Showing posts with label coaching fastpitch softball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coaching fastpitch softball. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Hitting Drills Fast Pitch Softball
http://www.TheLanguageOfHitting.com
Fast Pitch Softball Hitting Drills
Monday, September 12, 2011
Episode 119 - Opposite Field Hitting - Fastpitch Softball TV Show
Episode 119 - Opposite Field Hitting - Fastpitch Softball TV Show
Uploaded by FastpitchTV http://Fastpitch.TV - This is another episode from the PFX Tour coaches clinic. Olympian Lisa Fernandez, and coach Kirk Walker tell us drills for opposite field hitting.
Visit the Fastpitch TV Show's website at http://Fastpitch.TV
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Don't forget to visit our other softball websites
The Fastpitch Radio Show - http://Fastpitch.FM
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A search engine for softball - http://FastpitchSearch
This content is provided with a Creative Commons Share-Alike License. Feel free to use this content, in whole or in part, in any manner you like so long as you give credit to Gary leland, Fastpitch.TV and link to http://fastpitch.tv
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Gary leland is a new media producer of fastpitch softball. information. For advertising information send him an email to FastpitchTV@Gmail.com, or visit his personal website site at http://garyleland.com for more information on Gary
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Friday, November 19, 2010
Coaching Softball - A Balancing Act
Coaching Fastpitch Softball - A Balancing Act
by Guest Author Michael J. Todd
Coaching softball often requires much more than simply deciding who plays where and what pitches to call. You have the individual attitudes of the girls to deal with and there is often a difficult parent or two thrown in the mix. You have to balance what is best for the team with what is best for the kids.
Coaches are expected to act responsibly and to be a positive role model to the children or young adults they are coaching. First and foremost, you are a mentor to the kids on your team, and the lessons they learn from you may be something they carry with them for the rest of their lives. Are they going to learn to be cool under pressure...or are they going to see you blow up every time a play doesn't go your way? Are you going to teach them how to handle issues calmly and with poise, or with anger and frustration?
All too often, I see coaches act in a manner that is detrimental to their teams. I have seen coaches scream and cuss at 10-year old girls on traveling teams, and I have seen them talk about how bad their team is in front of the girls. Having coached a new team or two, I know how frustrating it can be to lose over and over again. It's important to remember the girls on your team look up to you for advice and leadership. If their fearless leader is writing them off prior to a game, how are they going to feel, both individually and as a team?
A good coach is both confident and approachable. It's OK to let a player know when she has done something wrong, and we're all guilty of getting loud on the field from time to time. It's what happens after the mistake is made that is important. A good coach will use a players mistakes to help the player learn. A bad coach will use a players mistakes to make her feel bad about herself.
Coaches are often asked to make decisions under a good deal of stress. Should they pull a struggling pitcher out or let her try to fight through it and get out of the inning? Should they put a girl in the infield who's been asking to play first base but has never played the position and doesn't field very well? What's best for the individual often isn't what is best for the rest of the team. Irate parents often compound this issue and make things even more difficult.
The coach is in the middle of all this, and is responsible for balancing the entire thing. Some people may read this and wonder why anyone volunteers to coach. I'll tell you why...It's rewarding. The best coaches balance it all with ease and watch as their team develops from girls who have never touched a softball, or only played recreationally, into a team that can hang with the best.
Go to the Softball Pitching Drills website for more information on coaching and softball pitching.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_J._Todd
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
• Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
• Articles from the Tips for Fastpitch Softball Coaches Blog
• The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog
by Guest Author Michael J. Todd
Coaching softball often requires much more than simply deciding who plays where and what pitches to call. You have the individual attitudes of the girls to deal with and there is often a difficult parent or two thrown in the mix. You have to balance what is best for the team with what is best for the kids.
Coaches are expected to act responsibly and to be a positive role model to the children or young adults they are coaching. First and foremost, you are a mentor to the kids on your team, and the lessons they learn from you may be something they carry with them for the rest of their lives. Are they going to learn to be cool under pressure...or are they going to see you blow up every time a play doesn't go your way? Are you going to teach them how to handle issues calmly and with poise, or with anger and frustration?
