LIBERTY SOFTBALL COACHES HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 LIBERTY SOFTBALL COACHES HANDBOOK 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Intrductin, Missin Statement & Safety Page 3 2. Caching, Registratin, and Parent Invlvement Page 4 3. Caching Tips & Drills Page 5 a. Baby Belles (Tee Ball) Page 5 b. Little Belles (8U) Page 6 c. Mighty Belles (10U) Page 7 d. Lady Belles (12U) Page 7 4. Fundamentals Page 8 a. Catching the ball Page 8 i. Grund Balls Page 8 ii. Fly Balls Page 8 b. Thrwing Page 9 c. Base-Running Page 9 d. Hitting Page Drills & Practice Ideas Page 12 a. Catching the ball Page 12 i. Grund Balls Page 12 ii. Fly Balls Page 12 b. Thrwing Page 13 c. Base-Running Page 14 d. Hitting Page Links t helpful training vides Page 15 2

3 INTRODUCTION, MISSION STATEMENT & SAFETY Liberty Sftball is a cmmunity driven nn-prfit rganizatin with a fcus n teamwrk and parent invlvement. Our gal is t prvide well-rganized & managed sftball prgram that prvides a safe, whlesme envirnment where the children in ur cmmunities can enjy spare time and the sprts experience. Liberty will educate, train, and cach all children with fcus n the fundamentals f sftball, regardless f skill level. The gal is t imprve the child s ability and knwledge at all levels. Our website is Liberty Missin: Teaching Integrity, Respect, and Sprtsmanship n the Field and in the Game f Life. SAFETY SAFETY is the number ne pririty fr Liberty Sftball. All players, parents, and caches need t be aware f SAFETY at all times. Here are sme tips t help caches reinfrce SAFETY with the teams: N ne is allwed in the dugut area except fr the players and caches f the team Keep the dugut area clean and bstructins (visual and physical) t a minimum Have helmets and bats hanging frm the fences, nt lying n the grund where players walk Have bat bags and game bags utside f the dugut r ut f the walkways The bench is fr the players, nt fr glves, bags, water bttles, etc. The nly player allwed t have a bat in their hands is the current hitter and the current n-deck hitter Players shuld nt be practice swinging in r near the duguts r benches Runners must keep helmets n at all times within the field f play Keep players invlved in the game and keeping their eyes n the play and the lcatin f the ball Recmmend face masks be wrn n defense as well as helmets Walk arund the edges f the playing field befre practice and games. Pint ut t the players n the team where fencing is brken, sharp bjects are lcated, hles in the utfield, etc. Inspect that the bases and pitchers rubber have been inserted prperly Recmmend that all jewelry be remved prir t practices r games 3

4 COACHING, REGISTRATION & PARENT INVOLVEMENT COACHES League Cmmissiners will select and ntify Head Caches fr their teams by the beginning f March. They may be assigned assistant caches wh have ffered t help at registratin, r Head caches may recruit parents f girls n their team t help cach. A caches meeting will be scheduled 2-3 weeks prir t the start f the seasn t review key teachings and fcus n the same cre fundamentals. The caches meeting is mandatry fr all head caches and vluntary fr assistant caches. Caches will receive their rsters, schedules, rules, cdes f cnduct, and infrmatin abut the rganizatin and upcming seasn. REGISTERING AS COACHES / VOLUNTEER All caches, head and assistant, will be required t cmplete the Vlunteer Applicatin PDF n the Liberty website befre the seasn begins. All caches will be subject t ptential backgrund checks as the results will affect ur insurance plicies. If there is a parent n the team that wuld like t assist with caching, please have them register n the website as sn as pssible. Any cach that has a backgrund f vilent crimes r crimes invlving children will nt be permitted t cach. Caching assignments will be determined by the league cmmissiners. PARENTS It is strngly recmmend that caches cmmunicate clearly and in a timely manner t yur players' parents. Crdinating a parents meeting at r befre the first practice is recmmended s as t review player and parent expectatins. Signing up a child fr a sprt is nt nly a cmmitment fr the player, but it is a cmmitment fr the parents as well. The best way t have yur parents exhibit acceptable behavir is by demnstrating it and leading by example 4

