This season DD and her three closest softball buddies are on different teams. So that means that we stay after her games to watch a friend, or come early to watch a friend, almost every single weekend. She sees things in their games that she doesn't see when she's playing - the different perspective really helps. I think she's learned more about how softball is played by watching other kids than she has by playing or practicing.
How to teach the Xs and Os
- Thread starter rp05
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This season DD and her three closest softball buddies are on different teams. So that means that we stay after her games to watch a friend, or come early to watch a friend, almost every single weekend. She sees things in their games that she doesn't see when she's playing - the different perspective really helps. I think she's learned more about how softball is played by watching other kids than she has by playing or practicing.
during the game, after the half inning where something went wrong, I would mention the scenario to talk about what we should have done,and tell them we will work on it in practice. And at 10u, believe me, some of the girls remember virtually every play.
I did not lecture at length about anything, during the practices. I was constantly talking, but unless it was one on one correcting some fundamental, it was as the drills were happening. In practice, I would just mention "hey, remember last game, situation X", then explain what we should have done, put the baserunners in position, then play. might repeat 2-3 times to get it right. the rest of the time, it basically is a scrimmage, but with coach hitting, no live pitching or hitting (since in my experience this is too much standing around because so few pitches are hittable, and only a fraction of these are actually hit). 4-5 baserunners vs 4-5 fielders (OF was worked on separately, usually an AC handled OF with spare ball in their glove). other than setting up one or two specific scenarios, I let the situations develop naturally, ie if base runner was thrown or tagged out, they came off base and got back in line to start from home again. after three outs, cleared the bases, start again. after 10-15 minutes, switch baserunners with fielders. this was normally near the end of practice (bringing them all together, as the first hour or so they are broken into small groups for drills/skills, ie ground balls, fly balls, BP, pitching/catching, rotating among the stations).
I do think you do need to mention perceived mistakes during game.
Players love me, What were you thinking?
I messed up, end of conversation.
I was doing this, you are smarter then me.
I was confused and did not know what to do, let's figure it out next practice.
Players love me, What were you thinking?
I messed up, end of conversation.
I was doing this, you are smarter then me.
I was confused and did not know what to do, let's figure it out next practice.
A great idea I am shamelessly ripping off from www.coaching-fastpitch.com (I have no connection to that site, just came across it one day).
There's a statistic that we only remember 10 percent of what we hear, 50 percent of what we do, and 90 percent of what we teach. I'm sure you have seen this in your own life. The best way to really understand something is to have to explain it to someone else.
Kids today love making videos. So harness that energy. Tell each player three things to remember. Then go home and make a video where THE PLAYER explains TO THE COACH those three things AND WHY.
Do not put the videos on YouTube or on Facebook.
Just have them email you the videos or if that doesn't work collect phones at the start of practice and you watch the videos while they warm up.
If the player explained something wrong or have the wrong idea, you know immediately and can correct it.
It works and they will love it!
There's a statistic that we only remember 10 percent of what we hear, 50 percent of what we do, and 90 percent of what we teach. I'm sure you have seen this in your own life. The best way to really understand something is to have to explain it to someone else.
Kids today love making videos. So harness that energy. Tell each player three things to remember. Then go home and make a video where THE PLAYER explains TO THE COACH those three things AND WHY.
Do not put the videos on YouTube or on Facebook.
Just have them email you the videos or if that doesn't work collect phones at the start of practice and you watch the videos while they warm up.
If the player explained something wrong or have the wrong idea, you know immediately and can correct it.
It works and they will love it!
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Do you have an example of this list?
- Nov 29, 2009
- 2,975
- 83
Draw a 1/3 size base path in the dirt. Put the players in their positions. Now you can physically walk the girls through as many reps as you need to without trying to yell instructions across the whole field. Keep working on whatever they don't grasp for as long as you need to. It goes much faster and I've found the girls will learn more when you talk to them as opposed to having to yell instructions across the field.
Try to simplify the rules as much as possible.
IF fly is in effect when there are less than two outs with bases loaded or runners on 1st and second.
D3K is in effect all the time unless there are less than two out with a runner on first.
Give them homework questions on fair/foul balls and some of the rules of the game. A few questions a week. Then work on them if you need to.
Do the same with base running. Put a runner on each base. Now you're working with 4 at time instead of 1 or all of them. Walk them through different scenarios starting with simple force out situations moving on to fly balls, dropped balls and IFF. Add in anything that you feel they need to know during the process. Don't try and get it all done during one practice. You'll have to revisit it multiple times till you're sure they have a firm grasp on the situations. You'll find as they learn more they'll learn quicker as they apply what they've learned.
I takes time. One piece of advice. NEVER assume they know something. NO matter how obvious it is to you.
Like sparky guy mentioned, shorten field in practice. You can get so much more accomplished.
