Sudbury Girls Softball League
2012
PARENTS ORIENTATION
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
YOUR JOURNEY
Kindergarten Clinic:
A 6 week clinic, with fun learning Throwing / Catching / Hitting / Basic game rules
Minor League: 1-2nd grades 4 Teams
One practice on weekends – one game weekday
Introduce game play (coaches pitch or hit off a tee) – no walks / no strike outs
No stealing / no sliding / no bunting / one base advance / parent umpires
An inning is 3 outs or 8 batters whichever comes first / 1 hr 45 min game limit or 6 innings
Junior League: 3-4th grades 4 Teams
One practice on weekends – one practice weekday – one game weekday
Introduce player pitching – gets 4 balls then coach pitch
Stealing 3rd only / sliding / no bunting / base advance
4 runs per inning or 3 outs ends an inning / 1 hr 45 min game limit or 6 innings
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
YOUR JOURNEY
Intermediate League: 5-6 grades 4 Teams
One practice on weekends – one practice weekday – one game weekday
Player pitch
Stealing 3rd and home only / sliding [slide to avoid rule in place] / no bunting
6 runs per inning or 3 outs ends an inning / 1 hr 45 min game limit or 6 innings
Senior League: 7-8 grades 4 Teams
One practice on weekends – one practice weekday – one game weekday
Player pitch
Stealing / sliding [slide to avoid rule in place] / bunting allowed
6 runs per inning or 3 outs ends an inning / 1 hr 45 min game limit or 6 innings
200 PLAYERS - 16 TEAMS - 40 MANAGERS & COACHES
YOU
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
PARENTS ROLE
MODEL SKILL SETS AT HOME
- we have the players for a couple hours each week - you have them the rest
ALIGN EXPECTATIONS
- you are not them / they are not you – allow them engagement levels
ALIGN DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS / FAILURE
- throw me the ball / “Did you win?” / succeed 1/3 times = HOF
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
- negative is ….. negative / celebrate success – learn from mistakes
SAFETY VIGILANCE
- HIGH ENERGY / LOW AWARENESS
- PROJECTILES / CLUBS
REMEMBER – THIS IS HARD FOR THEM
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
MISSION STATEMENT
INTRODUCE AND BUILD THE SOFTBALL
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
OF EACH PLAYER
IN A FUN, SAFE AND
SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
PUT FUN IN THE FUNDAMENTALS
PUT THRILLS IN SKILL DRILLS
USING A STANDARD CURRICULUM
WE ARE BUILDING MUSCLE MEMORY
ONE MUSCLE AT A TIME
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
COACHING TIPS
LEARNING STYLES
AUDITORY - I HEAR / I DO
VISUAL - I SEE / I DO
KINETIC - I FEEL / I DO
USE ALL 3 WITH: REPETITION & BUZZWORDS
SKILL VARIABILITY
COACHES CUSTOMIZE
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL
PRACTICE STRATEGIES
THE BEST ENVIRONMENT
BALANCE SLOW & FAST
SLOW …. ENOUGH TO GET IT
FAST …. ENOUGH TO KEEP IT INTERESTING
MIX IT UP
DRILLS …. NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES EACH
- IF ONE ISN’T WORKING - CHANGE IT QUICK
- REPEAT THE BEST DRILLS “LATER
GIVE’EM A BREAK
WATER …. SMALL BODIES IN HEAT NEED COOLING
- SITTING …. CAN USE TIME FOR AUDITORY
GRASS CLASS …. EFFECTIVE VARIATIONS ON A THEME
EYE TO EYE … DIVIDE & CONQUER
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL
PRACTICE STRATEGIES
THE BEST ENVIRONMENT
SKILL SESSIONS
DESCRIBE AND DEMONSTRATE …. EXPLAIN WHY AND HOW
- USE PROPS / HUMOR …. RELATE TO A 5-6 YR OLD
- USE KIDS AS DEMONSTRATORS
- IF THEY CAN DO IT …. MAYBE ….
GROUND IN BUZZWORDS ….
- EXPLAIN THEN REPEAT / REPEAT / REPEAT
ENGAGE PLAYERS …..
- ASK QUESTIONS ... SPECIFICALLY TO A PLAYER
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL
PRACTICE STRATEGIES
THE BEST ENVIRONMENT
COACHING TIPS
CANNOT COACH TO A RESULT
- THROW STRIKES / HIT THE BALL
- FOCUS ON MECHANICS
ALIGN EXPECTATIONS
- VARIOUS DEFINITION OF SUCCESS
- YOU / PLAYER / PARENT
DELIVERING A STANDARD PLATFORM TO 12 INDIVIDUALS
- TAKE MANY SMALL STEPS …. KEEP THE FUN UP
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL
PRACTICE STRATEGIES
THE BEST ENVIRONMENT
THEY REMEMBER 3 THINGS
THEY WON VS AN ADULT
USE MINI COMPETITION IN DRILLS
FUNNY - SLAPSTICK
DO IT THE WRONG WAY
- WITH DISASTROUS / FUNNY RESULTS
- FOLLOW-UP WITH THE RIGHT WAY
I DID IT !!!!
