Coaching softball--philosophy 101

With all due respect sjsss, I somewhat disagree. I'm not talking about the sophistication of teaching a young girl how to read the forearm muscles flexing on a pitcher to see what pitch is coming (yes that does happen at the Open level). I"m talking about the most basic of basic by just simply paying attention to the game. The difference(s) in girls and boys is not that of gender, in my opinion. It's that in girls softball nearly EVERYTHING is done for the kid. EVERYTHING. Even something simple like teaching a girl how to use their instincts on the rubber for which pitch to throw is unthinkable by some. Instead, the coaches (or daddy) sit on a bucket and think they know better than she does, despite knowing NOTHING of the intangibles of actually pitching a softball... instead of teaching this infinite wisdom to the girl so she can make adjustments and learn along the way. How many girls will bunt unless they are told to? Not many that I see. They aren't taught. Girls look down to the 3rd basecoach with 2 outs, 0-2 count and nobody on in a 0-0 game, 3rd inning even though there cannot possibly be anykind of a play on. Why? Because they simply are not taught from day 1 to think for themselves. It's truly very sad to see. When I get a new student and ask her questions about her pitching background, they look to dad for answers to the questions instead of looking at me and answering... because most don't even know what they've been 'taught' they just do what they are told.

I just don't believe that it's because girls aren't as intersted. They just aren't taught to think for themselves. IMHO

Of course, I know nothing about female and anyone I've ever dated could attest to that!! LOL

Bill

Wow--there is a lot of stuff in this post that is insightful.

Why? Because they simply are not taught from day 1 to think for themselves.

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Is it "they don't know how" or is it "the coach doesn't give them permission to think"? Girls generally "obey authority" better than boys--(ask any teacher). So, unless given "permission" by the authority figure (i.e., the coach), they won't do it.

E.g., base stealing. If the coach is always controlling when a girl steals, a girl won't look at the catcher, the pitcher, the umpires, etc., and try to find an advantage. She'll stare at the 3B coach.

I coached a lot of hoops and soccer, and to get girls to become physical, you have to say, "It is OK to push and shove the other players. It is OK to commit a foul." Once you told the girls it was "OK", they were as physical (and often more physical) than boys. (Honestly, there are more punches and elbows thrown in girls basketball than boys basketball--but, the girls aren't as strong, so you don't see as much injury.) BUT: girls had to be given permission to be physical.

It's that in girls softball nearly EVERYTHING is done for the kid.

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My biggest pet peeve is seeing little Sally running through the parking lot drinking a slurpy with Daddy following looking like a pack mule carrying her equipment.

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 assesed based on perceived likelihood of sucess.

As a hitting instructor my goal is to work my way out of a job with the hitter becoming their own coach knowing as much about what their problems and goals are as I do. In a team situation, there will always need to be someone at the helm but the coaches that impress me are the ones sitting silently while the players are all in the right place early doing the right thing. Years ago I was wandering around a 16U qualifier trying to learn by watching between DD's games. Ended up watching the Comets from Bryan College Station. Defensively the girls were not just in the right place at the right time, they were there early waiting on the play. Every time I looked to see if a player was moving to where they should be, she was standing there in the right spot like she had been there to start with. Coach wasn't saying much. I asked around. Turned out the team was coached by a former and future college coach who had won a national championship. Made a big impression on me. Ten years later I was able to complement him on it sitting with him watching a round robin showcase at his field.

I think years ago when boys went to the park in the morning, chose teams and played all day, bb players knew instinctively where to find outs. Now the boys go to the cage and hit or pitch-go to team practice and then games. They don't know how to play the game they way they used to. That's pretty much where the girls game is. I know when I'm watching a gold tourney and I see an infielder who instinctively knows where to find outs, she stands out. You may have to watch several games waiting for the situations that expose either these instincts or the lack there of. When the coach calls a play, the players run the play, but when the unexpected happens, there is no time to look to the coach for a sign. Be the coach who looks like they aren't coaching but whose players are always in the right place doing the right thing I think.

Mudbug, I disagree that the lines are hard. We gave all our girls the green light to bunt if they saw the fielders, or a fielder, playing back. Good baserunners could steal or delay steal without a coach telling them. All baserunners were expected to judge batted balls ahead of them, and to know when to lead off and when to tag at second. This is stuff we went over continuously at practice so they would get comfortable making their own decisions.

I always try to get catchers calling games as quickly as possible -- usually 14U, but if a 12U catcher can handle it I'll certainly let her. When I work with pitchers in lessons, part of what we do from January on is I will give them a hitter type and a situation, then they will call the pitches they should throw, followed by executing those pitches. I also tell them if they have a coach or catcher calling the pitches and they don't like the call they should shake it off. Why throw a pitch you're not confident in just 'cause someone on the bench calls it. It may be the "right" pitch based on the stats, but if the pitcher can't throw it with enthusiasm it's the wrong pitch.

It's a fun game. It's a lot more fun for the players when they actually get to play it.

Yeah, what he said.

Mudbug- I would surely hate to have my DD playing under your philosophy. There is so much more to the game than training girl to be stool pigeons. True enough when I give a girl a steal sign, its supposed to be an order not an option, but some of the best times coaching are when they learn the game enough to make good decisions on their own. They are going to make stupid mistakes in the process, maybe even cost a game....oh well, we should be teaching more than softball I am thinking & taking some initiative ranks pretty high as a life skill.

Why is it that a father would never think to give their 17 year old SON pitch signs in a game but a dad has no problem doing that with their 17 year old DAUGHTER?

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.

PA SB Dad said:

Why is it that a father would never think to give their 17 year old SON pitch signs in a game but a dad has no problem doing that with their 17 year old DAUGHTER?

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I see it commonly in both.