- Dec 12, 2020
- 289
- 63
I would enjoy making this. Get a good camera, a great lens and you can even get good footage from beyond the OF fence
Marcela 13 YO Second Year 14U (Spring)
- Thread starter pattar
- Start date
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Lol. I was in a good mood/not feeling overly anxious last weekend so I actually was fairly close to the action (but far enough away so I didn't hear any parents). I wandered back and forth from the outfield fence to the backstop..I have a hard time sitting still. I took hitting videos from the side.I would enjoy making this. Get a good camera, a great lens and you can even get good footage from beyond the OF fence
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She is very good but I am not fond of the over exaggerated and often unnecessary low arm slot. (last fielding play on video) There is a time for it (low arm slot) depending on the play and where the ball is fielded but always throwing from the lower arm slot no matter what the play or where the ball is fielded seems to be the latest and greatest thing because I see it often but I also personally know two SS that have had to miss games with elbow pain that always throw from the low arm slot. IMO, ideally SS should be able to throw from various arm slot dependent on the situation. Example: If SS fields a chopper up around her face, unnecessarily dropping down to the low arm slot to me looks funky. Also, a long low arm slot throw curves quite a bit and is tougher on the first baseman specially if throw is in the dirt.
Yeah I agree. Different arm slots are appropriate for different plays. She does drop lower than needed on all throws on the run (which that play was), which is something I have mentioned to her...like you said it depends where you actually field the ball...she is learning. These sorts of things are the things that make playing SS (well) so difficult. Even though I have mentioned it as I said above, you really cannot coach a kid on what arm slot you should use for every ball hit to them. You can make sure you develop the different arm slots but you have to let them work through when they should make certain throws...at least IMO.
Also if you look at high level SS, different players have different base arm slots which they use for making routine plays. Some are more over the top and some are more 3/4 slot. . Her throws on these plays (balls hit hard right at her), where her slot IS higher (just didn't have any of these balls to show last weekend), needs work as does the backhand ball (higher arm slot again). This has been discussed before.
All that said, overall I am pretty happy (amazing I know...) with how she is developing in the field compared to last summer. She is moving better and her instincts (when to charge, when to drop step, etc) seem to be improving.
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Had to have an adjective. LOL. Couldn't be just happy. She does move well.
Another thing I am seeing SS over do lately(14u/16U/HS ball in So Cal) is SS playing DEEP, waiting for the long hop instead of going to get the ball. Kind of shuffling in place then trying working thru the ball. I know there is a time for this too but I see it being over done.(specially at fielding clinics) I think they think it looks cool. And sometimes they get stuck flat footed, have to hurry and then throw submarine style across the field from a stagnant position. Hurts my arm just watching.
I will never be completely happy..
You don't have time in softball to try and stay back to get a long hop unless the ball is smashed at you, in which case you typically will dropstep to get it if you need to do anything with your feet. Most other times you should be working through the ball to get a short hop or charging to get a long hop.
Me neither.
