As to the starting statement "Your philosophy doesnt work", its not "my" philosophy. But I will say say that if a team finishes in the top 10 in the country about half the time, I personally would call that "working".

I'll stick with my stance. Your statement was very broad.
You stated that situations that require judgement should be left to the coach and that teaching strategy can somehow possibly be detrimental to the game. I don't it that way as the game requires constant use of judgement on the field. It's impossible for the coach to make all the decisions during a game as I stated before.

Part of coaching should be teaching individuals to think for themselves.PERIOD.

huh??

mudbug said:

Lets turn that around and ask "Why should the player try to figure out things that are basically the coaches job?"

The answer is that they shouldnt.

The goal is never to make the players into coaches, the goal is to make them into players that perform and do what the coach wants done in every situation. Situations which require judgement are left up to the coach.

There are things the coach has responsibility for, and things players have responsibility for. That boundary cannot be fuzzy.

Should you teach players more strategic aspects of the game? You can. But the question is will it produce any gain or will it likely confuse situations?

Decision to steal or bunt is a coaches decision, both involve risk that is assessed based on perceived likelihood of success.

Click to expand...

The goal is absolutely to make players into coaches..

Their ability to adjust within an at bat, or while facing a batter on the mound, or making a defensive decision during the heat of the game, is the end product of them coaching themselves...

If you don't give them the ability to think within the confines of the game,
and I will use your own words , your likelihood of success will be greatly diminished.

If your pitcher is struggling in a tight game, what do you do, call time and tell her to throw strikes?
Only person that gonna get her out of trouble is herself...by her coaching
herself...... if she fails, then you become a manager, but you can't coach her physical performance pitch by pitch.

As to the starting statement "Your philosophy doesnt work", its not "my" philosophy. But I will say say that if a team finishes in the top 10 in the country about half the time, I personally would call that "working".

Click to expand...

Sounds like another male dominated social structure where the female's autonomy is stripped away. Is your team perhaps "The Stepford Softball Slammers"?

Easy there now. I think what he's saying is the players need to execute whatever the call by the coach is. Which is pretty much true. A called bunt should be bunted. Hopefully the long term goal is as much autonomy on the field as possible since the players can make decisions in real time the coach can never hope to make or execute with the time lag needed for communication.

IMO, the reason why there is disageement on this topic has to do with differences in opinion on what the primary role of the coach is. If the coach's key concern is winning, then you micro-manage your players and make every possible game call and decision. If you want to teach your players to think for themselves, you will have to be willing to experience some failures (resulting in losses) which some coaches will not tolerate and will probably bench a player, etc. As a coach, it is a difficult decision and proposition to allow your players to fail, in order for the player and team to get better.

Mudbug- I disagreed with your first post, but your last does do a lot to clarify your thoughts. I believe you are right in that coach should have overall charge of game strategy. I also think the players should be taught the strategy to the point that they can probably guess when & why coach wants bunt, sac bunt, steal or play it safe etc.

I really dont think players can ever reach that point. Its just not that simple. There are times when anyone knows you can bunt, esp if the opposing team doesnt defend it well. But that doesnt mean you should. Not everyone bunts as well as the best one on the team. How many girls can objectively evaluate their own ability to lay down a bunt when called to do so against a given pitcher?

No outs, runners on 1B & 2B, double steal on, bunt called. If batter pops the bunt up, it will be a triple play against a good team. Can a girl decide if she is likely to lay it down properly against what the pitcher is throwing? Assess her own performance bunting recently?

Bunts are also called for many other reasons, when the defense least expects it and the batter has been struggling that day, also to help a struggling player get confidence at the plate by giving them some contact in a game, or even to make certain less proficient players practice it in non-critical situations, or just to evaluate how well an opposing team defends it so you can decide if you should use it later when you face them again. Its not always about the current game, you have to look forward a bit sometimes. Sometimes you dont want to show certain opponents your close game at all , or even use it at a tournament they are also at and could be watching, you dont want them to be prepared for it when it counts at state or national level. There can be many factors to consider, none of which a young girl is remotely aware of.


The goal is always to win, and there can be much more to it than seems at first glance. It is far from being determined exclusively by the talents of the girls on the field.