All too often, I see coaches act in a manner that is detrimental to their teams. I have seen coaches scream and cuss at 10-year old girls on traveling teams, and I have seen them talk about how bad their team is in front of the girls. Having coached a new team or two, I know how frustrating it can be to lose over and over again. It's important to remember the girls on your team look up to you for advice and leadership. If their fearless leader is writing them off prior to a game, how are they going to feel, both individually and as a team?
A good coach is both confident and approachable. It's OK to let a player know when she has done something wrong, and we're all guilty of getting loud on the field from time to time. It's what happens after the mistake is made that is important. A good coach will use a players mistakes to help the player learn. A bad coach will use a players mistakes to make her feel bad about herself.
Coaches are often asked to make decisions under a good deal of stress. Should they pull a struggling pitcher out or let her try to fight through it and get out of the inning? Should they put a girl in the infield who's been asking to play first base but has never played the position and doesn't field very well? What's best for the individual often isn't what is best for the rest of the team. Irate parents often compound this issue and make things even more difficult.
The coach is in the middle of all this, and is responsible for balancing the entire thing. Some people may read this and wonder why anyone volunteers to coach. I'll tell you why...It's rewarding. The best coaches balance it all with ease and watch as their team develops from girls who have never touched a softball, or only played recreationally, into a team that can hang with the best.
Go to the Softball Pitching Drills website for more information on coaching and softball pitching.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_J._Todd
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to our sponsors:

SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
• Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
• Articles from the Tips for Fastpitch Softball Coaches Blog
• The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Softball Coaching - Tips for Leading Female Athletes
Softball Coaching - Tips for Leading Female Athletes
By Becky Wittenburg
Softball coaching can be difficult, no matter what age, ability level, or gender of the players. Coaches need to be aware of what their players are going through, both in the sport and out, so that they can build trusting relationships and lead the players to be their best.
Some female athletes face mental and physical struggles when they feel pressure to perform. Girls softball coaches should know the signs of these problems so that they can know when they need to step in and help, before the situation gets out of control.
Female Athlete Triad
Softball players who feel overstressed might develop the Female Athlete Triad, a syndrome of three combined disorders that result from over exercising and not taking in enough calories.
Disordered eating: this aspect of the Female Athlete Triad occurs when an athlete stops taking in enough calories. It can develop as an effort to get their weight down or as a way to deal with stress. Disordered eating can be in the form of anorexia, where the athlete stops eating enough food, or bulimia, where the athlete consumes food but then throws it up.
Amenorrhea: amenorrhea occurs when the athlete starts missing her menstrual cycle. Athletes who normally experience regular cycles may stop to menstruate if they no longer eat enough or if they are exercising too much.
Osteoporosis: this part of the Female Athlete Triad happens when the athlete's bones start to lose their density, becoming fragile and prone to breakage. It is related to, and worsened by, the other conditions in the syndrome.
The Female Athlete Triad is not only unhealthy, it can be extremely dangerous. Watch for signs that your players might be over exercising or under eating. Ask them questions about their lives and let them know you really want to listen. When a player seems particularly stressed, make sure she knows how to relieve the pressure in a healthy way.
Helpful Tips for Coaching Girls
Let them be involved, particularly in picking positions. Have tryouts for different positions every season so the athletes can show how they perform and have a chance to try something different.
Develop a relationship based on trust. Coaches need to trust their players, and players need to trust their coaches. This means that a coach needs to respect when an athlete says she needs to use the restroom and understand that women's bodies are different from men's. This also means that a player should trust that a coach has her best interest at heart when he asks her to push harder, try a new approach, or change her position.
Remember that softball is just a game, and it's supposed to be fun. Coaches and athletes need to work hard, but practice shouldn't be a dreaded thing. Drills can be both challenging and rewarding, and if a coach is able to keep things positive, players will learn the sport, perform well, and have a good time.
For more coaching tips and free softball drills, go here to watch a free video:
http://www.softball-spot.com/vid/
Becky Wittenburg is a kids softball coach, and the owner and publisher of Softball-Spot.com, the web's #1 resource for softball practice drills, tips, and coaching ideas for youth and high school coaches.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg
-----------------------
Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine: Derek Jeter Series:
Hurricane Hitting Machine - Homepage
15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
Message to Parents From Coach Nick
Examples of Hurricane Hitting Drills
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
Hurricane Batting Machine Video Clips
Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
By Becky Wittenburg
Softball coaching can be difficult, no matter what age, ability level, or gender of the players. Coaches need to be aware of what their players are going through, both in the sport and out, so that they can build trusting relationships and lead the players to be their best.
