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Admin
 
Gahanna Lady Lions U - 14
John Plymale
614-418-7097
Fax: 6144187097
373 Rocky Fork Dr. S.
Gahanna, Ohio
43230
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 My Site News |
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How much $will Paula "Borrow" from Steve this season?
How many times per week will Alisha call Steve during the season?
The Shrinking/Expanding Strike Zone.
THE SHRINKING/EXPANDING STRIKE ZONE
Sure the strike zone in fastpitch has dimensions. Some are stretched and shrunk by some umpires but the strike zone is still defined from rule book to rule book as being the same. As a batter, you can help yourself tremendously by applying the strike zone "box" vision in your at-bat.
For example, when you first enter the batter's box, the count is 0-0, no balls and no strikes. After the first pitch and you are still there, the count will be either 0-1 or 1-0 on you. Now the strike zone "box" should begin to change for you. As I go on you'll better understand. If, after the second pitch you are still there batting, your count should be either 0-2, 2-0, or 1-1. If the count is 0-2, your vision of the strike zone has made the "box" greater in size because the next pitch can strike you out if you don't swing at it and it's close. If the count was 2-0, then the strike zone has made your "box" much smaller and you should only swing at the pitch if it is thrown in your vision "box", your select spot. If the count was 1-1, then your "box" is back to being a normal size strike zone.
The key points of these examples are that if you have a 2-0 or 3-0 count on you, look at swinging only at a specific pitch you like in a specific small zone or "box". Perhaps only a fastball right down the middle. If your count was 0-1 or 0-2, then the pitcher is in control of the situation and you must expand your vision of the strike zone so as not to be called out on strikes. Be prepared to swing at pitches you may not find as sweet as you prefer.
Stepping Outside the Bubble
STEPPING OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE
STEPPING OUTSIDE 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 that’s at hand. The field could be experiencing a 6.0 earthquake and you wouldn’t 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 team’s 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 driver’s 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. It’s the spot on the field that defines why you’re here, why you love this game. It’s the same spot on the field where great players have stood before. Yet, at each moment, just as the pitcher gets ready to pitch...it’s 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 don’t know how to cheer.
5. Wish that your dad would stop trying to coach you from the bleachers.
6. Remind yourself that you’re 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)
You’ve 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 you’ve Considered the baserunners and the outs and you’ve 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 pitcher’s release point. Pitcher, focus only on the catcher’s target.
The key here is FOCUS! You’ve 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. It’s 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.
Folks the girls had a GREAT START to the season !!!!!!!
Folks the girls had a GREAT START to the season !!!!!!!
Both our team stats and individual stats were AWESOME !!!!!
We wanted to pass a long a thank you to all of the parents, coaches and siblings that gave MANY hours of hard, hot work to help make this a very successful weekend. Without all of your hard work this would not have happened. A special thank you to Jodi, Brenda, Laura and Margo who made the concession stand work. We really appreciate all of the time throughout the weekend as well as all of time you spent in advance to make the stand work. John……what can we say for all of your time…..THANK YOU.
We also want to pass along a very special THANK YOU to Steve and Jodi for allowing a sleep over Sunday night !?!?! You would think after seeing our kids all weekend this is the last think they would want Sunday night. You guys are nuts…..THANKS !!!!
Parents please remember we will be doing this all over again July 8-10 and we really need everyone to pitch in their time and efforts to once again make a successful weekend. This weekend will be a 3 day tournament and it will take many more hours of time to man the stand, work on fields etc. to make this another great tournament, please let us know when you are available to help.
This past weekend we had a professional photographer present who took well over 100 pictures on both Saturday and Sunday. The photos are available on the web at www.thedigitalstudio.us . You can print off this site as well as download an order form to order prints as well. The shots he took were AWESOME….please take the time to check them out. The photographer knows a great many of our kids as he has been am umpire on both CC and CCC for many years. His name is Denis Laroche and he got some great shots of the kids. Let me know if you have any problems getting his site.
ON TO THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEKEND
We will have practice Weds. at 530 at the freshman field.
Steve is trying to set up a scrimmage on Thursday….he will let us know if he gets this set up.
Friday we will have practice at GMSS at 530 on field 3.
Next weekend our schedule is 0800, 1100, 200 and 630 on Saturday. The top 2 teams will then play on Sunday.
I am trying to work out a location to park the camper so we will have some place to hang out between games as this will be a long day. I will update if this works so we can coordinate food for a cook out. Let me know if you need directions to these fields.
Please note new phone numbers below
Scott Jacobs
National Account Rep
Bank Sales
800-824-6058 EXT 4866
614-409-4866 Direct Dial
614-563-1130 Cell
614-409-7866 Fax
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