Troy Canaba Head Softball Coach Sul Ross State University Situations OfF./Def. Transition HS>College Gulf Coast Coaches Clinic Troy Canaba Head Softball Coach Sul Ross State University

Topics Things you need to know about your team Putting Pressure on Defense (Bunt & Hit/Run) 1st and 3rd Defense Plays (1-6) 1st and 3rd Offensive Situations Everyday Defensive Drills that cover game situations Arizona/Midland College Hitters counts (Extra) Transition from HS>College

Understand your Team What kind of team do you have? Do you have a team with a lot of speed? Do you have smart players with average speed? Do you have players with great knowledge of the game? Do you have power hitters in the line up or players that hit for average?

Understand your Strengths and weaknesses as a coach Are you a great defensive coach and average offensive coach? Are you a great hitting coach, but an average pitching coach? Are you a great motivator?

As a coach we must be able to adapt just as much or even more than our players. One game you can hit for power and the next you might have to play small ball. We must be able to adjust inning by inning and pitch by pitch We must be confident in what we do at all times (Fake it until you make it) If you don’t know act like you do and then Call ?? (Ask for help)

Understanding Defense is KEY!!!!! What is the other defense giving you and your team? Corners playing back Playing slappers straight up Fast Pitcher/Slow pitcher/Movement Pitcher/Contact Pitcher Every defense has a weakness It is our job to figure it out and help our team be successful I am a defensive guy. I think the defense can tell you a lot, it can tell you what you need to do offensively and what the opponents weaknesses are.

Keys to Bunting: 1B/3B/P/C-Left Handed Corners Back Roll coverage 1B Back (1/3 Defense) 2B Up Roll coverage OF covering Catcher active Good Arm Quick

1st/3rd Base Back

Hit and Run w/ runner @ 1B Putting the runner in Motion Creating holes for the hitter (Defense has to honor the baserunner) @1st Defense has to play like a steal Opening the 5/6 Hole Push Bunt/Slap between 3B/P/1B Fielders are more aggressive Playing Close and Charging Creating more Holes/Weakness in Defense Who is covering 3rd? *Must read ball Angle *Freeze on Line Drive *DON’T GET Doubled OFF

Hit and Run w/ Runner @ 2B Putting the runner in Motion Creating holes for the hitter (Defense has to honor the baserunner) @2nd is the defense rolling the SS or keeping 3B back? Opening the middle part of the field @2nd Defense keeps 3B back (Bunt to 3B) Defense is in thirds

1St and 3rd Defensive Plays Hate to give up 2nd base w/o trying something

1 Play Throw the ball to the Pitcher Pitcher will fake throw to 2nd to try to pick the runner off at 3rd When it works-runner will be in a pickle/Run Down

2 Play Throw the ball to 2nd Base WILLING TO GIVE UP THE RUN for the OUT! Do this when slow runner at 3rd SS will cover the base and still needs to be aware of the runner @ 3B C/3B needs to communicate if runner goes

3 Play Snap Throw to 3B Usually do this with a big lead @ 3rd Giving up 2nd Base

4 Play Throw down to 2nd base on the left side of the bag to SS SS will cut the ball and throw home if the runner breaks home at 3rd. C/3B has to communicate if the runner breaks Giving up 2nd Base, Prevent the run from scoring C must make the tag and find the runner @ 2B

5 Play Throw down to 2nd base on the Right side of the bag to 2B 2B will cut the ball and throw home if the runner breaks home at 3rd. C/3B has to communicate if the runner breaks Giving up 2nd Base, Prevent the run from scoring C must make the tag and find the runner @ 2B, might be going to 3rd

6 Play Throw down to 2nd base to get the runner stealing 2B will act like they are cutting the ball to 2nd Base. We are trying to freeze the runner @ 3rd Base. C/3B has to communicate if the runner breaks SS has the options to get the out at 2nd or go home-Depending on the situation. C must make the tag and find the runner @ 2B, might be going to 3rd

1st & 3rd Offensive Plays X-Steal A-Steal Straight steal Hit and Run Bunt/Squeeze Runner @ 3rd gets in a pickle/Run Down Runner @ 1st goes all the way to 3rd (replace runner) Runner in the run down must fight to make it to score

Everyday Drills/Situations Arizona Midland College Slap Defense Steal Defense Bunt Defense WHEN IN DOUBT GET AN OUT!!