Some female athletes face mental and physical struggles when they feel pressure to perform. Girls softball coaches should know the signs of these problems so that they can know when they need to step in and help, before the situation gets out of control.
Female Athlete Triad
Softball players who feel overstressed might develop the Female Athlete Triad, a syndrome of three combined disorders that result from over exercising and not taking in enough calories.
Disordered eating: this aspect of the Female Athlete Triad occurs when an athlete stops taking in enough calories. It can develop as an effort to get their weight down or as a way to deal with stress. Disordered eating can be in the form of anorexia, where the athlete stops eating enough food, or bulimia, where the athlete consumes food but then throws it up.
Amenorrhea: amenorrhea occurs when the athlete starts missing her menstrual cycle. Athletes who normally experience regular cycles may stop to menstruate if they no longer eat enough or if they are exercising too much.
Osteoporosis: this part of the Female Athlete Triad happens when the athlete's bones start to lose their density, becoming fragile and prone to breakage. It is related to, and worsened by, the other conditions in the syndrome.
The Female Athlete Triad is not only unhealthy, it can be extremely dangerous. Watch for signs that your players might be over exercising or under eating. Ask them questions about their lives and let them know you really want to listen. When a player seems particularly stressed, make sure she knows how to relieve the pressure in a healthy way.
Helpful Tips for Coaching Girls
Let them be involved, particularly in picking positions. Have tryouts for different positions every season so the athletes can show how they perform and have a chance to try something different.
Develop a relationship based on trust. Coaches need to trust their players, and players need to trust their coaches. This means that a coach needs to respect when an athlete says she needs to use the restroom and understand that women's bodies are different from men's. This also means that a player should trust that a coach has her best interest at heart when he asks her to push harder, try a new approach, or change her position.
Remember that softball is just a game, and it's supposed to be fun. Coaches and athletes need to work hard, but practice shouldn't be a dreaded thing. Drills can be both challenging and rewarding, and if a coach is able to keep things positive, players will learn the sport, perform well, and have a good time.
For more coaching tips and free softball drills, go here to watch a free video:
http://www.softball-spot.com/vid/
Becky Wittenburg is a kids softball coach, and the owner and publisher of Softball-Spot.com, the web's #1 resource for softball practice drills, tips, and coaching ideas for youth and high school coaches.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg
-----------------------
Check out the Hurricane Hitting Machine: Derek Jeter Series:
Hurricane Hitting Machine - Homepage
15 Reasons To Buy a Hurricane Trainer
6 Questions Often Asked By Customers
Message to Parents From Coach Nick
Examples of Hurricane Hitting Drills
The Highly Acclaimed 20-Minute Hurricane Batting Practice Workout
Hurricane Batting Machine Video Clips
Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Fastpitch Softball: How to slap and drag bunt
Fastpitch Softball Tips: How to slap and drag bunt
Posted on YouTube by kristinap1686
This is an instructional video about how to slap and drag bunt in softball
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SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!
Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
• Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
• Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
How to Pitch a Softball
How to Pitch a Softball
Using several types of pitches can is important when pitching in softball. Learn some tips for throwing different pitches in this softball video.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010
7 Free Ways To Increase Your Coaching Knowledge
7 Free Ways To Increase Your Fastpitch Coaching Knowledge
By Guest Author Stacie Mahoe
Great coaches know there is always more to learn about the game. Most are actively seeking new knowledge on a regular basis. If you want to step up your coaching game a bit, there are certainly a multitude of options. But if you're just starting out or simply on a tight budget and don't want to spend a lot of money on books, DVDs, coaches clinics, seminars, or other paid resources just yet, I have good news for you. There are a number of free resources with quality information available for you to learn from. Not only will you gain useful information from these resources, but they'll also help guide you when you are ready to invest some money in a paid coaching resource. Here are 7 free ways to increase your coaching knowledge.
