This is my first post...
I was thinking about the comment mentioned concerning the season is now in full swing and the threads now focus more on strategy, rules, and playing time...rather than, technique...
I guess as a professional instructor...that caught my attention right away. I, like you, and many, many others who have a little bit of "knowledge" and "experience"...are aware of the continued importance of "technique!" I just happen to work at a facility where I see many travel teams come in to play games and work out during the Winter months, and more often than not, after evaluating the team/individual play...the last thing they need is games.
I watched a District play-off game a week or so ago that was greatly affected by a ground ball that allowed a runner to just beat out an infield hit. To the un-trained eye, the player did everything he/she could do. Had the "entire play/technique" been performed properly...the runner is out by 2 steps, instead of being safe by a 1/2 step.
I believe the biggest enemy in the game of softball is "lack of time!" Late with the catch, tag, throw, swing, to the base, etc. "Technique" (attention to detail!)is how we save/make-up, that oh so precious time. Saving time is accomplished by proper technique of repetitive drills. Teach the athlete how to perform the "task" properly/efficiently, coupled with athleticism...and you should have additional success.
Less games(you don't get better playing games...you get experience), more drills with extreme attention to detail...is a huge part of development for the highest levels of play.
We see Derek Jeter on TV perform the plays. What we don't see is the countless hours of ground balls/drills, and work with his fielding coaches, throughout, the season...every day...before games.
My ideal travel team would play 1 - 1.5 weekends per month and drill and play simulated/stop and review games the rest of the time. In order to "prepare" for games. A student(player) studies(practices) in preparation of taking(playing) the test(game). After the test...he/she..."reviews" the test(game), and studies(practices) again to prepare for the next game.
Just some of my opinions...hope you don't mind. Let me know what you think.
I was thinking about the comment mentioned concerning the season is now in full swing and the threads now focus more on strategy, rules, and playing time...rather than, technique...
I guess as a professional instructor...that caught my attention right away. I, like you, and many, many others who have a little bit of "knowledge" and "experience"...are aware of the continued importance of "technique!" I just happen to work at a facility where I see many travel teams come in to play games and work out during the Winter months, and more often than not, after evaluating the team/individual play...the last thing they need is games.
I watched a District play-off game a week or so ago that was greatly affected by a ground ball that allowed a runner to just beat out an infield hit. To the un-trained eye, the player did everything he/she could do. Had the "entire play/technique" been performed properly...the runner is out by 2 steps, instead of being safe by a 1/2 step.
I believe the biggest enemy in the game of softball is "lack of time!" Late with the catch, tag, throw, swing, to the base, etc. "Technique" (attention to detail!)is how we save/make-up, that oh so precious time. Saving time is accomplished by proper technique of repetitive drills. Teach the athlete how to perform the "task" properly/efficiently, coupled with athleticism...and you should have additional success.
Less games(you don't get better playing games...you get experience), more drills with extreme attention to detail...is a huge part of development for the highest levels of play.
We see Derek Jeter on TV perform the plays. What we don't see is the countless hours of ground balls/drills, and work with his fielding coaches, throughout, the season...every day...before games.
My ideal travel team would play 1 - 1.5 weekends per month and drill and play simulated/stop and review games the rest of the time. In order to "prepare" for games. A student(player) studies(practices) in preparation of taking(playing) the test(game). After the test...he/she..."reviews" the test(game), and studies(practices) again to prepare for the next game.
Just some of my opinions...hope you don't mind. Let me know what you think.