Difference in 10u softball and 10u baseball?

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Feb 21, 2017
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What are y'alls opinions on walks? We all know that if they throw you absolutely nothing there is nothing you can do. But what if it's close. My gut says to instruct the girls to swing at anything close, to get the ball in play. Logic says a walk is as good as a base hit, and I should just instruct them to take the walk. What are your thoughts?

My experience is that females (as a species) are less aggressive than males so encouraging them to swing at balls they can hit pays later. Boys are the opposite.

The girls I coached with a take a walk approach at a young age ended up watching too many called strikes as they got older. The ones who I encouraged to swing at a younger age are more aggressive and have more fight in the box now at ages 16-18. YMMV.

CoC


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Feb 26, 2018
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When my DD played 10U rec (seems like so long ago), the strike zone was batter's box to batter's box (line closest to the plate obviously), and chin to the shins. Games had a two hour time limit, 5 runs per inning, and the girls could only steal home once an inning on a past ball. So yes, swing at anything close. Nothing makes for a longer 2 hours than watching girls walk the whole time.
 
Oct 4, 2018
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Y'all have been great with the suggestions. Very happy I found this board. My plan in the draft was to go after fielders....assuming I could teach them how to throw, and hit, but catching is much harder. After that I went for Catchers since they usually have the best arm strength. Strength is another thing I can't teach.

I've heard from all my parents now. I have 4 girls that have dabbled in pitching, 3 catchers with gear and all, 3 that have never played. I got my one good pick in the draft. Because I didn't have an assistant coach I got another good pick while the other coaches had to pick their assistant coaches. At the end of the draft we drew names for the girls that didn't come to assessments. I have two of those. One has been taking pitching lessons (score) but had a basketball game that day. The other had two basketball games, and has been playing with the idea of travel softball.....SCORE! I am SOOO excited for this team.

I promise that softball ready will not mean glove on the ground....nor will I use my 4th OF'er as a MIF.

What are y'alls opinions on walks? We all know that if they throw you absolutely nothing there is nothing you can do. But what if it's close. My gut says to instruct the girls to swing at anything close, to get the ball in play. Logic says a walk is as good as a base hit, and I should just instruct them to take the walk. What are your thoughts?

We also teach swing at anything close and make the team run laps if they strike out looking. Yeah, we're a bunch of jerks. But it's a travel team so we're allowed.
 
Feb 17, 2014
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My DD never had a problem hitting. She's just always been blessed that she can hit. We had one mom tell her DD that there's not much cheering when someone gets a walk but there is a lot of cheering when someone hits the ball and that seemed to work for that kid.

My DD used to always say "Good things happen when you swing the bat!" I don't know where she got it from though. For a couple of years when she was younger that was like her motto.

I think you are going to do well CaCO2Girl. Good luck.
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
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I find myself saying "Good things happen when you swing the bat" to our girls. Perhaps it's a common saying.
 

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