(see Pitcher below). This habit keeps them busy between batters, reducing the opportunities for a player in the field to get distracted. The buildings, which evolved between the 10th and 18th centuries, were one of Lithuania's major defensive . Bunt Defense - StealBases.com We verbalize this phraseto our kids repeatedly throughout the teaching process. Physical Literacy on the Move was written to help educators of children and youths from grades K through 12 teach high-quality and fun games and activities that support the unique needs of their learners as they develop physical literacy. But its worth the effort. GO GET implies motion. We have the player run over to get the ball. The BAll Goes to the P or c, the ss covers the base and the 2b backs up. They will also come to recognize that running with the ball is sometimes the smarter option. Many of us coaching kids baseball have been primarily exposed to the game played on the big diamond (90 base paths). Base. The CF will need to cover 2nd. Not until they see the ball is caught by the fielder in front of them does their responsibility change to moving to back up a throw. Adjust a couple feet to their right or left so to have a clear line of sight to the batter. We teach our players: Cover the base with your eyes. There are four infielders, the game is played with one ball and there are three bases. A ball hit to the left side is the LFs ball. Plant their foot on the base and stretch forward with the other foot. Kids play a variety of positions at this level; at the very least, they play positions other than pitcher. When on the field, the kids will learn to address each situation, less through our verbal instructions, and more through active participation in the drills. As Patty Gasso says and many coaches would agree, defense wins championships. --> The rule for the CF and LF is that because they are not playing the ball they are backing up a base. The first movement of all three outfielders is towards the ball. HyperOps | LinkedIn There isnt a hard and fast rule to follow. Defensive Situations No one on Runner at 1 Runners at 1st & 2nd Bases loaded Runner at 2nd Runner at 3rd Bunt coverage 1st & 3rd Pick offs Rundowns Baserunning Situations Running from 1st (less than 2 outs) pop up ground ball to left side ground ball right side line drive deep fly ball Running from 2nd (no one on 1st, less than 2 outs) pop up However, the Left Fielder does visually follow the ball and prepares for the possibility that the ball may be moved around the infield and they may be needed, later in the play, to back up a throw to second or third base. In most cases this occurs multiple times. Backing up players will not get directly in line with the direction of a possible throw. In most cases they are doing this while running back to their positions. The Center Fielder, on every potential throw to second base, is sprinting to get into position to back up the base. The above situations, and movement responsibilities, are flipped when the ball is hit to the Left Fielder and Third Baseman. Quickly ending each play keeps the game moving along quicker. PDF Softball Playbook - HomeTeamsONLINE We want to educate our players on these facts during our first practices, The base is for the runners, the ball is for the defense. The Knights claimed game one 6-4 (8 inn.) (Note in the diagrams where the backing up players end up.). The corner position will play the "flats." After the play has ended there is no reason to risk making an overhand throw. We want to train our players that the moment TIME has been called, and/or the pitcher steps on the rubber, they immediately move their eyes from the ball to the Catcher (see below). Our first goal is to pound in the idea of keeping the ball moving. This may require us to take them with us to the correct spot and say, "See how far away you are right now? Basketball player on defense guarding a player dribbling the ball up court. Please visit our new UK website to purchase Human Kinetics printed or eBooks. With only 3 downs to make 10 yards, the quarterback really has to be a playmaker. The last thing you want to do is run a 90's style slapping defense with your third and short in, 2nd next to the pitcher, and your outfield in on the skin and then have a kid powerslap over your left fielders head. Other than recording an out (which doesnt happen on every play), getting the ball to the middle of the infield as quickly as possible (to end the play) is our top priority. Point out to them that quite often throws do not come straight to the base. My reasoning is that a softball infield is so truncated as compared to a baseball field, that 3 players should be able to cover almost any bunt. What Does Akelo Stone's Departure Mean For The Georgia Tech Defensive Kids take their cues from watching higher levels of baseball and softball. A coach with limitd experience or understanding of modifying the positioning of players, need not worry. At the youth level of play, no defense is truly out of the woods until the ball arrives at the middle of the infield and is securely in the hands of the pitcher. Empty buckets are placed at 1B, 2B, 3B. This has been taught for many generations and is well intended .primarily for a Third Baseman being positioned to catch a rocket ground ball, hit straigh at them. Benefits of Research and Evidence-Based Practice in Exercise Science, Measurement and statistics in exercise science, Learn more about physical activity epidemiology, Gender and athletic administration and coaching, Carrying Out the Physically Active School Environment, Quarterback Challenges in Canadian Football, Introduction to Physical Literacy on the Move, Improve shoulder internal rotation range of motion for throwing athletes. The FS looks at the offensive alignment and. (A catchers most valuable tool is their voice.). A team of 11-12 year olds, who master this content, will cut 2-3 runs off the scoreboard, in most games, compared to a team that is not trained in this system. The Left Fielder and Right Fielder, in most cases, back up the corner base on their side of the field. Kids need to be trained constantly of this sequence of prioritization. We've got some great eClinics that detail all types of defensive coverages. Receiving Throws at Second Base and Third Base: Next to the base; only a few inches away, but not touching the base. Players Backing-up are likely adjusting their position to maintain a straight