TELL THEM … THEY PROBABLY DON’T KNOW
REMEMBER THIS IS HARD FOR THEM
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL
SKILLS PLATFORMS
OBJECTIVE
USE TIME TESTED / SUDBURY BASEBALL / SOFTBALL ENDORSED / SKILL
PLATFORMS TO PROVIDE EACH PLAYER WITH CONSISTENT SKILL
TRAINING THROUGHOUT THEIR SUDBURY LEAGUE EXPERIENCE
EXECUTION
INCORPORATE EACH SKILL PLATFORM - THROWING / CATCHING / HITTING
INTO EACH PRACTICE SESSION USING DRILLS THAT COMBINE
FUN - SAFETY AND THE THREE LEARNING TYPES
BUILD SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE USING THE 5 STEPS METHOD
- AS SKILLS PROGRESS INCREASE LEVEL OF TECHNICAL TEACHING
WITHIN EACH OF THE 5 STEPS
USE DRILLS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE GENERAL SKILL LEVEL OF THE
TEAM BUT INCLUDE PERSONAL ATTENTION FOR EACH PLAYER
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL
SKILLS PLATFORMS
THROWING: 5 STEPS
1. READY POSITION - SIDEWAYS TO THE TARGET
2. LOAD - LEG UP BALANCE POSITION
2. LAUNCH - BIRD POSITION – POWER POSITION
4. FIRE – ROTATE - THROW
5. FOLLOW – FOLLOW THROUGH
HITTING: 5 STEPS
1. READY POSITION - FEET / LEGS / ARMS / HANDS / EYES
2. LOAD – GO BACK TO GO FORWARD
3. LAUNCH – KNOB INSIDE THE BALL - TWIST THE HIPS
4. FIRE - SNAP THROUGH THE BALL
5. FOLLOW - FOLLOW HIGH THROUGH
CATCHING: 5 STEPS
1. READY POSITION - FEET / LEGS / ARMS / HANDS / EYES
2. HUNT – GO TO THE BALL
3. CAPTURE – 2 HANDS - OUT TO IN / DOWN TO UP - GRIP
4. LOAD – CENTERLINE – SQUARE – CROW HOP
5. FIRE – THROW TO TARGET – FOLLOW THROUGH
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
SKILL PLATFORMS
THROWING
1. READY POSITION - SIDEWAYS TO THE TARGET
2. LOAD - LEG UP BALANCE POSITION
2. LAUNCH - POWER POSITION – BIRD POSITION
4. FIRE – ROTATE - THROW
5. FOLLOW – FOLLOW THROUGH
READY - AIM - FIRE WORKS FOR LOWER LEVELS
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
SKILL PLATFORMS
HITTING
1. READY
POSITION - FEET / LEGS / ARMS / HANDS / EYES
2. LOAD – GO BACK TO GO FORWARD
3. LAUNCH – TWIST THE HIPS HOLD THE HANDS
4. FIRE - SNAP THROUGH THE BALL
5. FOLLOW - FOLLOW THROUGH
READY - AIM - FIRE WORKS FOR LOWER LEVELS
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
GENERAL COACHING TIPS
WHY NO ELBOW UP
IN THE HITTING STANCE
FROM
“YOU CAN TEACH HITTING”
BY DUSTY BAKER - PAGE 30-31
“UNFORTUNATELY, YOUTH LEAGUE COACHES COMMONLY MAKE THE MISTAKE OF TELLING
HITTERS TO KEEP THE BACK ELBOW UP. THIS IS GENERALLY A MISGUIDED ATTEMPT TO GET
THE PLAYER TO A POINT WHERE HE ACHIEVES A SLIGHT DOWNWARD STROKE THAT RESULTS
IN LINE DRIVES AND GROUND BALL. … ELBOW [UP] FURTHER COMPOUNDS A COMMON PROBLEM
WHENEVER THE BACK ELBOW STARTS UP, IT MUST COME DOWN BEFORE THE BALL IS HIT.
THE SWING THEN TENDS TO GET UNDERNEATH THE BALL, WHICH CAUSES THE PLAYER TO POP UP
OR MISS THE BALL ALTOGETHER.”
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
SKILL PLATFORMS
CATCHING
1. READY
POSITION - FEET / LEGS / ARMS / HANDS / EYES
2. HUNT – GO TO THE BALL
3. CAPTURE – 2 HANDS - OUT TO IN / DOWN TO UP - GRIP
4. LOAD – CENTERLINE – SQUARE – CROW HOP
5. FIRE – POWER THROWING POSITION – THROW - FOLLOW
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
SCHEDULE
SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION
THE FINAL WORD
THANK YOU !!!!!!
Our Program would not work without your support!