I need tournament prep help!!!

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Feb 9, 2009
392
0
My 10U team will be playing tournaments for the first time this spring. :D All are experienced softballers who learn quick. However, I have NO IDEA what I should be preparing them for in these games, compared to league games...AND..I really don't want to find out I was preparing them wrong in the middle of the first game...

ANy help, tips, drills, and insights from all you experienced coaches out there would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
 
Jan 15, 2009
585
0
Step 1 know the rules. Each tournament has it's own rules for game time, run rules, substitution.

You wouldn't want to show up planning to bat the roster and sub freely only to find out they are using strict ASA substitution rules

Especially at 10U would want clarity on what D3K rules are being used and practice for them if they are different from what you are used to

Be 100% on exactly where the tournament is and how to get there. Can't tell you how many times the written directions on how to get somewhere are wrong. Usually I look on Google Maps Satelite view and when I see fields I know that they are leading me to the right place.

Have a communication plan for last minute game updates location/direction changes. I like texting, at 10U kids may not have phones.

Bring some ziplocs(for ice) and a first aid kit with (don't count on tournament to provide) and have someone bring a cooler with ice for injuries.

Make out your lineups at least 2 games ahead of time so that if you find yourself playing back to back with no down time you have a plan.

Have fun!!
 
Jan 6, 2009
165
0
Texas
Snocatz is dead on, make sure you have every one's cell phone numbers, make sure you have something or somebody to help you move gear from field to field. Locate restrooms with each field you go to - send the girls in pairs, usually you dont have to ask - but do.

Remember to cycle your catchers as well as your pitchers. If you have pool games (non-seeding pool games) , make sure everyone gets at-bats so if there are any last minute adjustments, you can work on that.

Before your first game, we like to go through some hitting drills, the best for us has been a) hitting regular balls into a net, b) hitting small balls, I like the jugs small ball machine. Then we split the group up into ifs and ofs and do grounders to the IFs and fly balls to the OFs.

During warmup, I run through the line up with the players and let them know who is playing where, who is sitting out, when I expect to get them in. I make sure to tell the pitchers who is starting and who is backing up, an hour before the game, so they have time to do their pre-game.

Then when we get to the dugout, the prayer leader takes the team aside and leads the group in a prayer.

After each game, be sure you know the field and time of the next game, tell them when you want them there, we do an hour before, unless its a hot nasty, and we might do 45 , and again unless we are in back-to-backs. Make sure to tell the girls to go to the bathroom - I had one of my 18u's this weekend come running up right before time to go on the field, and I had to put in a sub.

SnoCatz last instruction is by far the most important "Have fun" - the most important thing that can come out of this is some day, when these kids are in their 20's, they look back and say 'Wow, that was fun". That being said, when I ask my girls what is the most fun thing about fastpitch, they say "Winning !".
 
Oct 18, 2009
604
18
There's other things you might like to consider bringing or asking one of the parents to bring, like a popup canopy (or two) of some sort to keep the girls cool or dry during or between games. Some dugouts have no cover so the shade is nice on hot days. Some girls bring their own drinks but a cooler filled with ice and water is nice to have ready. It can get really hectic sometimes with packing up and moving all the equipment to different fields so you really dont want the girls have to worry about anything other than playing softball so enlist parents as helpers as much as you can. Especially at 10u.

Something to organize bats/helmets/gloves isn't absolutely necessary but can be nice so the girls don't have to worry about looking for their stuff or putting them on the ground and getting their helmet dirty.

You are basically at the field the whole day so you might want to setup some sort of "base camp". Between games, if its not back to back, the girls need a place to rest, relax and eat. A lot of team bonding happens during that time too. I've seen organizations have a few canopies next to each other where the girls can keep their equipment and relax in the shade and have a whole spread of food and drinks on tables under the canopy. Again, enlist parents to help. They are usually more than willing to help with this stuff.
 
May 29, 2009
38
0
Pop-up tents are an absolute must. Also a rolling cooler is your best friend. I like packing breakfast/lunch in case there's no concession stand. Once I'm at the field, I like to stay the day. Many parents will leave the site so make sure they know what time to be back. I recommend that if there's no concession, send the parent for the food with the player staying with the team.

As far as the team goes, you must have some kind of net or two to hit into for warm ups. There's usually not that much room to warm up. Most games are timed at 1:20 which goes very quickly. Check to see if the tournament is drop dead or finish the inning. If it's drop dead, find out if the score reverts back to the previous full inning. Drop dead is more like coaching basketball...you have to consider the clock. Not saying you tell your kids to tie their shoes (seen that plenty) but you do have to keep it in mind strategically. If the score doesn't revert back (rare but it happens), pick visitor if you win the toss.

