I’ve not ever coached in a season where I’ve had enough practices to feel ready to play… and this year is no exception! My U12 girls softball team has had 7 practices so far, and have 2 0r 3 more before our first game next Friday night under the lights.
I decided that there are just some things we’ll have to learn as we go, and a few that I’m really going to focus on to get the girls ready. I do this every year, and it always drives me crazy because I just love to practice!
Major focus areas before our first game:
- Get the girls to see some live pitching
- Get my pitchers to pitch to batters
- Sliding into bases
- Game situations (my favorite of all drills is to field a full team and use the extra players as live runners)
- Signs (basic ones only: bunt, steal and take the next pitch)
What we aren’t going to get to and will have to learn as we go this year…
- 2B backing up the pitcher after every pitch
- Additional backups (in particular, RF backing up all plays to 1B and LF backing up 3B)
- Advanced catchers drills and specific practice including the extremely important “fake” throw to second base to try to fool the runner on third!
- Pitchers covering home on all passed balls with runners on third
What we probably won’t get to…
- Hit and run
- Delayed steals (except for this one girl, who I think I can teach)
BTW, I found this terrific site that all you coaches should check out… I also put it in my “Ultimate Resource Guide.“
It’s almost game time and I can’t wait!
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