trying to teach a group of 10-12 year old girls the objectives in softball.They aren't getting the concepts

Question

I have been coaching girls softball for 2 years and both years my biggest challenge is getting the girls to understand the game. I teach them all the fundamentals but when gametime comes they clearly don't understand why they need to throw the ball to 3rd when there's someone running to 2nd. Or why they need to tag a runner who's running from base to base. They just don't quite get the entire concept of the game and i don't know how to explain it to all of them so they'll get it.

Answer 1

Take them to a college softball game...one its free, and the ladies are very approachable, and they can give advice and maybe some pointers on the fundamentals of softball.

Answer 2

Don't be fooled, 12U girls CAN learn a lot about strategy, and WILL learn strategy. You, as the coach need to make sure what they learn is what you want them to learn!

If a runner is going to 2B, why would they throw to 3B? can't make an out there! Ah yes, I know what you meant, but they still see a play. You have to teach them when a play is not possible.

I used to sit my girls down in a field in their relative positions, and play a "what if" game. You are close enough together where all can hear what's going on, and you just play out different scenarios, such as runner at 2B, batter squares to bunt, Who goes where? What do the outfielders do? where is the most likely place to get an out?

Also, go over rules very well. Teach them why the rules say what they say. Teach them the minute details of rules such as the "lookback" rule. Use those to your advantage.

Just remember, they will learn something. It takes time, but you can teach them what you want them to know.

That's why you are getting the "bg bucks"!

Answer 3

Show, don't tell..

at that age it's all about visualization.. and you'll be lucky if you have one or two that can comletely understand the game..

Depending on if this is rec league.. or a travel select or better, but many of them, it may be their first time ever..

Assuming one of the girls is your daughter, the best thing you can do is have fun, enjoy spending the time with your daughter and watch her making friends, devlop skills and have fun.. I can not emphasize the having fun part enough.. If you make it fun, they will learn alot faster.. If you are the kind of coach in youth sports that insists on over emphasizing the win, not the development, yell at kids for being kids or making mistakes, you will win more games early.. but in the long run, you will lose.. lose the respect of the kids in your charge, lose the respect of parents who will find another coach after you have developed skills, or worse, make a kid quit playing all together because it's no fun to be yelled at..

Be patient.. after every game, point out the good and not so good in an instructional fashion.. Suzy.. do you know why the runner was safe at third when you thought she was out? and it's an opportunity to show a force.. They will eventually get it through repition, but you must remain patient and even keeled

My son plays travel hockey and travel baseball, and he's very good at both.. He has decided not to play travel baseball anymore because the coach yelled too much at other players who made mistakes.. My ten year old was man enough to tell the coach who wanted to know why he wasn;t playing.. The coach said I never yelled at you because you never made mistakes.. Stu's response was classic.. "but you yelled at my friends and it pi$$ed me off." Conversely.. His Hockey coach is always teaching, often the same thing over and over and over.. but he never losses sight of the ultimate objectives in youth sports.. Develope skills and have fun..

Stick with it and being a part of these girls lives for the next six or seven years will have it's own reward that is not measured in wins or losses..

Answer 4

he's 10 they're in all probability basically his pals. quit interpreting too a lot into it, in the event that they're those style of calls why does your son provide out your quantity and picture this is okay? Take some duty and teach the boy some morals particularly of coming to Yahoo speaking nonsense, how previous are you? 15? appearing like a toddler.

Answer 5

TAKES TWO YEARS TO LEARN FUNDS AND THE THIRD YEAR FOR IT TO COME TOGETHER.
DOES NOT MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY... YOU CAN'T BEAT WHAT HAS BEEN TRIED 170 YEARS.

TWO YEARS COACHING TO JELL THE THIRD YEAR.
AND THAT IS ABOUT 3 OUT OF 10 PLAYERS.
10 YEARS AND 11 AND 12 YEARS OLDS REALLY CATCH ON AT 12YEARS OLD AFTER 3 YEARS.. 20 PLAYERS WITH 3 YEARS PRACTICE AND YOU WILL HAVE 5 PALYERS THAT CAN PLAY. AND 5 THAT CAN DO SO SO AND 5 CAN TRY AND 5 STILL LOST.

13 14 15 YEARS REALLY START TO EXCEL.

Answer 6

all u have to do is just relax. make the sport fun and try to post partices two or three times a week. mabey you should find out who plays where best and whatever u do dont yell. if they make a mistake then they probably know. during game time the players can get really nervous so if u yell then they will get even more nervous and thatll be bad. i hope you win.

Answer 7

You have to do drills in practice.

They don't get abstract concept like strategy. But, they do learn via observation.

You have to do drills repeatedly, over and over.

The situational drills must be reinforced so that it becomes 2nd nature to them.

Check out baseball drills on google. Lots of good websites and books.

Answer 8

Keep it REAL simple. 10-12 year old girls aren't going to get all of it, obviously. Hopefully, you know that.
Maybe you're just not equipped to teach them. You have to consider that.

Answer 9

Get some videos for them to watch

Answer 10

haha loser