3830 Valley Centre Dr.,

Suite 705 - Box 201,

San Diego,

CA 92130

(858) 643-9790

  Coach's Manual

North Shore Girls Softball League

2007  

( Click here for the Word document version)

Division 6

• Positioning
• Throwing
• Running Bases
• Hitting
• Fielding
• Fly balls

Division 8 and 10

• Positioning
• Throwing
• Hitting
• Running Bases
• Fielding
• Fly balls

Division 12 and 14

• Positioning
• Throwing
• Hitting
• Running Bases
• Fielding
• Fly balls

Division 6

Positioning

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• 1^st  base - 1 to 2 feet to the right of 1^st base and 2 to 3 feet in front of 1^st base
• 2^nd base – Half way between 1^st and 2^nd base, 2 to 3 feet in front of the base path
• Shortstop - Half way between 2^nd and 3rd base, 2 to 3 feet in front of the base path
• 3^rd - to 2 feet to the left of 3rd base and 2 to 3 feet in front of 3rd base
• Left field – on the grass behind infield between on the grass off foul line
• Left center field - on the grass behind 2^nd base between shortstop and 2^nd base
• Right Center - on the grass behind 2^nd base between 2^nd baseman and 2nd base
• Right field – on the grass behind infield between on the grass off foul line.

Throwing

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• Proper throwing technique – Scarecrow, Arnold (muscle), Jackknife (rotate hip) and snap. Practice as drill.
  • Scarecrow – After fielding a ball, the player must first turn her body perpendicular to the target. During this transition, the throwing hand retrieves the ball from the glove and grips the ball with the index and middle finger across the seams of the ball.  The thumb will be under the ball directly on the stitching.  The wrist is cocked back.
  • Arnold (muscle) – The arm comes back as the weight of the player shifts to their back foot.  The throwing arm is flexed at the elbow. The player’s front arm should be pointed at the target and the player should be looking at the target.
  • Jackknife (rotate hip) – The player rotates their hip the shoulders turn to be parallel to the target.  As the hip is rotated the player takes a step transferring their weight from the back foot to the front foot.
  • Snap – The player snaps their wrist as they release the ball and follow through by bringing the back foot forward and landing in ready position.  The player’s body should finish roughly parallel to the target.

• Instruct players to always make sure the player they are throwing to is looking at them before they throw the ball.
• Snap Drill - Warm up on one knee, two partners facing one another, elbow bent with other hand supporting throwing hand, using just the wrist snap the ball to your partner.
• Towel Drill – Have player hold towel in their throwing hand with their wrist cocked back.  Have the player snap their wrist forward.
• Basketball Drill – Have the player practice throwing baskets with the softball.  Make sure that they snap their wrist when they shoot.

Running Bases

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• Drop bat prior the running, do not throw bat.  Practice as drill.
• Run through 1st base and home plate
• When running to 1st base the player must run in the running lane and touch orange base.  Once stepping on 1^st base turn towards foul territory except when advancing to the next base.
• Stop on 2^nd and 3^rd base
• When running from 1^st base to 2^nd base, 2^nd base to 3^rd base and 3^rd base to home the player must run in the base path.

Hitting

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• Proper technique -Hold bat with fingers, line up knuckles, feet shoulder width apart and knees slightly bent. Position bat as if talking on the telephone. When swinging move hands directly at the ball. Rotate back hip towards pitcher.
• Always hit ball in front of plate.
• Position tee in front of plate or place hitter in back of box so the front foot is even with the back of the tee and the barrel of the bat is in the middle of the tee when the arms are extended.
• When throwing batting practice with wiffle balls and pitching in games try to throw balls at a speed fast enough for the ball crosses the plate level with the ground.
• Tee Drill – Have player hold bat behind their back with both arms.  Set up tee in line with the layer’s belly button.  The player rotates their hip and back foot hitting the ball off the tee.

