I need tournament prep help!!!

fastpitch said:

This small team was fast and executed all kinds of bunts and just picked us apart. They had push bunts, drag bunts, slap bunts, bunts with 2 strikes, suicide squeezes. Some girls were slap bunting righty to get it past the drawn in defense. Every time they would get on base they would steal 2nd and 3rd or move the runner over somehow and score. They were probably one of the best coached teams I have ever seen at the 10u level.

You will see the best teams at 10u can all execute and defend the bunt in addition to everything else they do.

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If you are if first year travel team at 10U and you run into a team like this, you should tip your hat to them, recognize that they are a better team, and learn all you can from watching them execute! I think the key for a first year team (especially early in the season) is to avoid the losses to teams that you should beat. You do that by minimizing your mistakes, and taking advantage of theirs. Good defense in the infield, backing up throws, good plate coverage on passed balls...Avoid giving up the 5+ run inning if you can...don't give up a sure out at first, to try to get an unlikely tag at 3B.

As the team get more experience, you will find ways to beat teams that are better than you.

Wow...I am awed by the amount of advice and information posted here!!

THANK YOU to everyone!!! It just makes me wish the season would start already!!!

I thought of one more thing. Double check that there will be water in the dugout and see how much water you are allowed to carry in. I am running into complexes that are only allowing spectators to bring in one small jug.

Also, keep some mini pads, etc. on hand. These little girls panic if they are surprised by mother nature.

Loads of great information on this topic. The most common mistake I see with new coaches or some experienced coaches is lack of structure in their practices. Have a detailed practice plan for all of your practices so that you maximize the time you have with your team. As you put your plan together your goal should be to have all of your girls doing something at all times so stations are very important to your success.

For new coaches I would recommend purchasing the video series Mike Candrea put together with the USA National Team. He is very successful and the videos have a lot of great ideas to borrow. Also try to find articles and books to constantly be building your knowledge of the game.

Lastly, know the rules better than your umpires. Too many games are decided by people not knowing their options within the rules.

One additional thought that could be very important at the 10U level...be sure to check out the backstops on the fields you will be playing at. A deep backstop will put a premium on an accurate pitcher that doesn't put a lot of balls past the catcher. If you have the choice in pitchers, you may want to save your flame-thrower, who is a little wild for a field with a more shallow backstop.

With runners on, you definitely would rather have a ball in play on the infield with six players able to make a play on it, than have it in play 25' behind home plate with just the catcher chasing it down.


Of course, all of the depends on other factors as well, such as the level of competition, if it's pool play or an elimination game, etc. Just something to keep in mind.

First thing, go on-line and buy Coach Weaver's New England Catching Camp video. Then, work with your catchers on everything he covers. Do this right now!

When you do situations, use live runners and work with catcher's throwing down to 2nd and 3rd. You have to simulate actual game situation.

Work out a good delayed steal defense with runner on 3rd with your catcher, 3b, and SS and practice it. If you don't you'll get schooled quickly in your first tournament.

Make sure your kids are practicing hitting live pitching. Machine pitching and coach pitching has it's place. But this is the age where you have to get them to overcome the fear of getting beaned. 9-10 YO hitters act a lot differently facing a kid as opposed to a machine or coach pitcher.

Tell your parents that if their kid expects to get any pitching time, they need to enroll in private lessons right now and work with mom and dad in the yard developing skills learned in those lessons. You will not be able to carve out any meaningful time during team practices to build and develop a pitcher. If a player isn't willing to work on her pitching outside of team practices, set the expectation now that they won't get any circle time in games.

Good luck!

Learn and understand how to use your flex player (assuming you have that option).

We have found that keeping stretches,warmups etc consistent is a big help. The girls know what you expect of them and they should be stretching etc by themselves as a team at the designated time. Keep a cool head, the team responds to the coach. If you are having a good time, they will too. Most of all, don't be discouraged if you suffer a couple beatings, use these to better prepare your team. A good team will try to find you weakness and will then exploit it. We had a team that had a hard time with bunt coverage, this weakness was used against us until we stopped it

Keep everyone warmed up. Have the girls on the bench warm up the OF girls. (Sometimes you can't warm up between innings, though.) Have the girls on the bench run down to the fence, in between innings.

Warm up anyone that might be called on to pitch. If you have to bring Susie in from CF, to pitch, then warm her up in between innings when she isn't batting.

"Avoid giving up the 5+ run inning if you can...don't give up a sure out at first, to try to get an unlikely tag at 3B."

I would re-read the above many, many times before you enter tournament play. Make sure your kids know that the play-ALMOST without exception- is the force out at first base...NOT the force out at second or third or even worse, the tag play at these bases. This is not 'dumbing them down.' The baseball mentality just doesn't work in 10u fp. Avoid the big inning where multiple runs score on you. You do this by taking opportunity of all outs at 1b to get the bats back in your hands. Then you hope the other team tries to get the lead runner out...