Borrow Books from the Library
Typically, there are a number of great coaching books out there. But if you're like me, you probably can't afford to buy every one you want. This is where your local library can help. You will probably be able to find at least a handful of good coaching books there. As long as you return the books on time, you can read each and every book they have to offer for free. Of course, if you come across one that you particularly like, you can always make the choice to purchase it for future reference. But only after you've gotten a free use of a number of books and are able to choose the one(s) you like best.
Visit Free Informational Websites
If you do an internet search for your sport or coaching tips for you sport, you will probably be able to find some website out there with free tips. For example if you are a softball coach you can search for "softball," fastpitch softball," "softball coaching tips," or "free softball tips." I'm sure you can think of more, but those are just a few ideas of what you could enter into a search engine to find free information about your sport. The cool thing about learning from websites is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Plus, it's easy to share with a friend or colleague.
Read Free Articles and Free Newsletters
Most free information websites have these next two items: free articles and free newsletters. Often times there will be a page with links to free articles you can read. Most of these sites also have free newsletters where you can have tips sent to you via e-mail on a regular basis. Usually all you need to provide is a first name and e-mail address and you're set to get free tips delivered right to your inbox.
Download Free e-books/Short Reports
Some websites out there also offer free short reports or e-books. These resources are usually provided by instant download in a pdf file. Even websites that offer paid products usually have some sort of free short report or e-book that you can take a look at. I like e-books and reports because you can print them out and take them with you to read when it's convenient for you. You can also highlight, circle, or otherwise mark the important parts of the report. Another cool thing about free reports or e-books is that, often times, you arealso allowed to pass the report on to others. The publisher of the report will tell you in the first couple of pages whether or not it's okay to reproduce or redistribute the report. If it's okay, you can make copies for your coaching staff or your players if it's something you'd like to pass along to them.
Participate in Free Forums
Another great place to learn is at online forums. There are paid ones out there, but there are often many free ones as well. Some are better than others, but usually there are one or two with a lot of activity and input from experts in the sport as well. A forum or message board is a great place to ask your coaching questions and have them answered by a variety of people. They are also great for browsing just see what hot tips or products other members are talking about or see what questions other coaches, parents, or players have about the game. Typically you'll have to register at a forum before you can ask or answer questions there. For the free ones, all they usually require is that you provide a username and password and maybe your e-mail address.
Network with Other Coaches
Networking can be done over the computer or in person. Basically, just talk with other coaches. When you attend tournaments, clinics, or coaches meetings, take the time to talk with other coaches who are there. Everyone know something you don't, so you never know what you can learn by simply introducing yourself and talking with others in your sport. Networking can also be done via e-mail or in forums as mentioned above. This may not be something you're completely comfortable with at first if you're not the outgoing type, but just think of the opportunities you may miss out on simply because you're more "comfortable" staying to yourself. Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone just a bit and make contacts wherever possible. You just never know what someone else may be able to offer you one day down the road if not sooner.
As you can see there are a number of ways to increase your coaching knowledge or knowledge of the game for free. Successful coaches are life long learners. There's no reason you can't learn something new today with all the ideas listed in this article. When you're ready to take the next step and make an investment in yourself as a coach, these free resources will be a great starting point to find the paid coaching resources that are the best fit and value for you.
Check out Stacie's FreeFastpitchTips.com
Join Stacie's Coach of Action Academy at CoachOfAction.com for help with reaching your full coaching potential.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stacie_Mahoe
Thanks to our sponsors:
BattingCagesDirect.com
SoftballVideosOnline.com
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
SoftballrUs.com
By Guest Author Stacie Mahoe
Great coaches know there is always more to learn about the game. Most are actively seeking new knowledge on a regular basis. If you want to step up your coaching game a bit, there are certainly a multitude of options. But if you're just starting out or simply on a tight budget and don't want to spend a lot of money on books, DVDs, coaches clinics, seminars, or other paid resources just yet, I have good news for you. There are a number of free resources with quality information available for you to learn from. Not only will you gain useful information from these resources, but they'll also help guide you when you are ready to invest some money in a paid coaching resource. Here are 7 free ways to increase your coaching knowledge.
Borrow Books from the Library
Typically, there are a number of great coaching books out there. But if you're like me, you probably can't afford to buy every one you want. This is where your local library can help. You will probably be able to find at least a handful of good coaching books there. As long as you return the books on time, you can read each and every book they have to offer for free. Of course, if you come across one that you particularly like, you can always make the choice to purchase it for future reference. But only after you've gotten a free use of a number of books and are able to choose the one(s) you like best.
