I stand about 15/20 feet away, wearing a gameface, throwing the little ones underhanded. (2nd year 14U team) I can position the ball where I want it. The biggest issue I have is on a windy day.
I believe in being physical in practice. You should run the bases and slide in practice. A lot. Don't bat the full lineup, even when you can -- only bat 9. Always. Carry 11, 12, 13 girls on the team, and be clear about competition for playing time, but also learn how to use your roster in...
I agree Osric -- 8 is the best place for the worst hitter, and if you have a tie for that honor, pick the the faster, better baserunner for 9 - don't want to clog the bases ahead of the top of the order.
Actually, there's a discussion about the top of the order as well -- where does your best...
Depends on the age group and rules -- I remember when I was coaching the really young kids, once the ball got into the circle, then everything had to stop. But once you get beyond that, the play doesn't stop until the baserunners stop.
What I've seen in this situation is the younger player and parents opting to play JV or middle school, vs. sitting the bench at the varsity level and playing just a little bit, and not getting very many at bats or game action.
The other thing I've seen in this situation is the younger player...
My sense is that the lesser players are generally the most time consuming parents/players. Maybe it comes down to this -- most parents think their kids are great -- but some of them are wrong.
I'm in the camp of runner at 2B should get to 3B -- in a hurry. The one thing that CANNOT happen is to have the runner from 2B standing four feet away from 3B, lollygagging, and creating a double play opportunity.
If the runner at 3B makes it back, then the trail runner should head to 2B. In...
I've used it a lot, but more as a focus/concentration drill with the girls much closer in and not the full throws that was here - -that said, I like spreading it out and making it their warm up throws.''
It's a solid, very hard and rigid plastic bar. Trying to think of something similar for comparison -- it feels as solid and dense as a drumstick, but out of a different material.
Our second year 14U team has been working on speed and quickness drills since the fall, and I probably time them home to first every practice just to show them how much they are improving.
The way I time them is that they all stand in the RH batter's box, I tell them to go, and I start the...
Two points that I think matter here.
1. Where does the improvement happen?
2. Does being on team where you play every inning of every game truly prepare you for school/college ball?
Point 1
In my mind, improvement for most players should happen in practice, rather than games. In a weekend...
I have 14U, and 12 is my target roster size. Everyone is mentioning the advantage of accomodating injuries, etc., but I also focus on the competition for playing time that that roster size promotes.
Hand in hand with fostering competition, I also never bat more than 9 in any game (I often use a...
I agree -- downtime is a good thing -- and not just for the girls. Coaches need some downtime as well -- as hard to sustain the energy without some downtime.