line from the Ball to the base to where they are standing. Are you in Canada? Figure on it taking 4-5 practices of constant badgering until they Get it. Another common term used is Athletic position, which is perfectly fine. This is why the pitching rubber is the destination for a player who is not sure of what to do with the ball. Older player (ages 10-12) often have vocal muscles developed enough for the outfield to hear them. Place a an object (ball bucket, etc.) How Much Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity Is Enough. Middle Infielders: 25-30 from second base, and a couple steps behind the baseline. We can establish this habit during the Scrimmage (see Practice Structure) portion of practice. The Pitcher is always the Cut-Relay player on plays to home plate. While that player is heading toward the pitching rubber, they are assessing the the situation on the field. When giving this responsibility to the Catcher we do so with the understanding they will make some mistakes. The magnet principle is a basic concept that can be used to help young players learn defensive coverage. For the purpose of the drill (working on a MINI DIAMOND), we want the backing up approximately 15 beyond the base. Stand on the field/pitching rubber side of the plate facing the ball. SECOND - The second block of topics in Coordinated Team Defense (Part 1), especially the two drills: 1) Infield Base Coverage and 2) Backing-up, establishes the core concepts for getting all the kids in the field moving and contributing to team defensive play. Most kids just dont grasp this concept. In this example we have a ball hit to the shortstop: --> The rule for the other three infielders is to cover a base. Softball Bunt Coverage - No Runners on Base With no runners on base, 1st, Pitcher, Catcher, and 3rd aregoing to crash the ball. In such a case, the pitcher doesnt have the Ball, so they follow the fundamental rule: Ball, Base, Back-up they cover a Base (home plate - 4th Base). Note: These diagrams are old and will be replaced at some point. Balls hit to the 3B/SS side of the infield are the responsibility of the Left Fielder. The players are not as strong, they do not move as fast, and there is the obvious fact that the bases and players are not spread out as much. We want the Catcher running the game. She begins with bunt and slap defense, moves on to . We dont criticize the Catcher when they make the wrong call. The mindset of the LF/RF: when THE ball is hit on your side of the infield, YOU will be fielding the ball. Grasping that info, and doing so from the perspective of a kid who will be learning it, is important before getting into the meat of this section. A common mistake made by youth teams is mishandling the ball while getting it back to the middle of the infield after a play has ended. In this case the Pitcher does not field the ball so they continue running in a straight line towards third base. Use the magnet principle for defensive coverage in softball All movements in the drill are a full out sprint. The positioning of kids at the lower levels is such, so they learn: The bases belong to the runners; fielders spread out between the bases because their #1 priority is to get the ball. . The suggestions below are Regular. Attention Span: Constant diligence is a better phrase. The rule for infielders is Play the Ball, or Cover a Base. The left fielder is positioned in the outfield on the left side of the field, closest to third base. When the defense limits the runners attempts to advance, they reduce the number of throws they have to make, and therefore reduce the number of chances to make a mistake at this level, the players are good at making mistakes :). Training our pitcher to break for third, and practicing feeds from the third baseman and shortstop to third base will result in a lot of 5-1 outs, a few 6-1 plays over the course of the season. Teach players to stand on the same side of the base as the balls location on the field. Each infielder has only two possible responsibilities: 1. Former Illinois defensive back Devon Witherspoon was drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks with the fifth overall pick in the draft. Thrown balls getting past their intended target, specifically throws to bases, happens in almost every youth baseball game. This is important because the kids are standing close together. The pitcher could influence the decision for modifying defensive positioning if they throw significantly fast or slow. If one of the infielders gets the ball before it reaches the outfield, then the right fielder will run toward first to provide backup and to cover any overthrows (which are very likely to occur). Make sure you explain that only one person is allowed to pick up the ball; otherwise, you may have several players tackling each other to get to the ball. Looking at the runner delays the application of the tag, AND may cause the fielder to take their eyes off the ball and miss the throw. They see the base is covered, so go to their next responsibility of backing-up the base. Early on this can be difficult to train. When you dig into the final section, End of the Play | Transition to the Next Batter, your club is reaching a point of taking full control of the game. Pickoff attempts require a specific defender to cover the base to try to catch the runner off base. before cruising to a 13-3 (5 inn.) That fact, coupled with limited practice time we have at the youth level, results in kids not getting the reps needed learn the nuances of each position. Players wont sprint (even though we just told them). NOTE: The rule of thumb, when the ball is hit to the center fielder, Pitcher or catcher, is the shortstop is positioned to handle the ball. The defenses below are standard bunt defenses, nothing revolutionary. The magnet principle is a basic concept that can be used to help young players learn defensive coverage. Backing up distance is 25 beyond the basein line with the throw. Use the magnet principle for defensive coverage in softball This is an excerpt from Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Softball by Robert Benson & Tammy Benson. Folks watching that team will clearly recognize they are watching a quality of play at the 12u level that is unlike anything they have seen before. If you are looking to purchase online videos, online courses or to access previously purchased digital products please press continue. This problem