Its not easy. You have to start somewhere. I love the advice of building those relationships with the kids. At the rec level you definitely have a cross section of abilites and reasons for being there. The level of dedication you are showing is awesome.
I started with Mike Candrea videos...
As a HS coach in a small school, it is important for kids to play other sports for programs to be successful. We need those athletes to play multiple sports. I'm lucky, TB is a huge priortity for a bunch of my kids/families. Our softball program benefits from it. Without solid players, its a...
The debate is interesting. As a coach I have never seen this called as interference. I can only imagine if the batter waited until she realized the runner was in jeopardy of getting out (between bases) and then took off to first base attempting to draw the throw. That would be clear in my...
A great change up is a definite equalizer. Being from the midwest, I remember Sara Groenewegen from Minnesota. She had a killer change up that she sold.
As a HS coach, speed kills for 85% of the kids we face. It's that other 15% that will make you PAY if you don't have an effectivce...
I coach HS ball. I care about my kids. I go through NFHS required CPR/First Aid training. I have a coaching authorization license through the State of Iowa. It's tough to make mediacal decisions as a coach, but we have ice packs in our med kit and I have a phone that can dial 9-1-1 if there...
OK - this may sound a little odd, but my oldest DD's high school AC would grab every homerun ball and write something with a Sharpie on it with the date, like "3 run bomb vs Bettendorf on 6/12/11" and give it to the player(she's 28 years old now). Over her HS career I tossed them all in a...
Boy, you are doing an amazing thing here! I really love the advice of working more on life lessons through softball. Little victories here and there would be good to share/celebrate with the kids. They go crazy? Bring about 250 water balloons to practice when its hot and let them go crazy...
I guess it depends on your players. I understand what some of you are saying about 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. However, when you know you have talent, it makes no sense to me to play weaker teams if you can help it. Our conference has been fairly weak over the years. We have to play those games. No...
Can you help me find the NFHS rule on this? I had it happen last season with a rival school, a dad calling pitches outside the dugout. When I brought it up to the ump, he said there was nothing he could do about it. The opposing HC was new, so I'm sure he wanted the help. However, every...
In Iowa, our season starts May 2nd. Most competitive programs offer winter open gym times where we rely on volunteers to run the indoor practices. State rules don't allow coaches to work with kids in the off-season (minor exceptions). We are very fortunate to have use of a great facility...
Little late here - But, I say however you set your final team in the fall, that is what you have. Period. Not sure about the "extra work" requirement to be honest. If you have practice 2-3 times per week, then she should be improving. Yes, top level kids get more reps and parents that...
Maybe that was a bad choice of words. I agree with your statement. My confusion was if the ball is in the circle with the pitcher, and my runner on 3b has stopped her lead-off, I though she had to get back to the base even though the batter runner hadn't reached 1b yet on the walk...
The ball...
Exactly! I like to call it with decent speed on 1st base, a good contact hitter at the plate, and a hitter's count where I expect the next pitch to be a strike... When we practice it, I remind the runner you gotta pick up the ball on the crack of the bat, and the kid at the plate must swing.
Interesting comments... I'm trying not to take any of that personally. How would you pitch around Veronica Nelson, in that situation, then? I would bet that Enquist (and her pitcher) knew her well...
Are you saying she was "colossally dumb" in that situation, or the practice of intentional walk is dumb?
Intentional walk is a valuable tool. A HOF coach told me "Never let the other team's best player beat you. The intentional walk is the most underutilized play in the game." I listened to...
For some reason I thought the two runners were independent. But, it makes sense that the ball is live until the batter-runner gets to first base...thanks!
This is interesting. So the runner on 3b( that is now down the line with her jump on that ball 4) does not have to get back to 3B (or make a decision) until the batter-runner touches 1B? Even if the pitcher has the ball in the circle? I guess I thought the runner on 3B had to make a decision...
Find another team. Listen to your gut.
For most of us here, its easy to say what we would do (now in hindsight), but when your DD is in the middle of it and you don't want to ruin her future opportunities, its a hard choice. If your DD is having a miserable time, then find a new team ASAP...
I agree to a point. But, that is definitely a strategy against power hitting teams - throw your junkball pitcher... It works for a reason.
Yes, congrats!