Visit Free Informational Websites
If you do an internet search for your sport or coaching tips for you sport, you will probably be able to find some website out there with free tips. For example if you are a softball coach you can search for "softball," fastpitch softball," "softball coaching tips," or "free softball tips." I'm sure you can think of more, but those are just a few ideas of what you could enter into a search engine to find free information about your sport. The cool thing about learning from websites is that you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Plus, it's easy to share with a friend or colleague.
Read Free Articles and Free Newsletters
Most free information websites have these next two items: free articles and free newsletters. Often times there will be a page with links to free articles you can read. Most of these sites also have free newsletters where you can have tips sent to you via e-mail on a regular basis. Usually all you need to provide is a first name and e-mail address and you're set to get free tips delivered right to your inbox.
Download Free e-books/Short Reports
Some websites out there also offer free short reports or e-books. These resources are usually provided by instant download in a pdf file. Even websites that offer paid products usually have some sort of free short report or e-book that you can take a look at. I like e-books and reports because you can print them out and take them with you to read when it's convenient for you. You can also highlight, circle, or otherwise mark the important parts of the report. Another cool thing about free reports or e-books is that, often times, you arealso allowed to pass the report on to others. The publisher of the report will tell you in the first couple of pages whether or not it's okay to reproduce or redistribute the report. If it's okay, you can make copies for your coaching staff or your players if it's something you'd like to pass along to them.
Participate in Free Forums
Another great place to learn is at online forums. There are paid ones out there, but there are often many free ones as well. Some are better than others, but usually there are one or two with a lot of activity and input from experts in the sport as well. A forum or message board is a great place to ask your coaching questions and have them answered by a variety of people. They are also great for browsing just see what hot tips or products other members are talking about or see what questions other coaches, parents, or players have about the game. Typically you'll have to register at a forum before you can ask or answer questions there. For the free ones, all they usually require is that you provide a username and password and maybe your e-mail address.
Network with Other Coaches
Networking can be done over the computer or in person. Basically, just talk with other coaches. When you attend tournaments, clinics, or coaches meetings, take the time to talk with other coaches who are there. Everyone know something you don't, so you never know what you can learn by simply introducing yourself and talking with others in your sport. Networking can also be done via e-mail or in forums as mentioned above. This may not be something you're completely comfortable with at first if you're not the outgoing type, but just think of the opportunities you may miss out on simply because you're more "comfortable" staying to yourself. Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone just a bit and make contacts wherever possible. You just never know what someone else may be able to offer you one day down the road if not sooner.
As you can see there are a number of ways to increase your coaching knowledge or knowledge of the game for free. Successful coaches are life long learners. There's no reason you can't learn something new today with all the ideas listed in this article. When you're ready to take the next step and make an investment in yourself as a coach, these free resources will be a great starting point to find the paid coaching resources that are the best fit and value for you.
Check out Stacie's FreeFastpitchTips.com
Join Stacie's Coach of Action Academy at CoachOfAction.com for help with reaching your full coaching potential.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stacie_Mahoe
Thanks to our sponsors:
BattingCagesDirect.com
SoftballVideosOnline.com
SoftballCoachingDigest.com
SoftballrUs.com
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Softball Drills - Easy Steps to Create Top Softball Pitchers
By Geoff James
Movement, Tempo and Control are all important parts of throwing a great pitch. Here are a few drills to help you perfect all aspects of your throw:
Drills to be done inside:
Practice control by using a rubber ball and your mitt. Stand facing a wall in your stride position. Using only your wrist, flick the ball at the wall. The ball should come straight back to you if you are using proper form and control. Once you have mastered control at that level, repeat but from 8 ft away. When throwing from such a distance use your windmill.
Field Drills:
Ball Juggling can be done with two pitchers or a pitcher and a catcher. Give the girl on the mound two balls and the player at home one. The pitcher throws the ball to home, and after the release but before catching it the catcher returns a pitch with her ball. The goal is to keep balls constantly rotating so the players can throw as many pitches in one minute as possible.
