High School programs working with local youth softball organizations.

We posted this on Facebook and for the local youth organization. This also applies to travel level organizations, as several of our players play varying levels of travel as well. This is not all encompassing, just some basic thoughts on it.

“We really want to try and create closer ties from our youth softball program to our High School JAG Softball program.

Couple of thoughts:
1) Effective stretching and warm up routines, that focus on good throwing/catching mechanics, as well as safely stretching them before throwing hard. This is to work on muscle memory for fundamentals, but also try and cut down on over use injuries and such. We then break out into individual positional warmups and throw hard and work on mechanics. At the youth level, you should still be doing overall team drills, so everyone can play any position.
You can’t play softball, if you can’t play catch!
2) Baserunning!! As a High School coach, the biggest surprise for me, has been how much the players coming up do not know about base running. This should be one of the first priorities taught as a youth coach! This should be practiced at most every practice and be the foundation for a successful player/season.
Our HS program has spent several full practices breaking down baserunning from the crack of the bat and getting a good jump, when and where to look for the ball while running, when to pick up coaches for signals, watching the opposing team for cues as to where the throw is coming in from, running through and breaking down at 1st-looking for over throws to grab 2nd on, rounding bases, slide backs, slides in, hook slides to avoid close tag plays, pop up slides, left/right side sliding. Stealing on changeups and passed balls, delayed steals, getting into run downs to allow another runner to steal 3rd-home, etc. Think 2 or more bases on every play, including a walk, don’t assume the play is over until the ump calls it, or pitcher has it in the circle. etc etc
3) Basic softball fielding fundamentals. This is fastpitch softball, not baseball, and the infield urgency is at a different level, especially as the ages go up and the game gets faster with slappers and such. We practice aggressive charging-pop to the ball glove foot first, quick hands, good quick footwork to set up the hands for smooth-no pause fielding. “The ball never stops”. I learned from “Howard Kobata”-(look it up) and that’s what we teach where possible.
Outfield is critical to a teams success, especially as they get older. Once we get outside, we will be doing entire practices on outfield mechanics, cuts, backing up plays and covering bases, slapper defensive shifts, etc. At the youth level, try and keep the outfield a priority, so players do not see it as a punishment.
4) Bunting!! Also, surprised at how many incoming players do not know how to do a basic bunt. Every player, no matter how hard she hits, must know how to lay down a bunt. Our best home run hitter this season is also one of our very best bunters! This should be taught at nearly every practice, like baserunning. Especially anytime they are hitting.
5) Pitching Pitching Pitching! We do not have enough pitchers coming up. At the youth level there needs to be a strong focus on developing players with an interest to pitch. Getting them access to outside instruction, etc.
6) Positions. I know we all want to win, and its counter intuitive to move girls around as apposed to playing your best 9 all the time, or as often as the rules allow. But, if you do not develop players to know all positions and give them a chance, you risk losing players before they develop into the player they were meant to be. You can develop well rounded players, and still win. Work the season, then play your best for playoff time, that way players see what it takes to earn it.
7) Hitting/catching/Pitching are all special skill sets, that we will of course also prioritize. We recommend that players at the Highschool level try and get specialized coaching for these areas. We do what we can, but it is hard to coach these areas fully in detail, while working on the entire roster, only so much time and coaches. We spend considerable time on the mental game of each of these areas and touch on mechanics where possible.
8) Last for now, but the absolutely most important. Do not be the reason a young player loses her love for the game!!! Repeat. Do not be the reason a young player loses her love for the game!!!
Its a game, not a job. Do not let winning get in the way of making sure your teaching the game and keeping that fire in your players. We have seen so many players either walk away before they even get to HS, or college level talent be so burnt out that they lose their love for the game, and just say enough is enough. They can only be kids once, and only play the game so long, work to keep them in the game as long as possible. Its not about you or I, its about them, keep perspective.
Possible camps/clinics from our program to youth softball:
1) Basic warmups, throwing, fielding mechanics.
2) Base running basics, sliding, mental game for aggressive base running
3) Bunting basics, hitting mentality/situations-basics
4) Coaches clinic/round table. Talk situations, rules, fundamentals, drills and coaching resources, etc. Open discussion.
Player camps would be a fundraiser for the HS program as well. We would not charge a set fee, just whatever each player/family thinks they can afford confidentially. We do not want anyone left out.
Thank you. If anyone, coach, players, parents have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me at anytime. I’ll do my best to help and answer any questions that I can.
None of this works without dedicated youth coach volunteers. You are all very much appreciated. Thank you for volunteering your time and energy to the girls!

Our HS program motto this season:

“Effort takes no talent. It’s just a decision that you make”

Head Coach TomVanKirk
James A Garfield Softball 2021″