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.

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Fastpitch Softball Drills - Develop Speed and Accuracy With These Pitching Drills

Fastpitch Softball Drills - Develop Speed and Accuracy With These Pitching Drills
By Becky Wittenburg

Once softball pitchers have developed their technique, they often reach a plateau where they no longer improve. However, there is always potential to be a better pitcher. These innovative fastpitch softball drills were designed to help pitchers develop their speed and accuracy on the mound.

Snap Drill

This fastpitch softball drill was developed to practice the snap of the wrist at the end of the pitch. Using the wrist muscles to snap the ball as it is released will increase the velocity of the pitch.

For this drill, two pitchers will stand about ten feet apart. The first pitcher will start with the pitching hand down at the side, holding the ball. She then takes her wrist back slightly before flipping the ball forward to her teammate, focusing on using as much power as possible. The partner will catch the pitch and use the same technique to snap the ball back. Each pitcher should snap the ball twenty-five times, working to increase strength in the wrist and velocity in the snap. This also serves as a great pitching warm-up.

Two for One

This drill for fastpitch softball helps the pitcher develop fielding skills while practicing pitches. The pitcher needs to always be prepared for a ball hit back to the mound.

Set up this drill with the pitcher at the mound and the catcher at the plate, each with one ball. As the pitcher delivers her pitch, the catcher will toss a ground ball to the mound. The pitcher should field the ball and use it for her next pitch, while the catcher will receive the pitch and use it for her next toss. Complete the routine twenty times, focusing on proper technique and increasing reaction time.

Distance Pitching

This pitching drill develops arm strength while emphasizing accuracy of pitches.

Start with the pitcher twenty feet from home plate, pitching to the catcher at home. The pitcher throws as many pitches as it takes to get five strikes, according to the catcher's judgment. Next, the pitcher should move back ten feet and pitch five strikes from that position, and so on until she is sixty feet from home plate.

Pitching from a long distance stretches the arm and increases strength, resulting in more powerful pitches. Using the catcher to determine strikes will keep the focus on accuracy, as well.

Isolation Drill

This softball drill for pitching focuses on the last portion of the pitch. By isolating the final stage of the pitching motion, players can develop the specific moves required to deliver an accurate pitch.

Have the pitcher stand thirty feet away from a teammate. The pitcher will start by raising the pitching arm and curling the wrist to form a letter "c" above the head. She should then complete the pitch from this position, concentrating on swinging the arm down, firing the hips, snapping the wrist, and releasing the pitch.

And if you'd like to see more free softball drills and coaching tips, 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 drills, tips, and practice ideas for youth and high school coaches.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Becky_Wittenburg

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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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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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