Defensive SkillsDeveloping sound defensive skills is the foundation we need so that the overall strategies can be executed properly. You will find drills here that have been time tested and effective. Mastering the skills needed to keep the runs off the board are what we are talking about. We have broken the skills down to small teachable elements to assist you, the coach, to do it the right way. Please, if you have something that could help a new coach or even experienced coaches, share it with us on the Coaching-Fastpitch Blog.
Coaching-Fastpitch Practice Plan NewsletterThis season, I am coaching a young 12U team. I will be writing a practice plan for each week and I will send my plan to you through the Coaching-Fastpitch Practice Plans Newsletter. The practice plan that I will be using would be good for 10U and 12U teams. When the issues go out each week, I will archive a copy. Click here to see past issues of this newsletter. That way, if you do not sign up until week five of the season, you will be able to catch up with what I have done during my practices. You will also have access to the Fastpitch Drills page which details the drills that will be on the Coaching-Fastpitch newsletter. You can follow my plan if you like, you can modify it is you like or you can create your own plan if you like. To get FREE access to the newsletters and the Fastpitch Drills, register using the form to your left.When fielding ground balls, try to get in front of the ball with the glove on ground and in front of your feet. Your throwing hand should be over the top of your glove as if you were pretending that your arms were an alligator’s mouth. When fielding fly balls, catching from a “camped” position is always best way. What I mean by “camped” is that you are lined up with the flight of the ball so that when it comes down, you are there waiting for it. When you can get to a camped position, you should make every effort to do that. That may mean sprinting to get there in time. If you have time and elect to just drift over and make a lazy backhand or forehand catch, there is greater chance of dropping the ball. The toss comes into play when you are to close for an overhand throw. You see this flip used quite often between a pitcher and 1st base and around 2nd base by the middle infielders. Becoming good at this little defensive skill is not hard to do and it can become second nature before you know what happened. From Defensive Skills Return to Coaching Fastpitch Home Page |