Have fun!!:D
 
May 7, 2008
8,506
48
Tucson
Watch the equipment. You can't believe how much stuff is getting stolen.

I don't know where you are located, but in Phoenix we never leave anything in the cars. either.

Also, take a lot of pictures.

Don't be reluctant to call time out and talk to your pitcher.
 
Dec 12, 2009
169
0
CT
Lots of ideas here about logistics, and they are all very good!! One in particular that I would echo is to have a set plan for your warm-ups...stretching/loosening up, throwing, ground balls, fly balls, hitting (wiffles, soft-toss, etc), and get there early to try and stake out a spot for warm-up. Get your kids familiar with the routine so it is easy to get them organized (can be tough at 10U). Also, be sure to leave enough time for your pitchers to get fully warmed up, as well as participate in the hitting & fielding. We always look to have 2 pitchers warmed up & ready for every game.

Between games, if you can set up a couple pop-ups as a base camp, just arrange to have at least one parent there so the kids can confidently leave their equipment there and go off to watch a friend's game, visit the concessions, etc.

Also be sure to know how much transition time you have between games if they are back to back and you have to change fields. If game times are 90 minutes, that doesn't leave much time to get a new pitcher ready for the second game, especially if you need to change fields. You may have to take her out late in the first game, and have a parent warm her up.

As far as preparing your team goes, I would say at 10U, focus on executing the fundamentals consistently.

> Defensively, that means getting the outs that they give you, especially in the infield. If you can turn most of the ground balls into an out, then you should do pretty well. But if you are letting them have 5 & 6 outs an inning, that is gonna be trouble.

> At this level there are going to be bad throws made. If you work on back-up responsibilities, you can minimize the 2 and 3 base errors that can really rack up the score.

> The kids need to be learning defensive responsibilities as well, like LF covering 3B bases on sac bunts , etc.

> Also, at that level, I think walks and passed balls are the real killers. If your pitchers can make the other team put the ball in play and earn their runs, you will be in good shape.

> Offensively, other than the obvious, practice getting the bunts down consistently to move runners and put pressure on their defense. Also, have the baserunners and coaches be aware of opportunities to take advantage of defensive lapses by the other team (e.g. leaving 3B or Home uncovered on a sac bunt)

In general, the coaches & kids & parents need to realize that it is going to be a step up in competition over what they are used to, and you need to manage everyone's expectations. Go into the first couple tourneys just looking to have fun and to get used to the competition, without any expectations on how you will finish. You can then see how your team stacks up, and what areas you need to work on.

Overall, tournament play is really a blast, and for those of us who enjoy the game, it's a wonderful way to spend a couple days with our kids!!!
 
Sep 6, 2009
393
0
State of Confusion
My 10U team will be playing tournaments for the first time this spring. :D All are experienced softballers who learn quick. However, I have NO IDEA what I should be preparing them for in these games, compared to league games...AND..I really don't want to find out I was preparing them wrong in the middle of the first game...

ANy help, tips, drills, and insights from all you experienced coaches out there would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

Lots of good info given, was it what you were looking for? Your question seems angled toward how different the competition will be vs. what you are used to.

Not sure how to answer that except that you will likely be facing teams playing more well-rounded games than you have been, with more skilled girls. Better pitching, tight defense, stronger hittiing, baserunning, and a more complete overall game. So obviously, you should be preparing to play the same kind of game to the best of you and your girls abilities.

The main thing is to practice, practice, practice until things happen automatically. Travel teams practice A LOT. Even at 10U, thats how they build skills.
 
Oct 18, 2009
604
18
Make sure you are able to play small ball and teach your girls how to run the bases aggressively. My DD's first tournament game in travel was in the fall against a 10u team who had played together all spring and summer. They knew how to execute and defend against the bunt and run the bases aggressively. It was a wake up call to our brand new 10u team. If your team can't defend the bunt well (especially in different situations with runners on base) the other coaches will pick up on it and bunt all day.

As that tournament progressed our coaches quickly addressed the bunt defense while our girls started to get the idea of how to run by watching the other team and started to learn how to run the bases better. Our team was big and strong, with good hitters but for the most part slow. We worked on bunting and the bunt defense a lot during that fall and winter. The following spring teams couldn't bunt on us the way they did the past fall. Even if we were slow we bunted on teams that couldn't defend it. In the finals of one tournament we did play one small but fast team in the spring (our girls were big). Because of their size they didn't look like they would be a team we should have a problem with. Our teams average height was probably 6" taller than most of their girls. We had two girls who were throwing pretty hard for that age. Most girls couldn't hit them so most would be forced to bunt. So for the most part for all games our defense was drawn in expecting the bunt 75% of the time with less than 2 strikes. 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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