| |
|
| |
Wednesday, March 14
Coaching Youth Fastpitch Softball, Tips, Drills and Strategies by Mysoftballcoach.com
Please take a look at this site. It has a lot of helpful information for Managers, Coaches and Players. It will be on our home page for a while, and then you can find it under Coache's Corner. Thanks!
Stepping out of the Bubble
Stepping outside the bubble is a way for a player to refocus, mentally and emotionally during a game. This is done in a couple of easy steps.
First, when a player goes out onto the field, they need to draw an imaginary circle in which they should be standing every time the pitcher goes into her wind up. This is your bubble. While in this bubble you are completely and totally focused. Your entire attention is on the play thats at hand. The field could be experiencing a 6.0 earthquake and you wouldnt feel it. Your bubble is a vacuum, totally void of all outside distractions. These distractions could be, but are not limited to...
- The weather.
- The fans.
- The other teams dugout.
- The pain or discomfort of an injury.
- The thought of a mistake you just made.
- Thoughts about family problems, a big test in school, your drivers exam.
- Thoughts about the great play you just made.
- Thoughts about what could happen two plays from now.
- Etc., etc., etc.
Your bubble is that spot on the field you dream about. Its the spot on the field that defines why youre here, why you love this game. Its the same spot on the field where great players have stood before. Yet, at each moment, just as the pitcher gets ready to pitch...its YOUR spot!
You know the count, you know the outs, you know where baserunners are and you KNOW the next ball is coming right to you!
So, just exactly how does this bubble work? After each pitch take a step backwards, out of your bubble, and do the following:
1. Consider the baserunners and the outs and ask yourself; If this ball comes to me, what am I going to do with it (REQUIRED)
2. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
3. Talk to yourself about how to prevent repeating an error you just made.
4. Tell yourself that those idiots in the other dugout dont know how to cheer.
5. Wish that your dad would stop trying to coach you from the bleachers.
6. Remind yourself that youre going to have to ice that sore hand after the game.
7. Shake off any other annoying thoughts or distractions.
8. Consider the baserunners and the outs and ask yourself; If this ball comes to me, what am I going to do with it (REQUIRED)
Youve got about 10 seconds to do all of that, making sure that the first and last thing you do is to Consider the baserunners and the outs and ask yourself; If this ball comes to me, what am I going to do with it (REQUIRED)
Next, once your self talk is over, and youve Considered the baserunners and the outs and youve answered the question; If this ball comes to me, what am I going to do with it (REQUIRED), then just before the pitcher goes into her delivery do the following---very deliberately:
1. Take a step forward, into your bubble.
2. Set up in the perfect ready position.
3. Completely eliminate all distracting thoughts from your mind
4. NOW TUNE IN AND FOCUS.
5. Fielders, focus only on the batter.
Catcher, focus only on the pitchers release point. Pitcher, focus only on the catchers target.
The key here is FOCUS! Youve just spent the last 10 seconds talking to yourself. Now you focus. Tune EVERYTHING out and just focus. You get into the perfect ready position and just focus.
BAM...the pitch is thrown, the play is over. Now step backwards, out of your bubble, and do it all over again. This cycle of defocusing, self talk, and refocusing will greatly improve your concentration. Its a quick way of fine-tuning your mind during the game and could be just the key to help take your game to the next level.
Note: While this exercise has been described as a defensive exercise, every player on the field can benefit from it. That includes batters, baserunners and coaches.
Throwing Drill
MECHANICS SERIES
This throwing drill is used for warm ups and is done is a series. It allows the players to focus on the "mechanics" of proper throwing techniques, using certain isolation drills.
1.) Indian style: have the players start approx. 10-12 yards from their partners sitting indian style. By throwing in this position, the players isolate the upper body motion, using the glove hand for proper shoulder rotation. To help emphasize proper follow through, the players should follow through, with their throwing arm elbow outside their knee, as if picking a blade of grass. (this can also be done in the kneeling position with both knees on the ground, bodies square to their partners.)
2.) One Knee: Have the players proceed to the one knee position, stride leg in front pointing towards their partners. The players should move back to approx. 15-20 yards. This focuses on upper body mechanics and accuracy. Again, the players should follow through with their throwing elbows outside their knee with bend int he waist.
3.) Standing: Players put all three together and begin throwing from the standing position. Again, emphasize using the glove hand to point at the target as well as proper follow through (throwing wrist should brush the outside of the knee).
4.) Crane: Players begin in the "crane" position. That is, with their stride leg raised in the air (knee bent), their glove hand pointing at their target, their throwing hand in the launch position (ball outside ear), players hold in this position for 2-3 seconds before releasing the ball. To ensure proper follow through, the players then take one full step towards their partner after releasing the throw. This helps the players focus on properly using their glove hand for emphasis on shoulder hip and knee rotation. What I tell the girls is that (if righty), their left shoulder, hip and knee point at their target and when they are done, their right shoulder hip and knee should be pointing at their target.
5.) Quick throw: Players work on framing and quick release. Players catch and throw without hesitation for approximately 1-1.5 minutes straight.
6.) Tags: While partners are working their "Crane" positioning, the receivers set up in the straddle position. When the throw comes in, they perform sweep tags. This allows the receivers to train as well as the throwers.
7.) Throwing for distance: Once the series has gone through, continue to have the players back up until they are able to make accurate, strong throws DIRECTLY to the receiver. No lob throws. This allows arm strengthening.
Good luck.
|
|
|
|
