- Mar 13, 2015
- 12
- 0
I am coaching my DD as a first year 10 and I can safely say that girls at this age will be successful if taught a few simple things that are practiced regularly.
Throw and Catch
1. Teach them proper throwing mechanics - These girls will hit their target regularly throwing close and
easy, but they need to learn to do it throwing hard and from distance (through long toss). This will
only come with proper mechanics and training.
2. Teach them how to catch balls that are not thrown directly at their gloves. I don't care how many
defensive drills you work on, if your girls cannot throw or catch it won't matter! I see way too many
$10 plays and .05cent throws to players with average gloves at best.
3. Proper base running - Nobody seems to realize the importance of this, and therefor they do not
teach it to any extent anymore. Proper base running is essential and should be done at every
practice!
Again, these 3 things alone will make a huge difference, and keep you off the glycerin pills.
I'm coaching my stepdaughter's team (5th grade-8th grade). Personally I think this is too big of a age span but we are getting girls from a limited pool. Some of these girls are just playing because their friends are on the team or their parents want them to play (that's fine) but some of these girls are very serious and the 7th and 8th graders are looking at the next level (HS and travel). These are the girls who can really learn from reading the plays themselves and then practicing them.
As for teaching the basics you are absolutely correct. I am getting some of these girls coming up from our Minors division who dont have the basic skills. Not saying my way is right because there are as many ways to teach something as their are coaches. Just wish these girls would move up a division and know how to throw or swing a bat. I have a lot of girls who move up and have no idea where the positions even are.