Opening the game up to more pitchers and hitters

This subject is often talked about in softball circles around here. The following are some of the suggestions I hear to open the game up to more pitchers and hitters.

- Standardized bats with less pop (aluminum &/or composite that are supplied by the league)
- Longer base paths
- Increased pitching distance especially at higher levels

Let me know your thoughts.

Mad4Ball said:

This subject is often talked about in softball circles around here. The following are some of the suggestions I hear to open the game up to more pitchers and hitters.

- Standardized bats with less pop (aluminum &/or composite that are supplied by the league)
- Longer base paths
- Increased pitching distance especially at higher levels

Let me know your thoughts.

Click to expand...

Unless you are referring to very young (6U-8U) developmental activities I would run from any organization contemplating such actions. There are way too many unintended consequences when you start mucking with the dynamics of the game. Granted, the game is not perfect but it certainly is not broken. When people start changing the game in their little corner of the world they stifle an athletes ability to move up and transition into the real game.

For several years people have discussed moving the pitching distance back to 46', doing away with the pitching lane and leaping rules. As a PC with numerous college players in the game including a DD pitching in the SEC all I can say is make our day and prepare to take a seat. I have been through this exercise with several of my pitchers and if you think it will make them less effective...

Mad4Ball said:

This subject is often talked about in softball circles around here. The following are some of the suggestions I hear to open the game up to more pitchers and hitters.

- Standardized bats with less pop (aluminum &/or composite that are supplied by the league)
- Longer base paths
- Increased pitching distance especially at higher levels

Let me know your thoughts.

Click to expand...

Hate the longer base paths idea (actually you're referring to base lines). Short distance between the bases is what makes softball unique and a game of speed compared to the snail's pace of baseball. Lengthen the bases and that goes away.

Moving the fences back would accomplish both those goals, just too expensive to do.

Mad4Ball said:

This subject is often talked about in softball circles around here. The following are some of the suggestions I hear to open the game up to more pitchers and hitters.

- Standardized bats with less pop (aluminum &/or composite that are supplied by the league)
- Longer base paths
- Increased pitching distance especially at higher levels

Let me know your thoughts.

Click to expand...

The best way to improve the game is to try to get more girls pitching at the younger age groups in REC ball. If I was a REC coach my first practice I would line up every girl and have them throw to each other with the windmill motion. Hopefully I could identify a couple that show some natural ability. Getting the parents to "buy in" and work with the kids outside of practice is also critical to long term success.

IMO, it starts at the younger levels. The coaches need to capture their interest and allow them to develop gradually. When I coached what was called "minors", we had three girls that pitched for my team. I had them practice pitching at every team practice, and opened this up to any other player that wanted to try it. I did not know the proper mechanics. I just did what I could to help them enjoy pitching. Eventually two of them (including my DD) showed a higher level of interest that was beyond my capability of teaching, so I found them a pitching coach.

Earlier this year, DD and I were driving by the field and decided to watch some of the younger girls. "Minors" in our area is now "coach pitch". Not much pitching development happening there.... I asked one of the parents about this. His response was that the pitching was horrible. Each game became a walk fest. So at the rec meeting prior to the season, the organization voted to make it coach pitch. IMO this is a huge mistake.

I'm an advocate for wood bats only. Both in baseball and softball.

Do you know what the hottest wooden bat is? I do not know if I could handle opening this conversation up.

No one mentioned the ball yet. I forgot who changed the ball but it got mixed reviews, most seemed to be more negative than positive.

JAD said:

The best way to improve the game is to try to get more girls pitching at the younger age groups in REC ball. If I was a REC coach my first practice I would line up every girl and have them throw to each other with the windmill motion. Hopefully I could identify a couple that show some natural ability. Getting the parents to "buy in" and work with the kids outside of practice is also critical to long term success.

Click to expand...

This ^^^

Unfortunately in rec, at least in my league, the level of parent involvement is ridiculously low. They want to drop off the kid and come back in 90 minutes to pick them up and take her to soccer or volleyball or some other activity. The idea of work outside of scheduled practices or games is a non-starter. I'm lucky if I can scrounge up enough head coaches for the teams (I had to threaten several folks with folding their teams last season if they wouldn't step up).

I'm completely open to ideas on how to gain interest and increase parent involvement!