Making sure that pitchers have proper form is important especially in their early stages of learning. Have pitchers stand just a few feet from the pitching coach and slowly go through the windmill motions, trying to pull their arm far behind them and touch the sky before releasing. Focus on weight distribution and proper rotation through the windmill but especially at the point of release. Once the pitchers have proper form in close range, move them back 25 feet. Go through the cycle again, then have them pitch full speed from the mound.
Get the girls who try their hardest in practice and during games softball medals as a thank you for all their work each season.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Geoff_James
Movement, Tempo and Control are all important parts of throwing a great pitch. Here are a few drills to help you perfect all aspects of your throw:
Drills to be done inside:
Practice control by using a rubber ball and your mitt. Stand facing a wall in your stride position. Using only your wrist, flick the ball at the wall. The ball should come straight back to you if you are using proper form and control. Once you have mastered control at that level, repeat but from 8 ft away. When throwing from such a distance use your windmill.
Field Drills:
Ball Juggling can be done with two pitchers or a pitcher and a catcher. Give the girl on the mound two balls and the player at home one. The pitcher throws the ball to home, and after the release but before catching it the catcher returns a pitch with her ball. The goal is to keep balls constantly rotating so the players can throw as many pitches in one minute as possible.
Making sure that pitchers have proper form is important especially in their early stages of learning. Have pitchers stand just a few feet from the pitching coach and slowly go through the windmill motions, trying to pull their arm far behind them and touch the sky before releasing. Focus on weight distribution and proper rotation through the windmill but especially at the point of release. Once the pitchers have proper form in close range, move them back 25 feet. Go through the cycle again, then have them pitch full speed from the mound.
Get the girls who try their hardest in practice and during games softball medals as a thank you for all their work each season.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Geoff_James
Monday, June 14, 2010
Coaching Fast Pitch Softball

Throwing and Pitching Trainers at SoftballrUs.com
Fast Pitch Softball Coaching Tips
By Judy Halaby
Coaching fast pitch softball is an art form. Let's face it, a large part of coaching is drills. And drills are BORING! But the key to being a successful coach is to make drills more engaging.
First, drills alone are not a practice. You must intersperse drills with fast pitch softball games so that your players stay engaged.
Second, drills are not boring. You can try to make them more fun. For example, make them competitive. A successful drill is one in which there is a healthy competitive component added.
Third, explain the purpose of the drills to the players. If they understand what skills they are building with each drill they will be more engaged and may even participate more enthusiastically.
Fourth, and most important, an effective fast pitch softball drill builds confidence. While doing the drill the player should be complimented on what they are doing right. Keep the feedback simple, just a "awesome" will suffice and keep a player engaged.
Your practice
The first job of coaching is getting the players to practice on time. The best incentive to get players to practice on time is to give them a sequential number when they get there and that is their number in the batting line up...which is every player's favorite part of practice.
Second, warm ups. Keep warm ups fun and engaging... stretching is a necessary evil, but a game of tag or relay race is a good way to get players warmed up and keep them engaged as well.
Third come drills, as mentioned above, keep drills as fun as possible. They are a necessary evil to every player's game. Make each drill a game and keep the drills to two or three per practice. Any more than that and your players will get bored and tired.
Finally, end the practice with a scrimmage. This is the player's favorite part of practice and keeps them most engaged in fast pitch softball.
Judy Halaby is a softball fanatic and wants to see it in the 2012 Olympics!
http://www.fastpitchsoftballbats.org
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Judy_Halaby
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Sunday, March 21, 2010
Coach, Be Consistent

Coach, Be Consistent
By Stacie Mahoe
When you learn about raising children, you hear about consistency. When you learn about working with animals and training animals, you hear about consistency. This key of consistency also applies to coaching softball as well.
It's only fair to your players, not to mention vital for you, that you be consistent in your actions, words, rules, and discipline as a coach. Ground rules should always be laid out at the beginning of the season. These ground rules should also include potential disciplinary actions for when those rules are broken. Be sure that you do NOT set a consequence that you will not enforce. This carries the same effect as "empty threats" in parenting. When you fall into the trap of using "empty threats" the following things happen:
1. Your players know that you won't follow through and will push the envelope as far as possible
2. You are undermining your own credibility and believability because you haven't kept your word
3. Chances are, you'll respect or make it harder to gain the respect of your players.
Whenever you give your word as a coach, be it in speech or in writing, ALWAYS do your best to stick with it. If for whatever reason, you can't follow through, let your players know before hand and figure out what you need to do to make things right. If you don't make it a point to keep your word, players will begin taking what you say "with a grain of salt" because they won't know when you actually mean what you say and when you're just talking the talk without walking the walk. This is not a good situation for you to be in as a coach. If you're players don't believe you, how can you lead them?
