Difference between baseball and softball strategies.

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Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
"Check the runner and go one" rarely works in softball unless it's hit like a shot and the fielder has a strong arm or you have a really slow runner.

Pitches in baseball bounce up when they hit the ground. In softball they skim the ground like grounders. Most will tell me I'm wrong, but for this reason I think dropping to your knees to block the ball is less important if you have a quick glove. I teach my catchers to "put your glove by your ankle" from the crouch and they pick most balls and are still on their feet if they need to throw. The outside pitch to a RHB still needs to be blocked.

:mad: This is not what the top catchers do or what the top catching instructors teach. See Catching camp.com (n/f NECC) or Jen Schro's site etc.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Any advice on the above scenario? In baseball we usually just had the 2nd baseman cover 2nd base for for right handed hitters and the shortstop would cover on left handed batters. At the 10u level I personally don't see a need for the 2nd baseman to backup the ss in case of a overthrow with the center fielder not playing that deep.

In advanced levels of baseball who covers 2nd on a steal is often pitch dependent. In college we would signal after the pitch was called who would cover.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
A good question, hopefully it will elicit some interesting responses. I would say one defensive difference is going after the lead runner...with the smaller basepaths things happen fast, you may not notice that a runner has a good jump or was going on a pitch when fielding a hit ball and trying to go after the lead runner. I hate to hear coaches say...runners at 1st and 2nd, where's the play...3rd. They're not wrong, but every girl on that field is going to get the ball and turn to throw to 3rd...if you don't get that runner you get zero outs on a cleanly fielded ball. Absolutely, get the lead runner if you can...but you have to get an out if you can't.

I don't know what kind of baseball you are watching but with men on first and second the only time anybody would try and get the runner out at third is if it is hit directly to, or to the throwing hand side, of the 3rd baseman or in the most obscure of circumstance, if the SS gloves it deep in the hole and his only play is at 3rd. Every other circumstance the play is to second or first if the ball is bobbled or something...
 

marriard

Not lost - just no idea where I am
Oct 2, 2011
4,312
113
Florida
So, so many differences....Defense is played at such a higher speed.

- At some point, outfield relays go away.... All our outfielders at 14U can make the throw to whatever base they need to get it to from the 200' fence and if they do it right, it can get cut if needed... but there is no need for relays or to practice them once this happens.
- Slappers cause massive havoc on defenses. Good ones can put so, so much pressure on your defense. Slappers who can also hit for power or even just hit line drives will drive you nuts.
- 3rd/SS have NO time to make the throw to first. Unless it is a real hard ball, you don't have time to set your feet, and casually throw the ball over to first. You WILL make weird arm slot side arm throws for outs.
- Outfielders have less time to communicate whose ball it is. There is less room out there and the overlap in coverage is bigger than on a full baseball field.
- Holding a runner is harder... and dangerous because the batter/runner going to first gets there quick.
- There is no macho BS...girls WILL bunt. Slapping is respected. Small ball can kill you.
- Double plays don't happen often - you MUST get one out.
- Your outfield is generally close enough to do some backing up of bases in the infield
- The dirt makes bounces worse as the game goes on. Grass tends to bounce back and even slow the ball a bit.. clay tends to make holes and bad bounces and it isn't slowing anything.
- The 'no lead' means you don't have to worry about 1st/pitcher dynamics before the pitch. You can just go (this makes the game move so much better)


Adding one... infielders are REALLY close to the bat. Like REALLY close. It is not uncommon to see 3B half way down the line... that is 30' or less from the bat. It is REALLY, REALLY close.

There are more...
 
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