Fielding

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• Field balls above the waste with the fingers of the glove facing up, the throwing hand next to the glove and thumbs together.

• Field balls below the waste starting with the glove on the ground and the finger of the glove facing away from the player.  Throwing hand next to the glove with pinkies together.

• Triangle Drill - With the player’s feet shoulder width apart draw a triangle with the point 1 foot in front of the player and have player with the pocket open place glove down on ground. Roll balls to player, having player practice field ball in front of them and starting with their glove on the ground and moving it up when the ball bounces up.  Start rolling balls straight to player and then once they understand the proper technique roll balls side to side.

• Cross fire Drill - Have half the players line on the 3^rd base foul line half way between 3^rd and home.  Have the half of the players line up half way between 2nd and second.  Have a coach next to each line.  Have the coaches roll a ball the player in the front of the line opposite them.  After fielding the ball the player hands the ball to the coach next to them.

• Attack drill – Line up players on the infield in a single file line. Draw a line 2 to 3 feet in front of the first player in line.  Roll the ball the player.  The player attempts to field the ball in front of the line.

Fly balls

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To catch a fly ball, the player should position the glove according to the flight of the ball. If the ball is below the waist, the fingers and the palm of the glove hand should be pointed down with the mitt fully open. If the ball is chest high, the fingers and the palm of the glove should be pointing out, with the thumbs pointing to the sky. If the ball is above the chest, the fingers point toward the sky.  In all catching attempts, a player should:

·         Keep eyes on the ball

·         Have both hands ready, with arms relaxed and extended towards the ball

·         Bend the elbows to absorb the force of the throw

·         Watch the ball into the glove and squeeze it.

·         After the catch, the player should immediately grip the ball with the throwing hand in the correct overhand throwing technique.

• Foam balls will be provided

• Drill –Using the foam balls practice throwing fly balls to the players.  Start with short distances and throw to the side of the player until the player is comfortable catching.  Players can also throw balls to themselves.

• Wide Receiver Drill – Each player has a ball.  The players line up about 10 ft from the coach.  The player at the front of the line throws their ball to the coach and starts running diagonally away from the coach.  The coach throws the ball in the direction the player is running.

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Division 8 and 10

  Positioning

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• 1^st  base - 1 to 2 feet to the right of 1^st base and 2 to 3 feet in front of 1^st base
• 2^nd base – Half way between 1^st and 2^nd base, 2 to 3 feet in front of the base path
• Shortstop - Half way between 2^nd and 3rd base, 2 to 3 feet in front of the base path
• 3^rd - 1 to 2 feet to the left of 3rd base and 2 to 3 feet in front of 3rd base
• Left field – on the grass behind infield between on the grass off foul line
• Left center field - on the grass behind 2^nd base between shortstop and 2^nd base
• Right Center - on the grass behind 2^nd base between 2^nd baseman and 2nd base
• Right field – on the grass behind infield between on the grass off foul line.
• Every play every player has a job to do.  The 3 B’s of softball are ball, base and backup.  The player’s first priority is to field the ball.  Second priority is backup the ball hit in there direction.  The infielders third priority is to cover the base, while the outfield’s third priority is to backup the throw.
• Backing up
  • Right fielder backups balls hit to 1^st and 2^nd and throws to 1^st base and from left field to 2^nd base
  • Left fielder backups balls hit to 3^rd and shortstop and throws to 3^rd base and from right field to 2^nd base
  • Left center backs up balls hit to 3^rd and shortstop and throws to 2^nd from 1^st and 2^nd baseman.
  • Right center backs up balls hit to 1^st and 2^nd and throw to 2^nd base from 3^rd and shortstop.
  • Pitcher backs up throws form center field to 2^nd base
• 2^nd baseman takes cut-off from right field and right center; shortstop takes cut-off from left field and left center

• Bunt coverage

Runner at first

• 1^st and 3^rd basemen charge
• 2^nd baseman covers 1^st base
• Shortstop covers 2^nd base
• Left fielder covers 3^rd base

