New 8u softball coach advice

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May 18, 2017
2
0
As the title says i am in need of some advice. We played our 3rd game last night and we won. The score was 10-0, after 5 innings and they called the game on the amount of runs. This made my girls first win and one of our loses was a blow out 14-1. Now I told you that to tell you that one of the board members came over to tell me that when it looks like we are going to win, to not run the girls on over throws. So what I am looking for is opinions on how to react to what the board member told me. I feel like this came from the other coach because his team wasn't hitting well. Again this is 8u coach pitch slow pitch softball. One other thing the board member suggested that I do was to change up the players during the game. We have 10 players and all 10 play each inning. On that topic during a game I never change players positions during the game. Now each game they play different spots but never switch during a game. I feel like they are still learning and moving them around while still learning makes it hard on them.
 
Nov 2, 2015
192
16
As the title says i am in need of some advice. We played our 3rd game last night and we won. The score was 10-0, after 5 innings and they called the game on the amount of runs. This made my girls first win and one of our loses was a blow out 14-1. Now I told you that to tell you that one of the board members came over to tell me that when it looks like we are going to win, to not run the girls on over throws. So what I am looking for is opinions on how to react to what the board member told me. I feel like this came from the other coach because his team wasn't hitting well. Again this is 8u coach pitch slow pitch softball. One other thing the board member suggested that I do was to change up the players during the game. We have 10 players and all 10 play each inning. On that topic during a game I never change players positions during the game. Now each game they play different spots but never switch during a game. I feel like they are still learning and moving them around while still learning makes it hard on them.

I'm coaching 8U now as well. On overthrows, I'd send them unless you're up a bunch. If you're up 10, reign them in. If not, let them run.
Once we're up 5 or 6, I've been telling my 1B coach not to say anything, and let the girls make the decision themselves. They've been taught to look for the overthrow, and to run if they can. We play "1 base on an overthrow", so it's not that big of a deal. I'd prefer they be aggressive until we tell them to hold. I think 10 is an ok number to start holding.

Regarding the line-up, I switch the girls every 2 innings. No girl plays more than 3 innings in the OF in any given game, and no girls plays any more than 2 consecutive innings in the OF. Just keep reminding them of where the play is at, and they won't be any more/less confused than they would be if it's their 5th inning in the same spot. It's worked well for me, and gives the girls infield reps every game. In my opinion, this helps them as the season goes along. We're 10 games into the season, and have outscored our opponents 129-26 so far. So, I think it's worked pretty well.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
Always hard IMO.

8U I am teaching playerzs to react to ball, not coaches. If they do not start running until they hear coach, they are late.

We had players playing all over the place in any given game, your philosophy works for me too.

I had a spreadsheet of who played where so I could keep track, busy body board member would be welcome to see it. Not a secret.
 
May 6, 2015
2,397
113
I too mostly useed to switch them every two inning (and i kept track as well, my first coach pitch team, 5-8 yr olds, i had 16 girls). however, I do see the logic in having them play one position only each game. as long as you switch up, and get them all in the infield at least half the time, should be OK, as long as you communicate this to the players and parents ahead of time.

regarding overthrows at this level, I normally held them, unless defense was really throwing ball around. regardless of score. 10u whole nother ball game. in our area 8u is all coach pitch, not compettive at all, coaches in field with the defense.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
It is always competitive no matter what the rules or if you keep score.

Yes, I have had an a few 8YO players ask if we are winning. We are down 25-0,, last at bat, 6 run inning limit ... Maybe not this game but get is closer.

Don't dummy it down because of opposing team.

(Chutes and ladders is the worse game ever, ask DD)
 
Feb 13, 2015
164
18
At 8u, when we were way up, I held runners to try and end innings with bases loaded. That gave us the most at bats for that game. If you let a batter hit and score on over throws to get the last run for that inning, you lose 3 at bats you could have had by holding them up. In games that barely go 3 innings, this makes a difference. I make sure the kids understand our strategy too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
 
Nov 2, 2015
192
16
At 8u, when we were way up, I held runners to try and end innings with bases loaded. That gave us the most at bats for that game. If you let a batter hit and score on over throws to get the last run for that inning, you lose 3 at bats you could have had by holding them up. In games that barely go 3 innings, this makes a difference. I make sure the kids understand our strategy too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

I do the same. I'd rather have 3 singles than a double plus an over-throw.
 
May 18, 2017
2
0
Thanks for all the responses and tips. After reviewing my play book the innings looked like this. 1st 4 runs, 2nd 1,2,3 outs, 3rd 1,2,3 outs, 4th 4 runs, and 5th 2 runs. So I feel like it was all political and being the new coach in the league my team couldn't possible be beating the other coaches team. About the switching around the players during the game I plan to keep doing it the way I am now. I listen to all the advice listed above and with only have 10 players I feel like they all will get a chance to play the infield. Now that being said if I had more players then I would be more open to switching them around. I will focus on the over throws once we secure a lead because at the end of the day we want to teach the players sportsmanship, not to only try until you are winning and then back off.
 
Apr 25, 2017
16
1
Canada
New 10U coach here. I run the girls 2 innings per position, then switch bringing the outfield in and sending part of the infield out. Being lazy and lucky my pitchers also like to catch so I cycle them each inning.
 
May 4, 2014
200
28
So Cal
Your board needs to set up the 8U rules appropriately instead of relying on new coaches to "know" when to run them... at 8U things that work is to limit one base steal per batter.. one base on an overthrow to 1st etc... as someone said you hold up runners so you get more at bats - at 8U a lot of managers are new and to expect them to know by "gut feel" when to be agresive and when not to be isnt going to work...

As for playing the same position the whole game it goes back to league setting expectations... while you may think thats the right way Im sure there are others that feel the opposite.. the league should define at the rec level what is the minimum infield and playing time per game and have new coaches stick to the rules...

Our league for example requires every kid to play infield at least once per game and can not sit back to back innings
 

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