5 COACHING TIPS AND DRILLS GENERAL TIPS: The fllwing tips will make yur rle easier and help yu enjy yur time with the girls: Plan yur practices by allcating time slts fr each activity Warm-up / Stretch Skill Develpment / Fundamental wrk (ptential fr break-ut grups) Game cncepts Scrimmage Team Building Q&A Arrive early t get the field ready Have the girls busy frm the mment they arrive. Smetimes, utilizing assistant caches and vlunteers fr break-ut grups helps keep the fcus Kids like cnsistency and skills are built with repetitin, s use the same drills/games and expand them when skill levels increase Cmmunicate yur expectatins fr each practice and fr each drill. Keep explanatins t minimum verbally, use demnstratin when yu can End yur practice with a fun, team building activity Occasinally wrk in a take hme exercise that helps the girls learn abut the game, its histry, etc. Basic expectatins fr yur parents and yur players: Arrive n time and be ready t g Stp, lk and listen when the cach is speaking Hustle n and ff the field Help with the equipment at each practice Be psitive and encurage thers COACHING FOR EACH LEVEL There will always be thse few players at each level wh are exceptinal athletes with advanced skills fr their age and thse that will take mre time than the nrm t develp. The expectatins belw are fr the majrity f the players at each level: Baby Belles (Tee Ball) Objectives By the end f the seasn, mst players will: 1. Recgnize the psitin names and lcatins 2. Begin t develp fundamental skills f thrwing Full circle arm mvement dwn, back, up, fllw-thrugh Grip with the 12 / 6 seams Pinting shulder t target 3. Begin t develp fundamental skills f catching Be able t stp a ball mst f the time Psitining in frnt f the ball path, and nt t the side 5

6 Be able t turn the glve prperly fr a fly ball vs. grund ball mst f the time Be able t demnstrate the "ready" psitin cnsistently 4. Begin t develp fundamental skills f hitting Be able t cnsistently hit ff a tee, Be able t hit caches pitches at least 6/10 pitched strikes Knw where the ful lines are and what they mean 5. Begin t develp fundamental skills base f running Running thrugh first base, but nt the thers Listening t, and picking up her cach when running bases Knw which way t run arund the bases 6. Knw the difference between safe and ut a. Knw the ptins f tagging a runner with the ball (in the glve) r tuch a base 7. Knw that the bjective f the defense is t make 3 uts in an inning Little Belles (8U) Objectives: In additin t the Baby Belles (Tee Ball) bjectives, by the end f the seasn, mst players will: 1. Knw the names f the psitins n the field and begin t understand and demnstrate the respnsibility f each Outfielders backing up infielders. Where t make a play defensively and the imprtance f getting the lead runner ut Anticipatin f where a defensive play shuld be made 2. Cntinue t develp fundamental skills f thrwing and catching Demnstrate prper glve psitining fr fly balls and grund balls Demnstrate the ability t thrw the ball frm the utfield t an infield psitin player Demnstrate the ability t thrw frm base t base 3. Cntinue t develp fundamental skills f hitting Be able t make cntact with a pitch thrwn by the cach mst f the time Understanding f the strike zne Swinging at strikes Understand what a ball is and that 4 balls t a hitter results in a walk Understand what a ful ball is and that it cunts as a strike 4. Cntinue t develp fundamental skills f running Understanding when t advance and when nt t Grund balls, line drives, fly balls Listen and lk t the base cach when running the bases Understanding the difference between hlding, runding and running thrugh a base 5. Begin t understand the difference between a frced and unfrced runner a. When/hw t tag the runner b. When/hw t tag the base Mighty Belles (10U) and Lady Belles (12U) Girls Objectives: In additin t the Little Belles (8U) bjectives, by the end f the seasn, mst players will: 1. Knw the psitins n the field and understand mst f the respnsibilities f defensive psitins Understands and demnstrates that every psitin has a respnsibility t mve and be smewhere n every play 6

