fastpitch

Question
I used to play travel baseball a few years ago and would like to try out for a girls fastpitch team this year.  There are no experts for softball instruction so I was wondering if you could help me. What should I do to prepare for tryouts, and what kind of drills should I try?

Answer
Hi Brittney.

While there are some differences between baseball and softball, the games are so similar the major skills transfer across, in both directions.

I have played both and essentially used the same skills which had taken me from Little League, through college.  The biggest adjustment was that in baseball, most of your pitches start up and come down.  I had the biggest adjustment to rise balls, as they came up.

Work on your throwing mechanics.  Take a lot of ground balls, a lot of fly balls.  If you have someone to work out with, add throws in with your defensive work, for part of the workout.  It will help develop your footwork, whether in the infield or outfield.  Maybe throw 10 balls per workout from each, the outfield and infield.  The rest you work on catching, footwork, then put the ball on the ground to the side.  More quality reps, less stress on your arm.

If you don't have anyone to workout with, take a plastic garbage can and lay it down on it's side, at a base, open end to the field you are in, toss the ball up, catch it on your throwing side, crowhop and make your throw, using the can as your target.  Work on long hopping the ball, not throwing it all the way in the air.  That long hop will pick up speed and is an easier ball for the infielder to tag with.

For ground balls, see if you can locate a block wall, throw a ball against it and field the comeback, set your feet to throw; but don't throw.  Just work on quick feet, getting squared up to your target.

You can move to the field and put a ball in your glove, simulate fielding it, set your feet to align with where you want to throw, throw to a screen you set up at that base.  If you don't have a screen, use that same plastic garbage can, only set it upright at the base, use it as a target.  You will need to chase a lot of balls with that method; but the upside is you can run/jog after them and back and it builds some conditioning into the workout.  There are upsides to every initial problem if you look hard enough.

Work your hitting progressions off a Tee, try whiffle balls, less expensive and then you can hit them into a backstop fence, doesn't hurt the fence, and you don't have to work so hard to pick them up.

If you have a workout partner, hit soft toss, from homeplate, out into the field.  That will provide you with an idea of where and how well the ball is traveling.  Also allows you to jog out and back to pick them up, additional conditioning; but with a friend to share the experience with.  Always more fun that way.

Another good drill is to toss the ball up and hit it, basically hitting fungos.  If you have a mechanical issue, it will show up hitting fungos just like it would in the batters box.  Hit from the box, out into the field, line drives and ground balls.  The secret here, if you haven't done it much, is to give yourself a good pitch to hit.  Toss the ball eye level, at least not higher than the top of your head.  Simplifies timing issues.  Any lower and you are hurrying to catch up before it gets too low.

Run the bases, working from home plate first.  Swing, get out of the box and run to 1B.  The technique is just like baseball ~ run through the base, not to the base, lean as you make that last step, hit the front part of the base with whichever foot keeps you in stride, as you pass the base, start with short choppy steps to get yourself stopped, while looking to your right in case there is an overthrow.  Come to a stop straddle of the baseline so that you are closer to second base, should there be an overthrow and you can go to 2B.  Entire process is called lean, look and stutter.

Next add rounding the bag on a base hit. Some people call it a banana turn, as it resembles that curved shape.  If you look at my website ~ www.theoleballgame.com ~ there is an entire section on base running.  All skills are the same, except for the leading off part.

Practice sprinting from the dugout to a position on the field, and back to the dugout when the half inning is over.  As a practice routine, it will provide conditioning, and develop a quality habit for yourself.  In a game setting, it is not about conditioning, it will be about proving to the coaches that you are into softball and have a enthusiasm for the game.

You will also get the attention of your coaches if you play catch the right way, when you go to warm up.  Use good mechanics, move your feet to the ball, rather than reach.  Concentrate on throwing to a spot on your throwing partners body, shoulder, chest, etc.

Good luck with your workouts and tryouts.  Softball and baseball are great games to play and will provide you with a lifetime of memories.

Remember, from a coaching standpoint ~ HUSTLE NEVER HAS A BAD DAY ~  Keep moving, keep doing, even through the set backs.  It is that ability that will encourage coaches to keep you on the team!

Yours in baseball and softball,

Rick

P.S  Write back and let me know how your tryouts went.