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Admin
Last updated
08-02-09 12:28 PM
 
ARBUTUS FIREBALLS
Monika Campbell
443-250-8748
1259 Poplar Avenue
Arbutus, Maryland
21227
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 Neat Tips & Drills |
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BASERUNNING
BALLS OF THE FEET
I get a lot of e-mail asking how to improve speed to first base.
First of all, you must realize that the game of softball is played entirely on the balls of your feet, regardless of what position you play. There are only 2 times when your heels should hit the ground.
1. In between pitches when you are relaxing
2. In the dugout in between innings.
To generate more speed you must realize the dynamics of running. If you are running with your heels hitting the ground first, you are actually pulling the ground toward you. This is not generating any speed. When you run on the balls of your feet and leaning forward, you are pushing the ground away from you and this generates power and speed.
One of the best drills I have ever seen to improve strength in your stride (running stride) is to do static jumps. This is done by stretching a length of rope between two chairs or people (hold the rope very loosely). Hold the rope about waist high and from a standing start, on the balls of your feet, jump over the rope. You may have to start out lower, but get to the point where you can jump over a rope at waist high, then add a second rope a couple of feet away from the first. Jump the first rope and when you hit the ground, immediately jump over the second. This will improve your speed the first day you do it. Every day after that, you will see more and more speed.
The first few steps toward first base should be short, choppy steps and you must be still in a bit of a crouch and leaning forward. After about 10 feet, begin to straighten up just a bit and lean forward. When you reach almost half way to first base, begin to pump your arms as fast as you can. This will make your legs move faster, and don't stop until you go past first base.
The key to faster times out of the box and to first base is to run on the balls of your feet. Do the drill and I am certain your will be a faster runner.
Submitted by: Coach Mike
60 SECOND HITTING DRILL
Here is a drill you can do at home to improve bat speed.
What you do is, get someone to time the player for 60 seconds and make them swing as many times correctly as possible. While you are timing the player make sure each swing is done correctly.
FIELDING
IT ISN'T POLITE TO GRAB.
Catching a softball that is hit or thrown does not involve grabbing it with your glove. If the ball is sitting still or rolling slowly you should grab (or pick it up) with your bare hand but you should never grab the ball with your glove.
Instead, you should open your glove, wait for the ball to hit the pocket and then close around it. Actually in most cases your hand and glove will close around the ball automatically from the impact.
Grabbing the ball with your glove hand requires that you time the closure exactly upon impact and if your timing is slightly off the ball will hit the edge of your closed glove causing an error. Open it wide and let the impact of the ball signal closure.
Submitted by: Coach Ken O'Shields
HITTING
HAND POSITION FOR HITTING
I explain and demonstrate to my players that the top hand pretty much controls your swing. If the palm faces up on the swing, chances are you'll under-cut the ball or hit a fly ball. If the palm faces down on the swing, chances are you hit down in front of you and the ball dribbles. And if you sweep or shake hands with the pitcher on the swing, chances are you hit a line drive.
The girls seem to have a good understanding and really respond well. I hope this is a good tip that you'll share.
Submitted by: Ed
NO BRAINERS THAT'LL BEAT US EVERYTIME
1. Getting picked off a base
2. Not sliding
3. Not knowing how many outs there are
4. Missing a signal or not executing at advancing a runner
5. Throwing to the wrong base or behind the advancing runner
6. Not throwing to the cutoff from the outfield
7. Not being able to get a sacrifice bunt down
8. Not backing up the play
9. Not calling for a fly ball
10. Taking a called third strike
11. Not getting the sure out
12. Not hustling all the time
13. Not being mentally prepared to play
The Law of Preparation.....
Teams win championships by doing the little things well, all the time 
HEADS UP SOFTBALL
1) Take responsibility for your thoughts and actions
2) Be on a mission; Know why you play softball, what character traits you want to possess and what you want to accomplish in the game.
3) Play one pitch at a time; confident and focused on each pitch as it is played with disregard for past or future pitches.
4) Make your daily actions consistent with your mission.
5) Realize that you cannot control what happens around you but you can control your response to it, and that you be in control of yourself before you can control your performance.
6) Develop your mental skills so you constantly perform near the best of your ability and you have "something to go to" when adversity strikes.
7) Practice what you are going to do in the game
8) Focus on the process of playing the game rather than the outcomes of your performance
9) Learn each day
10) Keep it simple!
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