1. April 17, 2013 Leah Winchell Player Development Coordinator
LVGSA Coaches Meeting
April 17, 2013
Leah Winchell
Player Development Coordinator

2. Coach’s Goals
Exemplify the highest character as a role model for the players.
Teach proper softball skills, fundamentals & rules of the game.
Develop the players for higher softball competition.
Establish a realistic team goal for each season and communicate that to the players and parents
Provide a safe, challenging and encouraging environment for practice and competition.
Exemplify good sportsmanship and abide by the rules of the game.
Recognize the individual worth and reinforce the self-image of each team member.
Encourage and assist players to set personal goals.
Strive to develop the qualities of competence, character and integrity.
Create an environment to develop team chemistry and teamwork.
Communicate and respect player’s personal trainers (i.e. hitting coaches, pitching coaches, conditioning coaches).
Attend LVGSA meetings held once per month which are open to the public.
April 17, 2013

3. Player Benchmarks Broken up according to Rec levels Evaluation tool
Advancement
April 17, 2013

4. Skills for High School Softball
Proper fundamentals of throwing, fielding (infield and outfield) and hitting
Ability to play any position
Properly catch a fly ball (balance, positioning, crow hop)
Bunt under any circumstance (either baseline, with any count)
Turning a double play
Rundowns (follow your throw, yell now when you want the ball, same side of runner, punch tagging, be aware of other runners)
Diving (dive progression)
Batting: stroke base hits in critical situations, put the ball away from runner, make contact with two strikes, do not look at strike three, widen strike zone when down in the count
Game awareness (#1)
April 17, 2013

5. Our Focus How do we get girls there? Stressing fundamentals
Game awareness
Keeping the game fun
April 17, 2013

6. Summer Camps
Attending the WMC summer camp to learn how the high school coaches teach
Work with current varsity players
Other clinics in the area: Complete Player, Princeton University, TCNJ
April 17, 2013

7. What now?
Determine what benchmarks have been accomplished and which need work
Evaluate the needs of each player
Begin to plan for how to improve the team using practice time
April 17, 2013

8. Practices Planning ahead: having goals Skills vs. skillfully
Games approach:
Play modified game (guide to skill)
Help players understand game (freeze, questions)
Teach skills of game (breakdown, IDEA)
Practice skills in another game (success with challenge)
April 17, 2013

9. Practice (continued) Skills: IDEA
Introduce the skill
Demonstrate the skill
Explain the skill
Attend to players practicing the skill
Drills: name drill, explain skill taught, position players, explain what drill will accomplish, state command that will start and end drill
Corrections: one thing at a time, all on same page
April 17, 2013

10. Skill Demonstration
April 17, 2013

11. Batting Grip: knocking knuckles
Stance: feet shoulder with apart, parallel, knees bent
Arms: elbows in to create V, bat resting on shoulder
Hands: lift up bat so hand are near ear at eye level
Bat angle: 45 degree angle
Weight: 60% on back foot
Shoulders: slightly toward plate
April 17, 2013

12. Batting (continued) Trigger: toe touch or step toward pitcher
Hips: begin to turn after trigger
Hands: move down straight at the ball (always moving forward)
Back foot: turns (squash the bug)
Front leg: remains straight
Contact: in front of the plate, bat should be parallel to ground
Hands continue all through way through ball, shoulders, hips, hands and back shoelace should point at pitcher when contact is made
April 17, 2013

13. Bunting Sacrifice bunt: everyone knows it is coming!
Back foot squares with front foot
Knees bent and leaning forward at waist
Slides top hand up the bat just above grip (thumbs up)
Eyes are right above bat and knees control height of bat
Bat acts as a rudder to steer the ball
Arms extended in front of plate
April 17, 2013

14. Special Bunts
Drag Bunt
Slap Bunt
April 17, 2013

15. Base Running Running straight through first base on a ground ball
Running flat arcs for base hits
Coach stands waiting for high five
Teaching the difference between running to the base and running for the next base
Smart base running: situations
April 17, 2013

16. Leading
Rocker start:
Begin with left foot on base facing the base the player will be traveling toward
Right foot stays behind the bag on the right side
When the pitcher is at the top of her motion, begin to move the right foot toward the next base.
Ensure that girls do not leave the base late!
April 17, 2013

17. Sliding Begin to slide about 5 strides away from the base
Tuck left leg under right leg in a figure 4 style.
Lean back and hold hands above head
Backdoor slide: slide closer to bag on side away from the fielder. Reach over to grab base
Pop-up slide: Use left leg to push body off ground in order to run quickly to the next base
April 17, 2013

18. Throwing Point glove toward target
Glove shoulder pointed toward target
Ball held using 3 finger grip pointed above head with ball facing away
Player brings ball over head and snaps ball in front of face
Shoulders rotate and wrist pointed at target
April 17, 2013

19. Catching Glove fingers up toward sky and elbows in toward body
Throwing hand next to glove
Body moves to get in front of ball
Arm extends to meet ball
If ball is low, glove turns so fingers face toward ground (sundial)
April 17, 2013

20. Ground Balls Feet spread about shoulder width apart
Knees bent so the player looks as if she is sitting in a chair
Weight on the balls of your feet
Shoulder over knees
Hands in front of body with glove on the ground and throwing hand next to glove
Take a step towards the ball upon fielding
Charge the ball if necessary
April 17, 2013

21. Pop Flies Feet staggered with glove foot in front
Both hands above head with elbows in toward body
Catch ball in front of body above head
Cover ball in glove with throwing hand
Bring back foot in front of glove foot in a hop-like motion and throw (crow-hop)
April 17, 2013

22. Pitching Beginning drills for all girls:
Wrist snaps: face target have pitching hand at side and snap ball up with elbow ending pointing at target
T’s: Point glove toward target with body facing toward right wall. Arms form a T shape with body. Player brings arm down and snaps ball at hip, turns hips and follows through
April 17, 2013

23. Catching Beginning drills for catchers
Use tennis ball to teach player to meet the ball with glove (use bare hand)
Frame ball using the bubble method of turning fingers of the glove inward toward the center of the plate
Block ball by dropping to knees, keeping arms straight and glove down toward ground
April 17, 2013

24. Situational Skills Cut-offs and Relays Back ups Steal coverage
Tag Plays
Double Plays
Rundowns
Pick offs
April 17, 2013