7 Anticipatin f where a defensive play shuld be made mst f the time. Understand the difference between a frced and unfrced runner and when t tag a base and when t tag the runner Demnstrate relays frm utfield t the prper infield psitin Understand prper psitining in rundwns Understand prper psitining/cverage in bunt situatins 2. Cntinue t develp fundamental skills f thrwing and catching Demnstrate prper glve psitining fr fly balls, grund balls t either side, backhand, etc. Demnstrate accurate and cnsistent thrws frm base t base Cntinue t imprve thrwing strength and accuracy (3rd t 1st, Hme Plate t 2nd) 3. Cntinue t develp fundamental skills f hitting, Be able t hit a pitched strike Be able t differentiate between a ball and a strike by utilizing strike zne cverage Demnstrate prper bunting technique Sacrifice Bunt Bunt fr a hit Understands the pitch cunt 4. Cntinue t develp fundamental skills f base running Understanding when t advance and when nt t Understand when a runner is frced and when a runner is required t be tagged Lk fr and listen t the base cach when running Picking up her cach when appraching the next base Begin t develp basic sliding skills Begin t understand stealing bases, techniques, lead-ffs, and returning t the base 5. Catchers - Begin t demnstrate specific psitin skills Blcking Framing Thrwing t the bases Drpped 3 rd strikes Fielding balls in frnt f the plate 7

8 Fundamentals Catching The Ball (general) ALWAYS have them in a "ready" athletic psitin Teach the 1-2 step habit f appraching the hitter befre cntact Catch with tw hands and cvering the glve with the thrwing hand Catch the ball in frnt f the bdy and step frward with the glve ft as they catch Teach taking yur nse t the ball cncept Prper glve psitin Abve waist = fingers up Belw waist = fingers dwn Transitin t thrwing quickly with as few steps as pssible between catch and thrw Grund Balls Getting in frnt f the ball Teach the 4-pints facing the ball Receive the ball with the glve ut frnt - knees bent, chest up and butt dwn Try t receive the ball t the center-left s as t make the transitin t the thrw easier and quicker Teach t wrk thrugh the ball s mmentum is nt stpped and re-started. Mmentum can be carried thrugh, helping t reduce thrwing transitin time as well as creating mre velcity n the thrw Fingertips and the backs f the fingers f the glve shuld be tuching the grund t create an entry int the glve pcket Thrwing hand shuld be just abve the palm, ready t cver up and cnvert t a thrw ( Alligatrhand r Pac-Man methd ) Stay lw and make the thrw t the base immediately nce the ball is caught. Ppping up takes time and allws the runner mre steps. Shuffle the feet n slw t medium speed grund balls hit t the left and right. N crss ver step. Crss ver step and turn shulders n hard hit grund balls t the left and right. N shuffle. Fly Balls Receive the ball with the glve up and in frnt whenever pssible (advanced players ver thrwing shulder) Try t receive the ball with yur mmentum cming twards the infield Right ft slightly in frnt fr right-handed thrwers Left ft slightly in frnt fr left-handed thrwers Thrwing hand shuld be psitined ff f the thumb slt n the glve and pen After making the catch, bring the glve and ball dwn t yur thrwing side t ready the thrw. On balls hit in the gaps r directly ver the head f the utfielder, teach the drp step, turn, and run in lieu f back pedaling Turn head and find the ball in the air while running t the spt where the ball will land 8

