Getting started with softball....

col cairo · Post by **col cairo** » May 3, 2006 2:08 pm

I coach a 7 - 8 yo softball team and really enjoy it.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » May 3, 2006 2:10 pm

col cairo wrote:I coach a 7 - 8 yo softball team and really enjoy it.

cool! what size balls <snicker> should i get?

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » May 3, 2006 2:12 pm

NYCPORT wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
Tiki Bar wrote: Mine would all be too big and hard for a beginner though.

Oh good...I'm not the only who saw that.
The fact that it was Frank does trouble me a bit though.

I'm surprised I didn't catch it since I'm so concerned with makin' home runs and all.

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » May 3, 2006 2:34 pm

NYCPORT wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
Tiki Bar wrote: Mine would all be too big and hard for a beginner though.

Oh good...I'm not the only who saw that.
The fact that it was Frank does trouble me a bit though.

I threw that in for entertainment purposes!

Tiki Bar · Post by **Tiki Bar** » May 3, 2006 2:37 pm

buffettbride wrote:
Tiki Bar wrote:So not everyone has about 10 bats, countless balls, and 3 gloves in their garages from their many years of playing? Mine would all be too big and hard for a beginner though.
I'm sure we will accumulate over the years, especially when Tony starts playin' and stuff.

Have I mentioned I'm a pack rat?

I still have the 1st bat I got in 6th or 7th grade! I also have a couple that were priced over $200!

I could hit home run balls, but was lucky to make it to 2nd with my lightning speed!

bravedave · Post by **bravedave** » May 3, 2006 2:41 pm

Mallory, it is a great idea to get some practice in before her season starts this Fall. But before you buy her a lot of equipment, visit the library first.
Get yourself a book on softball. There's a good book for first-time coaches (I forget the title, but it's pretty obvious, like: First Time Coaches)

You will be a great help for your daughter to practice, practice, practice the basic skills. But first you have to know which skills to teach, like how to hold the glove, the proper stance at bat, and throwing technique.

Another very important aspect of beginner softball is easy to teach. Just take her to a game -- any game. H.S. girls softball games are great to watch. Boys Little league can teach a new player a lot. And of course professional ball can really inspire a child.

Get your beginner player familiar with the flow of the game. Count balls, strikes, and outs. (Make sure she knows that the first two fouls are strikes, but not thereafter.) Teach her all the positions by name, to help her learn the responsibilities of each. Keep track of the batting order on a piece of paper. You can even keep score, but do it in a simplified fashion that she can follow. ("Official" scorekeeping is an exercise in tedium that only accountants and geeks like me enjoy.)

You will have to learn just as much as Victoria, and you'll have to do it a little faster than her. (And she's probably a fast learner!)
But you will be the best MomCoach ever.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » May 3, 2006 2:52 pm

Thanks bravedave!

I've definitely had my share of brushing up on bball and volleyball rules! She's REAALLLLY excited about softball so I want to do what I can to help her. I've never played (I was all soccer all the time until from about age 7 to 15) so I've had very little exposure to other sports.

7lords · Post by **7lords** » May 3, 2006 2:59 pm

Cubbie Bear wrote:I've coached Carie's team for several years. Just a basic glove is all you want. Wal-mart has a colored mesh looking material glove that does not need to be broken in and is much less expensive than leather gloves. Good place to start until you know her level of conviction to the sport.

Teach her to throw and catch is the key at this level, the other stuff will come. I would use the regular regulation ball and start close up and work back. My biggest fight has been to get the girls to not "throw like girls". In other words, for a right handed girl, the left shoulder pointed towards the target so she isn't fighting her own body to be accurate. i always tell the girls, "If I can read your t-shirt, you are not throwing right" Getting good fundamentals of catching and throwing at 9, will put her way ahead.

Wal-Mart also carrys Hit-A-Way. If you have a pole (not your dancing one) you can attach this too, I think it is a good investment ($18 on sale, reg.-$25-ish) Good basics on a swing I used at 9 y/o was I pretended to nail their back foot to the ground and stride into the swing with only the front foot (but not too much) swing level and not too hard. And just try to make contact and let the bat do the work

I was going to suggest Hit-A-Way or this item that my kids love to hit:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000A1 ... 23-0177441

It's a hit-a-way stick that you hold and they swing at it.

redparrot26 · Post by **redparrot26** » May 3, 2006 3:10 pm

The Hit-a-Way stick is your best bet. The standard hit-a-way (ball on a couple strings) would be hard for her to hit with enough velocity to wrap back around the pole and have it come back.

I'm glad to hear people saying things like, Play it Again Sports and Wal*Mart. The equipment that we adults start to think of is WAY too expensive, and wouldn't be found at either place. A basic bat from Wal*Mart will be just right for the backyard this summer, and maybe even for use on the team next fall. No need to spend a couple hundred on a bat until you have the skill to have it make a difference.

