obbay
Banned
It's a U16 LL team (ages 13-17), 16 players on the roster.
they've all been playing softball for years, but most dont get it.
with 16 players, i easily spend at least an hour in preparation for each game figuring out who goes in where and when to make sure everyone gets at least 3 defensive innings without creating obvious holes in the defense.
The team doesn't believe in itself and I don't either. I think I've gone too far in the direction of being relaxed and "we'll get 'em next time", but my level of frustration had been through the roof with players playing without a clue.
I used to get really irritated when I would make a point of telling them all to slide on close plays, especially at the plate after being warned by an umpire, and then having experienced HS players make outs by running home, colliding with the catcher and not sliding.
Players not taking signs or not knowing the signs (there are only 5 and no indicator sign)
Players running to 2B and turning their back on 3B while they watch the RF get the ball and throw it in.
Not running after balls in the OF, especially the ones that hit fair and roll into foul territory.
Players covering a base on a force play not leaving the base to catch the ball but instead allowing it to roll out of play
Throwing over cutoffs head to no one or throwing to the wrong cutoff.
Pitcher turning her back to an agressive BR on 3B after receiving throw back from catcher
Catchers trying to pickoff a BR too close to their base, resulting in an overthrow to the OF where no one is prepared to back up the play. (several times a catcher has overthrown the fielder with me yelling "NOOOOO!!!"from the time she began to draw her arm back
pop flies landing in the dirt 5'-0" behind the nearest infielder
etc.
again these are mostly High School girls who have been playing for years.
We are 0-10. we have successfully snatched defeat from the jaws of victory several times. Lately we don't even get close.
Any advice on what I should do with my attitude or demeanor to help bring this team into focus? I'm thinking of playing certain kids all the time and rotating everyone else in and out, but we don't have more than a couple good players- who are no longer playing well.
they've all been playing softball for years, but most dont get it.
with 16 players, i easily spend at least an hour in preparation for each game figuring out who goes in where and when to make sure everyone gets at least 3 defensive innings without creating obvious holes in the defense.
The team doesn't believe in itself and I don't either. I think I've gone too far in the direction of being relaxed and "we'll get 'em next time", but my level of frustration had been through the roof with players playing without a clue.
I used to get really irritated when I would make a point of telling them all to slide on close plays, especially at the plate after being warned by an umpire, and then having experienced HS players make outs by running home, colliding with the catcher and not sliding.
Players not taking signs or not knowing the signs (there are only 5 and no indicator sign)
Players running to 2B and turning their back on 3B while they watch the RF get the ball and throw it in.
Not running after balls in the OF, especially the ones that hit fair and roll into foul territory.
Players covering a base on a force play not leaving the base to catch the ball but instead allowing it to roll out of play
Throwing over cutoffs head to no one or throwing to the wrong cutoff.
Pitcher turning her back to an agressive BR on 3B after receiving throw back from catcher
Catchers trying to pickoff a BR too close to their base, resulting in an overthrow to the OF where no one is prepared to back up the play. (several times a catcher has overthrown the fielder with me yelling "NOOOOO!!!"from the time she began to draw her arm back
pop flies landing in the dirt 5'-0" behind the nearest infielder
etc.
again these are mostly High School girls who have been playing for years.
We are 0-10. we have successfully snatched defeat from the jaws of victory several times. Lately we don't even get close.
Any advice on what I should do with my attitude or demeanor to help bring this team into focus? I'm thinking of playing certain kids all the time and rotating everyone else in and out, but we don't have more than a couple good players- who are no longer playing well.
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