I've never played softball, but I want to coach

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Sep 16, 2020
2
3
Hi everyone, I hope I'm posting in the right forum.

As the title says, I've never really played softball. I only know the very basics of it from watching friends/family play. However, my daughter loved playing in the 5U and I'm hooked on it after talking to some moms/coaches/players. I think this would be a great skill/confidence booster for my daughter, and I want to dive right in. I want to be able to start at least assistant coaching her teams moving forward. However, I'm clueless on where to start. Obviously, learning more about the game of softball, but what's the best ways to go about this? And then after that where do I go? I am completely lost and looking for any and all help or advice.

Thank you!
 
Oct 2, 2018
205
43
Georgia
Find a mentor coach who can show you how to teach the basics on fielding, batting, throwing. The desire to coach will drive you toward the answers. You learn a lot by watching softball and reading the rule book. Find local high school teams or travel teams and watch them play. See how they warm up, study what makes better teams stand out, and ask the coaches if you can pick their brains.

Teaching proper throwing mechanics early is a great place to start, high level throwing https://www.highlevelthrowing.com/library/
Teach them how to catch from knees with tennis balls without gloves
 

NBECoach

Learning everyday
Aug 9, 2018
408
63
Hi everyone, I hope I'm posting in the right forum.

As the title says, I've never really played softball. I only know the very basics of it from watching friends/family play. However, my daughter loved playing in the 5U and I'm hooked on it after talking to some moms/coaches/players. I think this would be a great skill/confidence booster for my daughter, and I want to dive right in. I want to be able to start at least assistant coaching her teams moving forward. However, I'm clueless on where to start. Obviously, learning more about the game of softball, but what's the best ways to go about this? And then after that where do I go? I am completely lost and looking for any and all help or advice.

Thank you!
I had to read it again. 5U? I didn't know that even existed
At that age games are not softball. Walks HBP bad throws,etc. Use the formative years to develop skills please. So that by 8U she has a good foundation..

Playing games without good basic skills is like taking a final exam from cliff notes.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD played 6U then took a break, be nice.

DD will watch these games all day long, HC yelled at her to pay attention at practice , she was following thier game , losing battle for coach.

No way coach is going to win this one.
 
Last edited:
Feb 26, 2020
3
3
Don’t let the lack of experience stop you. I know a highschool coach that never played ball growing up. He attended many coach clinics and studied the game. He built a very respectable program and helped many players to get into college.
 
Apr 17, 2019
331
63
I work primarily with younger players, building fundamentals. My advice is to make a game out of everything.
  • Hitting off the tee? Set up cones, 3 points if it gets past the last set of cones
  • Throwing? Points for getting it in the hoop (or whatever you can dream up - knock a stuffed animal off a tee; 5 points)
  • Fielding? Use the triangle drill, see how many times you and your partner can roll the ball back and forth in a minute
  • Catching? Play 21 (or 14, or 7 as the age permits) Who can get 7 first?
Go buy the Wasserman high level throwing course now, teach good technique from the beginning.
Don't overthink hitting. Neckslot (or knob to catcher) - hips turn - hands get to extension. That will get them a looong way to an elite swing. (I wish I'd just simplified it to that years ago.)
 

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