Arizona NOTE: All Throws go home to catcher Series 1 Left Side SS > 1st 3B > 2nd Right Side 2B > 3rd 1B > 2nd Series 2 SS > 2nd 3B > 1st 2B > 2nd 1B > 3rd BUNT COVERAGE 3B > 1st 1B > 2nd 1B > 1st 3B > 2nd

Midland College-MC RF Throw to 1st Throw to 2nd Throw to 3rd w/ cut off SS Throw home w/ cut off P (All Throws go to the Base then Home)

Midland College-MC CF Throw to 1st Throw to 2nd Throw to 3rd Throw home w/ cut off P (All Throws go to the Base then Home)

Midland College-MC LF Throw to 2nd Throw to 3rd Throw home w/ cut off P (All Throws go to the Base then Home)

Midland College-MC INFIELD 1st Throw to 1st w/ 2B covering Throw to 2nd w/ SS Throw to 3rd Throw home *ALL THROWS GO HOME TO CATCHER

TRANSITION FROM High school TO cOLLEGE How to help your Student-Athletes Recruiting Transition to the College Game Life in College

Recruiting Basics As a high school coach I didn’t know how to promote my athletes As a coach do you contact the college coach Yes Does the player contact the college coach Your players play travel ball, some do that for them What about the ones that don’t You need to be part of the process

Recruiting Basics Talk to your players about playing at the next level Work with them to get list of 5-10 colleges they are interested in Be Realistic and Honest with them Make sure they have the Field/Major they want to study Have them fill out the questionnaire for the College Every Sport has one or a General one for Athletic Department Contact the coach-email/phone You as their coach Have the player contact the coach Have them attend Camps/Prospect Camps/Showcases Have them visit the Campus This is important that they see where they may be for 2-4 yeaRS Also, It allows them to visit with players and coaches as well

Recruiting Basics Stay persistent We get busy, shoot an email, text or call us Also shows you are truly interested in the program College Coaches are calling HS coaches to check on players. You know the strengths and weaknesses of the players You know more about the players work ethic, attitude and every day lifestyles BE Honest with the College Coach We respect and trust your opinion and we make important decisions accordingly.

Recruiting Rules/Limitations Most college coaches can’t talk to recruits until the end of their sophomore year. Recruits can contact coaches prior to that time. At showcases or games, some coaches can’t talk to the recruit until the last game of the day. Some coaches are allowed to speak with them between games. Research the rules and just be familiar with them They are all different at the different levels D1,D2,D3, JC, NAIA Research the school (record/Seniors/Positions/Cost)

Transition to the College Game IT IS A JOB at the next level (Better Love the Game) Between 8-10 hours a day they are with softball 5:30a.m.-7:30a.m. Weights 1:00-5:30 Practice 5:30-6:30 Conditioning 7:30-8:15 Meetings 8:30-9:00 Study Hall

The GAME Faster at each level Players are better, Teams are better Players have to be Fundamentally SOUND on both sides of softball Offensive Defensive Being prepare helps eliminate a lot of errors/mistakes

ABC’s to Hitting/Base running Hitting/Base running-Start with pitchers motion Hitting we count all the way to the plate Base Running we count to the release Our kids that are on Deck and in the hole Part of the mental preparation Know what the pitcher is throwing 1st Pitch Strike Strike out pitch

12 TOTAL COUNTS College: Left Side: BA%< 12 TOTAL COUNTS College: Left Side: BA%<.225 Middle/Right Side: Ba% > .300 High School Left Side: < .300 Right Side: > .350

Raymond.canaba@sulross.edu 432-837-8446 (Office) 432-386-2281 (Cell) Contact Information: Raymond.canaba@sulross.edu 432-837-8446 (Office) 432-386-2281 (Cell)