Runner at first and second

• 1^st and 3^rd basemen charge
• 2^nd baseman covers 1^st base
• Shortstop covers 3^rd base
• Center fielder covers 2nd base
• Stealing
  • Shortstop or left-center fielder covers 2nd when base runner is stealing 2nd base
  • 3rd baseman covers 3rd when base runner is stealing 3rd base except on a bunt. Shortstop covers 3^rd for steal on bunt if there is a runner at 2^nd ; centerfielder covers 2^nd .

 

Throwing

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• Proper throwing technique – Scarecrow, Arnold (muscle), Jackknife (rotate hip) and snap. Practice as drill.
  • Scarecrow – After fielding a ball, the player must first turn her body perpendicular to the target. During this transition, the throwing hand retrieves the ball from the glove and grips the ball with the index and middle finger across the seams of the ball.  The thumb will be under the ball directly on the stitching.  The wrist is cocked back.
  • Arnold (muscle) – The arm comes back as the weight of the player shifts to their back foot.  The throwing arm is flexed at the elbow. The player’s front arm should be pointed at the target and the player should be looking at the target.
  • Jackknife (rotate hip) – The player rotates their hip the shoulders turn to be parallel to the target.  As the hip is rotated the player takes a step transferring their weight from the back foot to the front foot.
  • Snap – The player snaps their wrist as they release the ball and follow through by bringing the back foot forward and landing in ready position.  The player’s body should finish roughly parallel to the target.
• Instruct players to always make sure the player they are throwing to is looking at them before they throw the ball.
• All throws from the outfield are thrown to second base.
• Keep throws from outfield low or 1 hop to base.
• Snap Drill - Warm up on one knee, two partners facing one another, elbow bent with other hand supporting throwing hand, using just the wrist snap the ball to your partner
• Relay Drill – 3 or 4 man relay – Line up girls in line 15 to 20 feet apart.  1^st girl has ball and throws the ball the 2^nd girl, 2^nd girl pivots and throws ball the 3^rd girl, etc.  The girl receiving the ball has both hands up and calls for the ball.  The girl throwing the ball should aim shoulder high and for the girl’s throwing hand.
• Bucket Drill - At the end of practice is the best time to do this drill. Place a large container on its side (a 30-gallon trash can is perfect but a ball bucket will work) at home plate with the open end facing centerfield. Have fielders line up in centerfield (age of players are a factor in how deep you go to centerfield). Players should be lined up to receive a hit ball.
  The first player fields an outfield hit from the coach and attempts to throw the ball on target and one-hop it into the bucket. After her 1st attempt she goes to the end of the line and next player tries.
• Star Drill – The catcher throws the ball to the shortstop, the shortstop throws the ball to 1^st base, the 1^st baseman throws the ball to 3^rd , the 3^rd baseman throws the ball to the 2^nd baseman, the 2^nd baseman throws the ball home.
• Outfield Throwing Drill – Line players across the outfield.  Hit ball to player in right field.  The player fields the ball and throws 2^nd base.  Hit the next ball to right center, then left center and then left field.  Each time the player throws the ball to 2^nd base.  Once each player has fielded the ball and thrown it to 2^nd base they rotate to the position to their left.  The right fielder moves to left field.  Try to keep them moving by hitting the next ball as the other player is making the throw.
•   Around the Horn Drill – The catcher throws the ball to 1^st base, 1^st baseman throws to the shortstop covering 2^nd base, shortstop throws to 3^rd base, and 3rd baseman throws home.  Run the drill in the opposite direction.  When running the drill in the opposite direction the 2^nd baseman covers 2^nd base.
• Shuffle Toss Drill –Set up a ball 1 foot in front of the player. Have player bend their knee to pick up and toss the ball under hand to another player. The player should not stand up when tossing the ball under hand.