Defensive Strategy for Coaching youth Fast-Pitch Softball
If you are interested in or beginning coaching fast-pitch softball to youths; there's many strategies to keep in mind. One of the strategies that is crucially important to your team is building up a great defense. Here's some tips to keep in mind.
As you begin practices, make sure you are constantly observing your players. Know which ones would make good defense and which would make good offense. Do not put the wrong kids on the wrong jobs or else your team will take a hit. Having a great offense but a weak defense is a sure-fire way for any team to go down in shambles.
Pay attention to where the ball hits. Keep in mind that aboout 70% of the balls get hit to the right or middle infield. If the ball is hit to the left side of the infield, there's only a 20% chance of making it out. The kids need to make the common right or middle infield area most of the time and attempt to make the harder areas the best that they can. If you make the right or middle field consistently, your team will be okay.
First and foremost, figure out who your first base player, pitcher, and third base player will be. The first base player would be your best catcher. This adds a nice, stable beginning to a game that will make your chance of success much higher, your kids feeling confident, and your likelihood for winning much greater. Afterall, it's about having fun, and winning is more fun than losing. The pitcher should be your second best player. The ball will hit into the pitcher's zone about a quarter of the time, which means that the pitcher must be ready to catch the entire time. The pitcher should be able to cut off many hits going to shortstop, take care of slow rollers to second base, and cover bunt hits. The last player you need to focus on is your 2nd baseman. He's your third best player. This kid needs to be consistent and your team needs him to do well a very high percentage of the time.
The fields
-The best fielder should go in the right field, not the left. -The right fielder should take care of first base's thrown balls -The player on the first base should catch and run with the ball that is thrown to them. -Position your left fielder deep in the field as to be closer to the ball when it comes. -The left fielder should be your least athletic player, but should be faster than the catcher. -Put your WORST catcher in the catching position so they can improve. -Your catcher should be the player that struggles the most athletically.
If you follow this defense mechanism, you will seem as though you've been coaching softball for years, and your team will be ahead of the other kid most of the time. This is a strategy that has had an unshakable success rate, because playing is fun, but winning is more fun.
