The pause between games

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moe

Aug 14, 2013
310
16
Hey all,

Struggling with the girls...

Two things need some help on...

1) I only have two pitchers, they play fielding positions as well as pitch, we are 16u. From a performance standpoint, when either one pitches the second game (being their first game), they are out of gas...I am guessing it is time for the pitchers to pitch only? I am seeing this even when there is a game gap between games. What are you all doing at this level? Solid B level.

2) Speaking of the Saturday gap between games, how are you all getting your girls loose and ready? Nothing seems to be working...mine are lethargic, and on their heels...what are some recommendations you all have to get them ready (without overdoing it)?

Thanks all.

Moe
 
Mar 29, 2017
155
18
Sounds like they need more conditioning. In the winter, I had my teams go to the gym twice a week where they would work out with a trainer. Since season has started, you may want to add a day that they would do this, in addition to regular practices. Playing at 16u they shouldn't be gassed out after one game. Pitchers or position players. Also suggest that they play a off season sport. My DD1 played field hockey and DD2 played volleyball, in addition to TB practices and tournaments.

For number 2, good luck. I haven't figured that out yet either, except for starting a round of warm ups 1 hour be game time. If game is less than an hour away, bathroom break, light food break, warm up at least 30 minutes before game. Adjust first 2 breaks to make sure I get in 30 minutes of warm ups.
 
Feb 4, 2015
641
28
Massachusetts
Sometimes it's the team make-up. DD was on a team that just never seemed to have a ton of energy; and then been on other teams that never run out of energy and play game 5-6 on Sunday just like it was the first game.

Other than personality, some things that seem to work...

- Music during the warm-ups.
- Light food, fruits, and maybe a little sweets during breaks.
- Swedish fish or m&m's in the dug-out.
- A quick run and stretch to start the warm-ups between games
 
May 4, 2016
70
18
East Coast
I'd echo MoparFin above with regard to conditioning. No one in any sport can go much longer or farther than they do in practice. Example: To run a marathon, you usually get your practice runs up to 20 miles over a four to six month training period and still have to pray that excitement gets you through the final 6 miles. Our equivalent is Game 4 on Sunday.

Maybe it's worth making Tuesdays your in-season pitcher conditioning day. Pitch for an hour, take a 30 minute break, and then come back and try to pitch for another hour... Then they still have Thursday to do a "normal" pitching day before weekend games. For most kids, this gives 'em adequate rest and recovery time.

Also, nutrition could be a component. Are the girls eating long chain carbohydrates well before Game 1? Horrible stuff like oatmeal, potatoes, rice, granola, and the sorts of things all teen girls abhor. If they are sugar spiking, then they will sugar collapse. What about food during the day? No one signs up to Coach so they can be the food police, but it's shocking what kids are allowed to self-feed by parents. Yes, kids have crazy high metabolisms and can eat junk, but not if they want to compete as athletes against other athletes.
 
Mar 29, 2017
155
18
Its funny you say Swedish fish, we used to do that. Kids loved them. And Sour Patch kids.

We would give them both right before a game or in between back to back games.
 
Last edited:
Apr 26, 2015
704
43
Also, nutrition could be a component. Are the girls eating long chain carbohydrates well before Game 1? Horrible stuff like oatmeal, potatoes, rice, granola, and the sorts of things all teen girls abhor. If they are sugar spiking, then they will sugar collapse. What about food during the day? No one signs up to Coach so they can be the food police, but it's shocking what kids are allowed to self-feed by parents. Yes, kids have crazy high metabolisms and can eat junk, but not if they want to compete as athletes against other athletes.

I was going to mention something very similar. DD's soccer coach used to be very strict about what they could and could not eat between games in a tourney. DD has carried that over to softball. She knows what fuels her body properly and is very strict (herself) about what she will and won't eat. Her team used to start the morning with donuts and sunny D in the dugout, but the girls only lasted an inning or 2 before they would crash. DD never had any (again - her rules for herself) and did great. Now her teammates will go out for greasy burgers and fries and pizza come back with milkshakes and sodas the size of DD's water jug and wonder why they don't feel good an hour into the game. Even when we have team potlucks in between games DD insists I pack her her own cooler. People always ask her how she always has so much energy.
 
Apr 5, 2013
2,130
83
Back on the dirt...
I was going to mention something very similar. DD's soccer coach used to be very strict about what they could and could not eat between games in a tourney. DD has carried that over to softball. She knows what fuels her body properly and is very strict (herself) about what she will and won't eat. Her team used to start the morning with donuts and sunny D in the dugout, but the girls only lasted an inning or 2 before they would crash. DD never had any (again - her rules for herself) and did great. Now her teammates will go out for greasy burgers and fries and pizza come back with milkshakes and sodas the size of DD's water jug and wonder why they don't feel good an hour into the game. Even when we have team potlucks in between games DD insists I pack her her own cooler. People always ask her how she always has so much energy.

This is huge, IMO. /\/\/\/\/\


And the conditioning is a large part of it as well. I know there is a "no running for softball" around here but the more tired the girls get during the regular week day and off weekend practices, the better they played in tourneys. They did not get as tired and made less mental errors.

We also try to do full warm ups before each game if there is more than 90 min between games. Cooling them down is easier than waking them up. This gets adjusted for hot temps.
 

moe

Aug 14, 2013
310
16
I guess I cant complain too much. They all play school ball and played everyday during spring break and Saturday before our two games sunday. That break though...that was their crash. mostly for the pitchers, but the rest too.

I need to get control of the diet. plain and simple.
 

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