Anyone Coach Youth Girls Softball

avelanchefan

So my step daughter wants to play softball (U8), we found a local softball league, and did an online signup. They had asked in one of the questions if I would volunteer to coach, I said I would since I have experience in youth coaching....just not softball. Which I made clear in the form.

Any ways they emailed me stating they needed a coach. I have yet to respond, but after some google searching I am finding it a little harder than I expected to get some resources on teaching youth softball. Most of it is geared toward the older girls, and not the younger ones.

So anyone have any experience? Can you direct me somewhere to get some coaching tips.

Thanks for any help.

rromeo923

Never coached girls softball but coached girls soccer for 8 yrs. With girls it all about them having fun and making friendships. If that doesnt happen there will be no success. I would make that the priority and work on basic skills at the same time. We are talking about U8.

littlewoodboats

I have not coached but have been an umpire for the girls youth leagues for years. Think herding cats. Out of the team there will be one or two standouts. Coaching at this level is the same as any other level. Work fundamentals and hope for the best. Practices will go well and once on the field everything goes out the window.

The teams that win handle the ball better than the others. I have seen in the park home runs where the ball never left the infield. We finally instituted a one error per play standard. Girl tries to make a throw to first that ends up in the stands or dugout.

If you enjoy working with the girls and do not take this too seriously you should do fine. You have coaching experience which puts you ahead of most of the coaches.

From the view point of the ump most teams put the best girl in as pitcher when you would be better served with her in the infield.

As already stated do everything possible to let them enjoy the game and make friends. They want to win but will take positive feelings home based on your attitude toward the game in general.

avelanchefan

Ok....what I am having a hard time finding is whether they pitch or not. The rules state they do, but then they have rules for parents/coaches pitching also. And if they do pitch is it fast or underhand?

Also thanks for the comments so far.

littlewoodboats

Underhand pitching. We have had games where a parent will pitch and the goal is to pitch fat so every girl can hit the ball. With family commitments being what they are you may have a shortage of girls to fill the field positions so someone steps in.

I have pitched when I did not have my own game to ump. Every girl can hit my pitches. Fill in pitchers do not field plays.

avelanchefan

Thanks Littlewoodboats....I was assuming that, but just making sure.

littlewoodboats

Happy to help. The majority of the coaches are parents that do the job because there is no one else. Some of the others treat this like it is the olympics. You have coached so you have an advantage. Coach fundamentals and you will do great. (most of the coaches I have seen here are not sure what the fundamentals are so you have a leg up)

Just remember to not be too serious. Raise your voice one time and you lost the team for the entire season. Coach is a meanie. Don't be a meanie. They are little girls not high school varsity

I got kicked in the shin last week. Poor girl was the smallest out here. Not good in any way. She was out by a mile at home and I had no choice but to make the call. I told her she did a great job but I had to make the call. She kicked me. Never forget to bring your sense of humor to the games

Happy they do not wear metal spikes. The girls are great. The parents are nuts.

stretchl

littlewoodboats wrote: »

Think herding cats. Out of the team there will be one or two standouts. Work fundamentals and hope for the best.

Damn, this is just like teaching at the university level!

avelanchefan

littlewoodboats wrote: »

Happy to help. The majority of the coaches are parents that do the job because there is no one else. Some of the others treat this like it is the olympics. You have coached so you have an advantage. Coach fundamentals and you will do great. (most of the coaches I have seen here are not sure what the fundamentals are so you have a leg up)

Just remember to not be too serious. Raise your voice one time and you lost the team for the entire season. Coach is a meanie. Don't be a meanie. They are little girls not high school varsity

I got kicked in the shin last week. Poor girl was the smallest out here. Not good in any way. She was out by a mile at home and I had no choice but to make the call. I told her she did a great job but I had to make the call. She kicked me. Never forget to bring your sense of humor to the games

Happy they do not wear metal spikes. The girls are great. The parents are nuts.

Yeah well I have coached soccer not softball. Obviously I know the rules of the game, and have played ball before. I just need some basic fielding, hitting routines to teach them every week.

As for me my temperament is very chill, and I have taught that age group in the past so I know what type of children to expect.

littlewoodboats

stretchl wrote: »

Damn, this is just like teaching at the university level!

Tom Osborne used to tell me his grandchildren had longer attention spans than I did. GO BIG RED

avelanchefan, You will do a great job. I found some stuff on you tube that might get you started

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kids+softball+drills&oq=kids+softball+drills&gs_l=youtube.3...1274.5495.0.5899.20.20.0.0.0.0.110.1821.16j4.20.0...0.0...1ac.tQKwHpbrCh8

Having seen this up close and personal the biggest mistake a coach can make is concentrating on hitting drills. Either they can swing a bat or they cannot and your drills do not change that.

