Small ball?

[1999Coach]

What are some effective drills and strategies to teach a team of 12u's the art of small ball. We're a fairly new team with most of our players coming from rec ball ( first time playing tournament ball for all but a couple on the team ) so we're looking for any advantage we can get. We're trying to work on bunts and placement but without much luck. We only have 1 slapper on the team and she usually does make contact well.
Thanks, 1999coach

 

[mradosevic]

The best way to practice this is just to do it. Set up your starting infield, including your pitcher and catcher, because they are such a big part in defending bunts and the best way to practice bunting is off of live pitching.

Have the rest of your kids bunt. Have the bunters work on getting the bunt down, pulling the bat back if it's not in the zone, and getting out of the box quickly. Work on having your whole infield yell bunt as soon as the batter squares so everyone in on the same page. Have your corners and pitcher and catcher charging in the get the bunt, the girl with the best angle needs to CALL THE BALL just like a pop fly. Make sure your 2nd baseman know they need to cover 1st, shortstop covers 2nd, and left center fielder rushes in to cover 3rd. Hope this helps!

 

[starsnuffer]

First start by teaching the mechanics of the different bunts, one at a time. Not all will get it, so you go over the basic sac bunt while you move others onto more complex bunts. After you teach them the mechanics, you teach them strategy and placement, which is a great time to teach defense as well.

Sounds like you're working on teaching bunting right now. Focus on that. Focus on plain old square around early sacrifice bunting against fast pitches in various locations. Teach this down the 3B line and then the 1B line. Once they get the sac bunt down teach the sneaky bunt and fake bunt, then teach push and drag bunting. Your slapper might be very effective if she learns to drag bunt.

Probably the only video in the team usa softball series worth getting is the slapping and the art of the short game. This covers all the above mechanics, albeit not in very much detail, but if you're already familiar with them it's a good reminder.

-W

 

[D.G. OutLaws 16u]

The above is a great start! Create excitment by letting the whole defense know each player has a role....even the outfielders have key back up rolls. Teaching/showing this in live prsctice will do the trick. I would dedicate the whole practice scrimmiging rotating players a lot. Hopefully you have 11 players so you 'll have 1 batter and 1 baserunner.
The catcher most of the time calls out who will be picking up the bunt(she has best view)....typically the third baseman gets most. You as the coach also get the opportunity to get the girls used to getting signals from you(assuming your 3b coach)...don't bunt exclusively, have em swing away so the defense knows what to look for, batter squares to bunt, coners immediately crash in!! Also incorporate baserunning into the mix....getting shortstop to react quickly to cover 2b and second baseman covering 1b. Have Lf cover 3b..No one on defense gets to watch, they ALL have a job!! Its cool when the RF backing up the play gets the overthrow and throws advancing runner out at 3b(covered by LF).
For 12u just learning, live scrimmage is the best, as everyone participates both defensively and on offrnse...plus it gives pitchers some much needed circle time. Good Luck

 

[darken]

Something slightly radical...

We're trying to work on bunts and placement but without much luck.

Here's something our team of mostly first year TB players did last year. In an early summer tournament, during one game in pool play, we had each girl bunt at every at-bat. Regardless of situation, with two strikes, and even with bases loaded.

Of course the other team knew what was coming and they got to work on their bunt defense. Our players had a competition as to who could lay down the most fair bunts. They also learned a lot of short game baserunning skills.

We lost the game 3-2 but the girls learned a lot.

It was invaluable. The girls had done a lot of bunt drills against front toss, machine, and live pitching in practice all winter, but it really clicked for a lot of them during that game and it helped us throughout the season in situations where the short game was really needed.

 

[starsnuffer]

Here's something our team of mostly first year TB players did last year. In an early summer tournament, during one game in pool play, we had each girl bunt at every at-bat. Regardless of situation, with two strikes, and even with bases loaded.

Of course the other team knew what was coming and they got to work on their bunt defense. Our players had a competition as to who could lay down the most fair bunts. They also learned a lot of short game baserunning skills.

We lost the game 3-2 but the girls learned a lot.

It was invaluable. The girls had done a lot of bunt drills against front toss, machine, and live pitching in practice all winter, but it really clicked for a lot of them during that game and it helped us throughout the season in situations where the short game was really needed.

Awesome, we do this too, that's what Saturday's are for! Sometimes we bat the whole lineup from the lefthanded box for some real live practice against good opponents, it's the only way to really learn.

-W

 

[Ken Krause]

For learning the mechanics of bunting, especially the concept of "catching" the ball instead of punching at it, try taping an old glove to the end of a very light bat, then have the girls actually try to catch the ball. Offer a prize for the one who catches the most. It's fun, and it makes the point.

 

[starsnuffer]

Great drill, Ken, I use a lacrosse stick for this, same drill though I'm guessing.

-W

 

[softballphreak]

Great drill, Ken, I use a lacrosse stick for this, same drill though I'm guessing.

-W

That's what I've used. I put pipe insulation on the handle because of impact complaints. Works great.

 

[starsnuffer]

You can use a martial arts/karate kick pad too to get them started. These are about 4" thick and have a glove on the backside. Batter wears it on their back hand, and essentially "catches" the ball with it. Can move onto the glove/stick from there. I only break out the pad for younger kids (10u) and doing clinics for new players, but it may be worth considering if they're struggling. You can also have them swap gloves with a lefty and just catch it with the softball mitt.

-W