Avoid making up rules and consequences as you go along. Clear guidelines and boundaries from the start make life much simpler for players, parents, and coaches. Be up front about what your expectations, your rules, your guidelines, and your consequences and follow through. Choosing to follow through only *sometimes* is only asking for trouble as a coach. Make sure your rules, guidelines, and consequences are reasonable enough for everyone, including you and your staff, to follow and abide by throughout the season. Be consistent. Consistency will save you and your team a lot of heartache and frustration.
by Stacie Mahoe
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stacie_Mahoe
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Friday, March 19, 2010
Free Youth Softball Coaching Articles - Free Softball Drills

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Youth Softball Drills
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] It's important that children find softball drills that they can use during practice sessions. In order to become better at their sport, youths need to learn through softball drills. This article has free softball drills that youths can use which will expand their skills and make them better athletes.
Girls Softball Drills
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] These girls softball drills will give you a chance of becoming a dominant softball player and increase your performance on the field. Take the time to practice these fast pitch softball drills so you can become as good as you want to be.
Free Softball Practice Drills
[Recreation-and-Sports:Baseball] Fastpitch softball drills are a great way to bettering yourself as a player. These drills are a great resource for you to perfect old skills and acquire others that are necessary in order to become a dominant softball player. The free softball practice drills here, are great to use during practice because they are ideal for those sessions and they get most of the team involved in the exercise. Perhaps, best of all, they're free of charge!

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Saturday, January 9, 2010
Softball Quotes - Getting Your Team Fired Up

By Kiev Lintz
If you are looking for a great way to motivate your team a few good softball quotes can really go a long way when it comes to pumping up your pep talk. As any coach will tell you, it's important to get your team fired up and ready to go before every game and to keep them fired up when things start to look gray. What better way to do that than with some inspirational quotes? Whether you opt for general quotes or softball quotes, a few good one liners can really drive the point home.
A great place to start when searching for good softball quotes is to search for things that your team's favorite players have said. Look for fast pitch softball quotes from famous players like Jennie Finch, Lisa Fernandez or Michele Smith and use them as examples to get your team excited about their big game. Team quotes from players that your club admires should be a key component of your pregame and post game speeches. One good thing to remember with post game speeches, is to end them on a good note, even if the game ended on a sour one. Letting your team walk away feeling like they've failed is never beneficial.
When getting your team pumped up, be sure that your speech includes inspirational quotes from players that talk about the big picture and the team's overall goals. Use softball sayings and softball quotes to remind your team that they aren't just fighting for a win for this particular game but that they are fighting for the season, playoffs or whatever your end goal is. When working with young team members it's also important to make sure that you balance motivation with tact so that you don't put too much pressure on them before they're ready.
The internet is a smorgasbord of great inspirational quotes of all types. You can find softball quotes, baseball quotes or just about anything you could possibly need. If you need tips on motivational speeches in general there is no shortage of resources available. Let your fingers do the walking and you'll find dozens of great ideas within a minutes of sitting down at your computer.
The best thing to do when working on your motivational speeches is to make sure that you keep them short and to the point. You want to pump up your team in a quick and effective manner. Fill your speech with upbeat softball cheers and encouraging softball quotes, but don't let it run on too long. If your speech drags on for too long, you'll lose your teams interest and any spark that you may have ignited will fizzle out before they even reach the field.
Being able to give a good and effective motivational speech is really an art form. If it were simple there wouldn't be whole companies based around providing motivational speakers, so don't be upset if it takes a while to perfect your inspirational quotes and delivery. Add in softball quotes from admirable players and look for softball cheers that you can adapt for your own needs and with a bit of practice your confidence and your team's confidence will sky rocket.
Sometimes you have to add that extra oomph to get your team excited. Visit our sites for motivational softball quotes and give your team a boost.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kiev_Lintz
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