9 Thrwing Recmmend each girl get their wn ball and use black electrical tape t wrap nce arund the center f (12:00 6:00) Teaches prper spin f the ball when thrwing. If the player des nt see a straight black stripe while the ball is in the air, the thrwing mechanics are ff Hld the ball in the fingertips, nt in the palm, thumb and middle finger ppsite sides f ball and n the seams if able Arms utstretched s glve is pinting tward target, ball hand ppsite directin with bth palms dwn (knuckles t sky) Thrwing mtin starts with weight shift t back ft and frnt ft stepping/pinting t target Thrwing arm cmes thrugh with elbw first, at shulder height with hand ver elbw Wrist flick and fllw-thrugh t ppsite hip at the end f the mtin Bring back leg arund t finish Base-Running D nt watch the ball, fix eyes n bases and ears n caches Runners must stay in the baseline and may nt deviate utside f it by mre than 3 feet Defensive players making a play n the ball have the right-f-way within the baseline. Runners must avid cntact r making the defensive player make an unnecessary adjustment Run thrugh first base, d nt stp at the base Once the runner steps n the base, they shuld remain in ful territry, but turn twards the infield and listen fr their cach in case f an verthrw r errr. This will psitin them fr an easy start twards 2 nd base. D nt verrun 2 nd base r 3 rd base, runner needs t stp at the base r slide int the base Runners starting n 1 st r 2nd base Left ft is psitined at far right f the frnt edge f base nearest t next base Right ft is psitined even with the back edge f the base, but nt in a psitin where it has t travel ver tp f the base. This prevents the pssibility f dragging the ft n the base r tripping ver the base Runner rcks back n back leg as pitcher s thrwing hand is at its highest peak. Left ft pushes ff base and prpels the runner twards the next base Runners starting n 3 rd base Left ft is psitined at far right f the frnt edge f base nearest t hme plate Right ft is psitined even with the back edge f the base, but nt in a psitin where it has t travel ver tp f the base. This prevents the pssibility f dragging the ft n the base r tripping ver the base Runner rcks back n back leg as pitcher s thrwing hand is at its highest peak. Left ft pushes ff base and prpels the runner twards hme plate Runner stays in ful territry until ball is caught by the catcher r cntact is made by the hitter If ball strikes the runner in ful territry, the ball is ful and the play re-starts If ball strikes the runner in fair territry, the runner is ut Once catcher catches the ball, runner enters fair territry and shuffles back t 3 rd base On base hits, runner shuld take a questin mark rute twards 1 st base. Peel ff twards the 1 st base dugut a bit past halfway s the angle t 2 nd base is direct and the runner is nt ging ut int right field. 9

10 Always try t hit every base n the inside left crner with left ft and push ff twards next base. D nt sacrifice setting up the left ft by stutter-stepping and lsing speed. If runner cannt avid tuching with the right ft, this is OK. As runner heads twards 2 nd base, head turns twards 3 rd t pick up the cach s directin t stp r cntinue Hitting Grip Stance Swing Dr kncking knuckles lined up Relaxed grip in the fingers, nt the palm f the hand Feet slightly mre than shulder width apart and tes square t the plate Clse enugh t the plate s the meat f the bat cvers the plate when arms extended Slight bend in knees, knees may be a bit inside ankles Bth eyes need t be able t view pitcher/incming pitch. Hands are a few inches frm the back shulder and the bat is at 45 angle Elbws and angled dwnward in a "v" Starts with a LOAD. Hands mve slightly back and majrity f weight shifts t back ft Set frnt trigger te t the grund, begin weight shift frm back ft. Must keep the firm frnt side, n cllapse, n knee bend. Hips begin turn with rtatin f back ft, hands begin t mve twards the ball t get the barrel n plane, trs begins rtating twards the pitcher Keep the hands inside f the ball, bat barrel stays clse t back arm, which slts int psitin next t blique Cntact is made, elbws extend and hands remain palm up, palm dwn Full extensin - hands finish high and wrists break Sacrifice Bunting (BASIC) Psitin the player twards the frnt f the batter s bx D nt turn and squarely face the pitcher. Pivt frm yu stance s that the back ft te is facing the pitcher and the frnt ft is at 45 degree angle. Athletic psitin with ready, flexible knees Hands extended, nt quite t lcked elbws. Bat shuld still be ut ver the plate in frnt f the catcher s eyes. Hld bat with the tp hand at the bttm f the barrel with yur thumb and frefinger and bttm hand n knb Start with the bat at the tp f the strike zne Mve the bat up and dwn in the strike zne with knee flexin nly. D nt mve arms, bat, hands, etc. Deaden the pitch as it cntacts the bat by allwing the elbws t absrb the impact Bunts t 3 rd base bat head must be pinting pretty clse t right dwn the 1 st base line and bat head must be abve knb 10