is eliminated by teaching the kids that the three players in the middle of the field, the Pitcher, Shortstop and Second Baseman always move towards the ball. The fact is, the bases are out there for the runners. This defender should continue moving to the ball unless the first-base defender yells that she has it (meaning that the first-base defender will field the ball). It is important that our players understand that their base coverage and backing-up responsibilities continue throughout the play (regardless of their perception that nothing of importance is going on in their area of the field) and do not end until the ball is in the Pitchers hands and the Pitcher is standing next to the pitching rubber. Following that initial movement, the Pitcher adjusts their positioning to back-up a throw to second base, to set-up as the cut-relay player to home, if the situation dictates, or to break to back up third base if the outfielder indicates, through their actions, they are going to throw to third base. It is not info for a coach to memorize. The rule for the players in the middle of the field is to Move Towards the Ball. NOTE: In this section we are addressing most of the situations that could come up during game play. This occurs over a couple of months, piece by piece. Let's look at how things like your Attention Span and your Courage, and how each can greatly impact your defensive coverage. We want to teach our players early on that they are not required to throw the ball in order to move it around the field. More importantly, we want them to understand that by prioritizing the ball they prevent the runner from advancing to the next base. This is a less common occurance in the game played on the small diamond. And going through multiple repetitions of the drills. Practice Plans, Drills, Batting Practice Plans. If a defender comes to a base before she gets to the ball, then her responsibility is to be on the base. Base, Back up (it is assumed for the purpose of the drill, that the corner base is covered). The three players in the middle of the field: pitcher, shortstop, second baseman -Always Move Towards the Ball". some aspects of baseball play are learned through experience. Barely anything is going to happen while they are looking away from the ball. We have the Shortstop or Second Baseman move towards the ball and run to the oufield to get the ball back to the infield. When it is recognized that another player will field the Ball. Calls out ground ball to . If the throw is a bit to one side of the base or the other, they slide their foot near the corner of the base on the side the ball is headed, then stretch with their glove foot towards the ball. Coaches that train the kids to back up bases properly will see a vast improvement in team defensive play. The second base defender and shortstop should be about half way between the bases and just behind the base path. While the runner will likely be safe, we want to prevent them from advancing to second base. These diagrams are provided less as a suggestion to run a drill with all nine players and more as a visual that a coach can use as a learning tool in preparation for teaching their players. Stone was expected to be a big part of the defensive line rotation this season and the defensive tackle depth has taken a hit during this transfer portal window cycle. The Shortstop moves towards the ball, which takes them to the second base bag. Softball Defensive Ready Position - YouTube We point out that some throws to second base are going almost directly towards the Left or Right Field positions. Former Gophers defensive backs Jordan Howden and Terell Smith were selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. It is likely that while they are on the move, they will figure out where to throw the ball, if needed. When the Catcher comes back in the dugout, we now have an opportunity to teach. Human Kinetics print books are now distributed by Booktopia Publisher Services throughout Australia/NZ, delivered to you from their NSW warehouse. A common mistake in youth baseball and softball is an outfielder throwing the ball to the Shortstop or Second Baseman to relay the ball to home plate. Softball Bunt Defense Explained - YouTube The ball goes to cf, the ss goes out to get the ball; the second baseman covers the base. Question: what percentage of balls in the 12u game are hit at laser speed, ankle high to the 2-foot space where the player is positioned? Center fielder: shortstop goes into the outfield towards the ball; the second baseman covers the base. This means that each player on the field takes an aggressive step towards the ball as it comes off the bat. 6. In this case the second baseman then takes over the responsibility of covering second base. The old saying in baseball is, Billy Bob, know what you are going to do with the ball if it is hit to you. Teach them that in order to catch off-line throws, they are going to have to move away from the base (Move Feet to Catch). At other times, you may see several defenders standing around the ball in what appears to be a board meeting to decide who will pick up the ball. Defense Responsibilities for Youth Baseball and Fastpitch Softball The coach puts the bunt down into the mapped areas and the appropriate defender takes the bunt and throws it to first base. The information presented in this section is Basic. Softball Playbook Single to Left Field (No One on Base) Goal: The goal in this situation is to keep the runner from reaching 2nd base. Center Fielder: 30 beyond the second base bag. Early on, most players, especially those age 10 and younger, will stand only a couple feet behind the base when backing up. We want TWO players in position to catch every throw; the player at the base who we hope makes the catch, and a second player beyond the base to catch the ball, if it gets past the base. (for the purpose of the drill, it is assumed that each base is covered and the Pitcher does not field the ball). We mandate to our player to ignore any baiting by runners dancing back and forth a few feet from the base. That is ok, it is part of the learning process. ], Once the Pitcher has control of the ball, is a few feet from the pitching rubber, and the runners are not attempting to advance to the next base, we want our Pitcher to raise their arms and holler in a loud voice in the direction of an umpire, TIME Please!.
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