Defense, can anybody play anywhere?

[CMMom1740]

With DD as a lefty, I've heard the "conventional wisdom" from various coaches over the years. Lefties should play outfield, 1st base, or pitch. Nothing else. DD is a lefty catcher and has been very successful with it, but has run into quite a few coaches who don't believe she should be playing that position. She's not going to pitch and she is (in my opinion) not fast enough to be an A-level outfielder. That leaves 1B (which is her secondary position), but C is her love.

 

[radness]

This is a good conversation piece.

My 14U DD plays MI and 3B 90% of the time and occasionally, this past fall, has also played LF and RF. She is the only one that plays this many positions.
other 3B only plays 3b
other 2B plays RF as well
SS only plays SS
pitchers also play 1B


As an AC, I think it would be for the others to move around as well to help better understand the game. But as a dad, I’m glad she is the one getting to see all of these positions. I’m curios though if there could be a detriment to moving around so much. She used to catch up until 2019 and has played 1B in 2019 and pitched a little previously In 10 and 12u. I love that she has been everywhere.

"This is a good conversation piece" pattar brought it up in a different thread...
Tried to encourage them to
post --O--.
...liked topic....so here it is.

Like "4 girls dad" curious question
If moving around too much can be a detriment?

 

[_MIA_]

"This is a good conversation piece" pattar brought it up in a different thread...
Tried to encourage them to
post --O--.
...liked topic....so here it is.

You are better at starting topics..mine just end with me whining about everthing

 

[radness]

You are better at starting topics..mine just end with me whining about everthing

Haaha
Good topic!!

 

[_MIA_]

She's not going to pitch and she is (in my opinion) not fast enough to be an A-level outfielder.

Depends on what level of college she plays and how well she hits. Jocelyn Alo is no burner and Gasso finds a way to use her in LF/RF...

 

[Rolling Hard]

It is funny sometimes when I see certain good teams (12u) with a bunch of big girls that can hit for power and another team with a bunch of speedy lefties. So the big girl team has a log jam at the corners defensively and the speedy team has no power hitters but have good range in the OF. I don't know if coaches do this to themselves purposely or it just sorta happens.

Give me the speedsters and athletic. Some of these big slow girls are very limited positionally and only the best of them will make to their HS team. Think there is a better chance that the speedy 12u athletes grow than the big girls get athletic. When you watch college ball you see a few big monsters hitters (185 plus lbs.) but see a lot more 115 to 135 lbs athletes.

But, I have seen OFs that are slower but gets a very good jump on the ball and actually covers more ground and make more catches than some of the faster indecisive players.

 

[CoachJD]

She's not going to pitch and she is (in my opinion) not fast enough to be an A-level outfielder.

I feel pretty strongly that a softball player doesn't have to have elite, or even good, speed to be a decent corner outfielder. The field just isn't that big.

An outfielder who gets good reads, good jumps, and perhaps most importantly positions herself well before the pitch is thrown, can play the corners.

 

[radness]

To add to discussion....
Think age & level of softball
play a role in this.

What about technical skills?
Out fielders tend to having longer throwing mechanics than infielders.

Infielders tend to have quick feet.
Outfield better distance sprinters.

Infield/outfield seeing the ball off bat is different.

Infield deals with covering bases.
Outfield.....no bases to cover.

When going to a travel team how many pick there 1st or 2nd choice positions at a certain age? To go to tryouts?

If an athlete has trained
Say 80% infield....
Can they ...will they... be as
experienced as an outfielder who has played 80%
Trying out for same position.
Or vice versa?

What about the shuffling players
who get 30% here or there over the years? How do they fit in at tryouts? How do they compete to earn a starting position?

Notice top teams in so cal look for position players to pick up.
Atleast for the starting 9
Then atleast 3 pitchers
Then utility fill-ins. 3-4'ish

Go Defense!
Go Feedback!

 

[marriard]

At younger ages many coaches say "everyone should learn to play all positions"
Hmmmm? Is that accurate?

Pretty much. Maybe not catcher or pitcher unless they want to - but otherwise yes. For most players you have ZERO idea who they will be or who they will need to be as they go through the age groups. There is the odd elite athlete - but they are even rarer than people think. At some point, maturity evens the field for the majority of players. I am not excluding a 9 year old from learning a position because she is going to get more game time at a different position - who knows what happens in the season or next season or what some other coach may need from her.

What physical/mental requirements does it take to play the different defensive positions?

That is a LONG discussion. But frankly, I just love competitive players who play hard. If they give 100% where they are placed to the best of their abilities I am 100% fine. Take my best 9 bats + 1 fielder (to flex) and I will figure out where they go.

Being there are different levels of softball in all age groups and college.
How do these questions affect n athletes goals? Or do they? Should they?

They shouldn't. The outfield in college is often full of ex-shortstops and infielders and even big-bats with average speed you need a spot for because the really slow big-bat is at 1B and you can only flex one player.

There was a D1 team a couple of years ago who had a first-time catcher because of injuries. It happens. Recruiting-wise your coach should know how to showcase you to the best of your abilities when coaches are there to see you.

The reality is that many players end up with a primary position and then secondary positions where you can play them. The drop off on good teams when the #2 or #3 choice at a position is normally fairly minimal or even zero - you can't do that if only 1 player can play that position at the level of play.

"everyone should learn to play all positions" accurate?

At older ages every player should have a strong grasp on how each position is played - even if they don't play there. It isn't rocket science for the most part - field the ball, make an out. Ball, base, backup will get you through 90% of any situation. Corners charge on bunts... etc, etc... A catch is a catch. A ground ball, a ground ball. Sure there are those better suited to a position over others - but that doesn't mean you shouldn't have the basics down if coach asks you to play there.

My DD pitches... but when she isn't, she fills in all over the place. In HS she played 1B, 2B, 3B and SS at various times when she wasn't pitching because her team needed her to. In travel she did the same - and played some RF for good measure. And this is for high level 18U national-level teams. Never blinks an eye - just heads on out. Some days I think we should start a pool guessing where she is heading to when she steps out of the dugout. In college, DD expects to pitch, bat and field and has a good chance of doing that.

 

[Eric F]

I'm a fan of younger players learning the basics of every position (P and C only if they are willing to do the work), because it increases their knowledge of the game, and develops their skills as an overall ballplayer. Every player should know how to run down a fly ball, field a grounder, make good throws (short and long), etc.