Fielding is going to be everything. Handling drills is where I would start. Put them in two lines rolling the ball back and forth with just their hands. Use multiple balls so they may have one to each hand at some point. (peripheral vision, independent hand movement) They will want to bend at the waist, do not let them. Joy of joys now is the time you get to talk to your neighbors eight year old daughter about the proper way to squat.

You will have to show them. Pay particular attention to your clothing just for decorum's sake. I do not have to tell you this just thought I would throw it in. Women coaches are worse about proper clothing than the men.

When they can roll the ball back and forth move on to playing catch. (no gloves yet) When they can play catch then they can start bouncing the ball at one another. If you have girls behind take some of your slightly better than average girls and get them to help. Put the best with the worst if you can but sometimes egos and "why do I have to do this with her" make it pointless. Your middle of the road players working with your worst players benefits everyone and gives your team a sense of team at its core. Your good players will hit the ball and drive in runs. Your fielders are the only thing stopping the other team from doing the same.

Fastest always in the outfield. A fast outfielder can get a grounder through the first and second gap and beat a slow girl to first for the out.

Teach them to move and get used to having the ball in their hands and passing it quickly. Just like soccer you have catches and passes. When they can do this without gloves (focus on their not using both hands to catch as girls will do this) then extend the distance and give their gloves back. Toss grounders at the bases. Throw some up in the air. Whatever you want at that point. Leave batting for the very last. Our second place team this year has never held batting practice. Second for season record and I think they will win the tournament without issue.

I will have the best seat in the house behind the plate.

When it comes to batting girls are just like the boys in picking the wrong bat. Always too heavy "I want to hit it hard coach" Little girls, little bats. Good contact with a too heavy bat is blind luck. Should you hold batting practice (I would) start everyone with the smallest/lightest bat. Your good hitters might pout a bit but give them goals and spots to hit. something along the lines of "you may pick your own bat when you can hit every ball where I tell you" If she is really that good you stand and give her a place to hit.

if she can do that you may have the honor of coaching a future champion but only if her fundamentals are well sounded :cheesygrin:

I think what you are doing is great and will help any way I might be able. I would coach in a heart beat if I did not already have my job.

littlewoodboats

Do ball drills with tennis, racquet, softballs, baseballs on a hard surface like a tennis or basketball court.

Little girls could be good for the wet Nerf drills. It is an old Cub scout thing. Take a Nerf ball and soak in water. The trick is to throw gently so the water does not splash on the thrower. The catcher learns gentle hands because just grabbing results in a splash.

avelanchefan

Awesome LWB! I appreciate all of your help.

jon1redleg

I agree with not being the meanie thing.

I do not coach and never have. My oldest daughter played softball for a rec team at the age of four and played up untill U8 .
She started playing fast pitch for about 2 years and didn't want to play no more because of the coach.
He was a real horses butt, always screaming at the girls and and getting way too upset if things didn't go his way. The team he
stared for a travel team ended up with about half his girls going else where to play due to his antics... sad very sad.

She plays soccer now and loves it. The coach makes it fun for them and builds a strong friendship between the girls by having
swim days, puppy practice ( brings his dog to practice), little parties with kids and parents just because, and has trust building
games ( fall and I'll catch you ) He still gets them together even on off season.

Them team as a whole has really came together and you can tell they have fun playing. The have won a lot of games and
are # 3 in state and they can't wait for travel games to start again.

Just my feelings ..... good luck you'll do great!

littlewoodboats

jon1redleg wrote: »

I agree with not being the meanie thing.

I do not coach and never have. My oldest daughter played softball for a rec team at the age of four and played up untill U8 .
She started playing fast pitch for about 2 years and didn't want to play no more because of the coach.
He was a real horses butt, always screaming at the girls and and getting way too upset if things didn't go his way.

I wish I could have been there for her. I promise you that does not happen on my field.

CCNJ

I coached my daughter in a girls softball league and my son in farm and little league when they were younger. It was very different experiences but I really enjoyed both. Keep it fun and focus on teaching them the fundamentals of the game like proper techniques for hitting, fielding, etc. You may be shaping a future star. They will get bored easily so make sure you have help to run practices. Lastly, at the end of the game, the young girls will evevitably ask you who won since they will be preoccupied and chatting while sitting on the bench. Just tell them it was a tie...that's what I did when we lost our first game 12 - 3. They were so excited :biggrin:

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tonyb

Just remember to have fun....and make it fun for the girls.

Never coached softball, but was an assistant Girl scouts leader. I think I was the reason they banned men from future participation.

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