Backing up

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Mar 31, 2016
10
0
I'm looking for a list of situations and the proper way to have girls back up the play. I know this can be a very complex list depending on the situation. I'm just looking for a guide so I can help out our inexperienced HC. Its a new 12u team. Thanks
 

JAD

Feb 20, 2012
8,231
38
Georgia
Is there a particular scenario you are interested in? Y'all should get the watchESPN app and watch as much college softball as you can.
 
Mar 31, 2016
10
0
Thanks for the advise... for now I want to keep it simple ball hit to OF L,R,C with play at 2 then work at play at 3 and then play at 4
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
For new players I do not want them standing still, if the ball is in play go somewhere. Be nice a correct them if there was a better place for them to go.

Make sure the backup players leaves some space between her and the player she is backing up. If she is right on top of the player it is like having no backup at all and turns in too a race to get the ball.
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
I'm looking for a list of situations and the proper way to have girls back up the play. I know this can be a very complex list depending on the situation. I'm just looking for a guide so I can help out our inexperienced HC. Its a new 12u team. Thanks

First things first...

Teach them the three B's - Ball, base, backup.

On every ball in play, you have to do one of the three in that order of priority. Have them think about these three things before the pitch - "What do I do if the ball comes to me, what do I do if it goes somewhere else")

This covers lots of scenarios without having to go over scenario after scenario and boring the players. If you can get them to do this you are in pretty good shape for the majority of plays that occur.

Sometimes the weirder scenarios have to be learned in games and scrimmages. That is fine - there are better things to be using your practices for at 12U especially with a new team.
 
Oct 30, 2014
292
18
Seattle
I'm a big fan of the freeze drill. Teach them the BBB rule first and in practice set up a field and explain the situation (outs, where runners are). Then hit the ball and everyone moves to where they need to be, when the player fields the ball everyone has to freeze so the coaches make sure everyone is in the right spot, or at least headed in the right direction. After you freeze set everyone back and have them play the same ball all the way through. Do this a couple time every practice and they'll start getting the idea.
 
Mar 31, 2016
10
0
This is all Great info... but I need the part about who goes where. i.e ball hit to deep left center F6 cutoff f4 covers 2 F5 stays at 3 F1? F2? F3?
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
This is all Great info... but I need the part about who goes where. i.e ball hit to deep left center F6 cutoff f4 covers 2 F5 stays at 3 F1? F2? F3?

Btw, I teach this as:

"SS you are the cutoff on LF hits, LCF and anything straight to CF, 2B you are cutoff on RCF and RF. Everyone else - since 'Ball' is not you this hit - it is Base & Backup"

So they think 'base coverage ahead of the runners' but if someone is already covering, then they automatically drop into 'backup' mode.

It really isn't much more complex than that - and there is a whole lot less to try and remember and teach. Eventually, their experience and from encountering different situations, they will gain the game knowledge to handle the weird ones. I've been with coaches who go through the whole, if 'X happens and there is a runner on 1 and it is early in the game and we are winning and...., then F5 does this and F6 does this and F8 does this and ... and so on.' It is a waste of precious practice time and there are too many situations to really cover that will carry over into the games.
 
Oct 30, 2014
292
18
Seattle
^^ Agreed, easier to teach general rules than every single situation. Though I do like to put them on the field and run a few situations every practice to make sure we all get the idea and to help them out if we don't understand.
 

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