A good coach is the main thing at this point. Both of my sons have had great coaches. People that are great with kids and have the patience and understanding that the obvious to an adult is not at all clear to a child.

Don't forget the coaches gift at the end of the season. They're most likely volunteering their time, so they deserve something good.

Lightning Bolt · Post by **Lightning Bolt** » May 3, 2006 3:13 pm

fooled me again Mal

I thought you were pushing little blue pills

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » May 3, 2006 3:16 pm

redparrot26 wrote:The Hit-a-Way stick is your best bet. The standard hit-a-way (ball on a couple strings) would be hard for her to hit with enough velocity to wrap back around the pole and have it come back.

I'm glad to hear people saying things like, Play it Again Sports and Wal*Mart. The equipment that we adults start to think of is WAY too expensive, and wouldn't be found at either place. A basic bat from Wal*Mart will be just right for the backyard this summer, and maybe even for use on the team next fall. No need to spend a couple hundred on a bat until you have the skill to have it make a difference.

A good coach is the main thing at this point. Both of my sons have had great coaches. People that are great with kids and have the patience and understanding that the obvious to an adult is not at all clear to a child.

Don't forget the coaches gift at the end of the season. They're most likely volunteering their time, so they deserve something good.

Cash is always nice

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » May 3, 2006 3:31 pm

Yeah, we're hoping to keep all the softball-stuff buying in the $50 range.

Coach always get a gift, at least that's why I think I gave the team mom $10 the other day.

col cairo · Post by **col cairo** » May 3, 2006 3:49 pm

buffettbride wrote:
col cairo wrote:I coach a 7 - 8 yo softball team and really enjoy it.
cool! what size balls <snicker> should i get?

11 inch yellow balls

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » May 3, 2006 3:49 pm

buffettbride wrote:Yeah, we're hoping to keep all the softball-stuff buying in the $50 range.

Well, instead of buying one of those hit away things, ask yourself this...isn't Tony about tee-height right now?

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » May 3, 2006 3:51 pm

rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:Yeah, we're hoping to keep all the softball-stuff buying in the $50 range.
Well, instead of buying one of those hit away things, ask yourself this...isn't Tony about tee-height right now?

um, well, yeah...

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » May 3, 2006 3:53 pm

buffettbride wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:Yeah, we're hoping to keep all the softball-stuff buying in the $50 range.
Well, instead of buying one of those hit away things, ask yourself this...isn't Tony about tee-height right now?

um, well, yeah...

I'm gonna be the best dad ever...

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » May 3, 2006 3:54 pm

rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:Yeah, we're hoping to keep all the softball-stuff buying in the $50 range.
Well, instead of buying one of those hit away things, ask yourself this...isn't Tony about tee-height right now?

um, well, yeah...
I'm gonna be the best dad ever...

I pray each day that your sperm don't work.

rednekkPH · Post by **rednekkPH** » May 3, 2006 3:55 pm

buffettbride wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:Yeah, we're hoping to keep all the softball-stuff buying in the $50 range.
Well, instead of buying one of those hit away things, ask yourself this...isn't Tony about tee-height right now?

um, well, yeah...
I'm gonna be the best dad ever...
I pray each day that your sperm don't work.

Well, if they're anything like me, we're safe.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » May 3, 2006 3:56 pm

rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:
rednekkPH wrote:
buffettbride wrote:Yeah, we're hoping to keep all the softball-stuff buying in the $50 range.
Well, instead of buying one of those hit away things, ask yourself this...isn't Tony about tee-height right now?

um, well, yeah...
I'm gonna be the best dad ever...
I pray each day that your sperm don't work.
Well, if they're anything like me, we're safe.

...but they play a helluva game of Internet putt putt?

Quiet and Shy · Post by **Quiet and Shy** » May 3, 2006 10:25 pm

Mal, that's great that Victoria is interested...it's a fun sport! What other classmates are involved, or parents of kids who are involved...so you can get an idea of what ball they use (learn with the right ball, and she's already demonstrated some athletic proficiency and interest with other sports). Also, that might give her some kids to practice/play with, too. I would think $50 is well over enough to get started...especially if you can go to a Play It Again.

Four key skills (a lot of it is hand-eye coordination):
Throwing (start close, gradually move farther apart, work on correct motion and accuracy)
Hitting (consistently connecting the bat and ball)
Catching the ball in the air
Catching/fielding the ball on the ground

I think helping her hook up with a couple other kids who are interested in learning and playing...where they can just goof off, playing catch, etc. is a great way to start. And then you and BG can work with her around that, too.