11 Bunts t 1 st base bttm hand pushes the knb ut twards the pitcher. Barrel remains higher than knb Avid bunts straight back t pitcher Bunting fr a hit (BASIC) Player takes nrmal stance and des nt mve until pitcher s arm is at its peak height First mve is a drp step back with the back ft abut 6 inches. Remain n the te f that ft, because the player needs t be able t push ff twards 1 st base nce the bunt is laid dwn Tp hand n grip slides up t the bttm f the barrel. Bat is still held with nly the thumb and frefingers Barrel ges directly ver back shulder int the tp f the strike zne. Mre f an axe-chp actin dwn versus a flatter slice actin acrss the plate. Bunts t 3 rd base bat head must be pinting pretty clse t right dwn the 1 st base line and bat head must be abve knb Push Bunts t 1 st base bttm hand pushes the knb ut twards the pitcher. Barrel remains higher than knb 11

12 Drills & Practice Ideas Catching the ball Grund Balls Cnsider using tennis balls and/r eliminating the glve, causing the girls t use bth hands Cunt hw many bunces there were int the glve/catch (watch ball int glve) Try t catch the ball with the least number f bunces (charging the ball) Have the girls walk frm cne t cne in the lw squat psitin knees bent, chest up, butt dwn, glve ut Receiving the backhand grunder Hard backhand and Frnt backhand Quick tss grunders Staying lw while mving laterally Stress quick thrws (underhand r verhand) Flip versus thrwing a spear Muse in the hle- set -up helmets fr different lanes and thrw grunders int the lanes. Have the girls field the ball befre they crss the helmet. Fly Balls & Pp-Ups Fr the yunger players, simply giving them a ball and having them tss it up in the air t themselves is a gd drill fr fcusing n the ball in the air and fllwing it int the glve. Get t the spt have girls abut feet away frm cach. Cach thrws the ball right in frnt f him in the air and the girls must hustle t get under the ball t catch it. Girls start t the right f cach, cme twards him and run arund behind him t the ther side. Cach thrws the ball in the air ver their heads and they have t lk back t find it while running away frm the infield. Teaches hw t g back n balls. Cach stands with ball in his thrwing hand raised in the air. Outfielder faces away frm him running int the utfield. Cach mves hand right and left s the utfielder has t fllw the hand mvement (zig-zag). Cach thrws fly ball n the 4 th hand mvement. This drill teaches ftwrk, while keeping eyes n the fly ball. Thrwing Wrist Flick Kneel n glve side knee and have glve hand hld elbw at shulder height. Player flicks the ball with wrist snap int a bucket 3 feet away. Keep track f hw many g in Standing 5-6 feet away frm partner, player has glve hand hld elbw at shulder height. Player flicks the ball with a wrist snap t partner Kneeling Thrws Kneeling n glve side knee abut yards apart, thrw t partner. 12

