I've been helping coach our local high school team for the last few years. This year I'm dropping down to middle school assistant, because my youngest daughter is starting middle school. Not so I can play "daddy ball" and make sure she gets on the field, but so I won't have to miss her games because I'm at the high school games.
Also...the middle school program really needs help. They just started it a couple years ago, the head coach doesn't put a lot of effort into it (another reason I'm dropping down, although I'm sure it's going to be frustrating), and our youth leagues aren't very good either. Travel ball isn't a good option, because we're in rural WV and a couple hours from anywhere, and most parents don't really have the money for travel. My older daughter played on travel teams about 2 hours away (Roanoke VA and Bristol VA), and we may do that with our younger daughter when she gets a little older.
At the high school level we've had freshmen coming up that have no clue how to bunt, defend the bunt, how to run bases, etc. Stuff that to me should be basic softball knowledge, several of them have no clue. So, that's my goal, to get these girls ready for high school.
So I'm planning on a "study guide", basically putting some basic "rules" on paper, for them to take home and hopefully learn. I plan on quizzing them on it, and at some point having some form of "positive reinforcement" for mess ups, like running laps, push ups, etc.
For example...what I call fly ball priority. CF can call off everyone. LF and RF calls off infield. Middle infielders call off the corners...etc. Or...if you're on second base with 2 outs, and a ball is hit through the infield, you're running like you're going all the way home unless 3rd base coach stops you, as opposed to run to third and stop and then see where the ball is. Picking up 3rd base coach before you get to second base. etc.
All of this and a lot more we have had to try to teach high school girls, and that shouldn't have to happen IMHO.
Sorry this was so long, but basically, does anyone have any suggestions that they can think of for me to include, that I may not have thought about? Just good, basic general softball "common sense" stuff?
TIA for any responses.
Also...the middle school program really needs help. They just started it a couple years ago, the head coach doesn't put a lot of effort into it (another reason I'm dropping down, although I'm sure it's going to be frustrating), and our youth leagues aren't very good either. Travel ball isn't a good option, because we're in rural WV and a couple hours from anywhere, and most parents don't really have the money for travel. My older daughter played on travel teams about 2 hours away (Roanoke VA and Bristol VA), and we may do that with our younger daughter when she gets a little older.
At the high school level we've had freshmen coming up that have no clue how to bunt, defend the bunt, how to run bases, etc. Stuff that to me should be basic softball knowledge, several of them have no clue. So, that's my goal, to get these girls ready for high school.
So I'm planning on a "study guide", basically putting some basic "rules" on paper, for them to take home and hopefully learn. I plan on quizzing them on it, and at some point having some form of "positive reinforcement" for mess ups, like running laps, push ups, etc.
For example...what I call fly ball priority. CF can call off everyone. LF and RF calls off infield. Middle infielders call off the corners...etc. Or...if you're on second base with 2 outs, and a ball is hit through the infield, you're running like you're going all the way home unless 3rd base coach stops you, as opposed to run to third and stop and then see where the ball is. Picking up 3rd base coach before you get to second base. etc.
All of this and a lot more we have had to try to teach high school girls, and that shouldn't have to happen IMHO.
Sorry this was so long, but basically, does anyone have any suggestions that they can think of for me to include, that I may not have thought about? Just good, basic general softball "common sense" stuff?
TIA for any responses.