13 Full arm mtin- dwn, back, up, fllw-thrugh Fllw-Thrugh t tuch the grund emphasize the stretch Standing Thrws Hit partner in the chest Bdy Game If the thrw wuld have hit the partner anywhere n their bdy abve the waist, the thrwer gets a pint. Keep track f pints until yu have a winner Standing in cncrete thrws Feet stay statinary, facing target. Teaches getting a gd rtatin back and fllwing thrugh Knck the stuffed animal ff f the chair (gd fr yunger grups) Break the team up int 2 even numbered grups, half at the pitcher s mund, half at 2 nd base. Hit grund balls t them and have them thrw t first t a large stuffed animal sitting in a fld up chair. If the player kncks the animal ff, that team gets a pint. Zig-Zag Drill Players line up ppsite ne anther in 2 straight lines 20 yards apart. First player has all f the balls dwn by her and starts the challenge by thrwing t the player acrss frm her. Girls cntinue t thrw t the next girl until all balls are at the end f the line frm where they started. Gal is t get all f the balls frm ne end t the ther withut having a bad thrw. Lng Tss Quick Transitin / Quick Release Drills Relay race 2-3 lines f players spaced evenly apart n the base line. Relay the ball t the next player, g up and dwn the line 5 times Teaches ftwrk s that the player is psitined t quickly get rid f the ball, nce received Als, teaches hw t receive the ball as a relay and t turn ver the glve side t find yur target Villanva 4-buckets make a square. Buckets nly 8-10 feet apart. Rapid exchanges, all underhand tsses and all quick release. Fllw yur flip and g t the next bucket. Need at least 2 players at each bucket Mve buckets back t frm a rectangle. Lnger thrws are designed t frce the player catching the ball t cme arund the bucket and flip t the next player. Fcus is n ftwrk, especially gd fr middle infielders. Base-running, Thrwing, and Catching Drill (all in ne) Half the team at hme plate, the ther half in psitins n the field. Hit the ball in the utfield and have the defense thrw the ball t every player in the field, then back t hme plate. The ffensive team cunts hw many girls can rund the bases and scre befre the entire defense tuches the ball and returns t cach at hme. Defense wrks n catching, thrwing, and accuracy Offense wrks n base-running skills, tuching the inside crner f bases, picking up their caches, and taking gd angles 13

14 Base running Warm up with a jg arund the bases and have the runners yell what base they are n when they tuch it. Tuch the cne Set up a cne 3 feet beynd 1 st base, slightly in ful territry. Have the runner run thrugh first and tuch the cne. Hme/2B Race Hitting Half the team at hme plate, half at 2 nd base. One at a time, race arund the base back t their start, next player ges and see which team finishes first. Tee Wrk Hit slightly deflated sccer ball ff tee (develp pwerful swing and strnger hands) Tee wrk with bat behind back Helps with prper hip turns Rapid tees Helps t frm muscle memry as well as remve any hitches in the swing Tee wrk where the psitin f the tee is mved frm lcatin t lcatin t wrk n hitting high/lw, inside/utside zne strikes One handed swings ff tee teaches arm sltting, hands extensin, etc. Karate Kid Have frnt knee raised up abve waistline while balancing in nrmal batter s bx psitin. Stride ut and start swing. Teaches balance thrughut the entire swing and fllw-thrugh Sft tss Standard sft tss Sft tss with clred ball -Sft tss 2 sftballs at the same time, ne with a dt n it. The batter needs t pick ut the ne with the dt and swing at that ne. A variatin is t sft tss 2-3 balls and call ut high, lw r middle and have the batter hit that psitined ball Using tennis balls, drp the ball frm abve the hitter and allw it t bunce nce. Once the bunce has ccurred, the hitter then swings at the ball. Teaches t wait n ff speed pitches and keeping the hands and weight back Using standard sftballs, drp the ball frm abve the hitter and the hitter needs t hit the ball befre it hits the grund. Teaches bat speed and quick hands t react t the ball. Frnt Tss Standing behind a screen, pitcher tsses balls t hitter fr live hitting. Wrk n placing pitches inside, utside, high, and lw. Frce the hitter t hit t all fields Thrw balls with different clred dts n them (keeps eye n ball) place clred dts n a few balls and pitch them t a batter. The batter has t tell yu what clr dt was n the ball. Pepper (sft tuch fr bunting) 14

15 LINKS TO HELPFUL TRAINING VIDEOS USA Cach Mike Candrea with the wmen s natinal team wrking n infield drills Mike Murray f The Virginia Baseball Club teaching Cmmn Hitting Flaws & Drills Auburn University Sftball Training and Agility Tips Fr New Sftball Caches Caching Yuth Sftball Pitchers