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Game Of The Student
by Dave
Friday, March 31, 2006
I was reminded today that while we often speak of softball players as, hopefully, students of the game, we should also keep in mind that softball is a game played by many students. That is, one of the objectives of all this effort we put into the game, aside from the extreme amounts of fun it gives us, is to obtain full or partial scholarships to fund or defray the extremely high cost of college. What triggered this thought in me was a discussion I saw on a softball forum. That discussion centered around the issue of whether girls who play high school softball can also play travel ball. Some high school coaches forbid their players from practicing with their travel clubs during the season. I can see the logic in that but let's not forget that high school ball is NOT the gateway to a college scholarship.
Your average college softball team begins practicing before the high school teams hit the field. Their season begins earlier and ends later. They practice pretty much all the time and when they aren't practicing, they are playing double headers all over the country. They and their staffs have little time to do anything even close to recruiting while they are rather busily taking care of business with the existing team. They don't have time to plow through the sports pages of newspapers covering their entire recruiting area. They must find another way to locate and evaluate potential recruits.
Now, once the season is over, we have an entirely different situation. The coaches are free to roam wherever they like and they do. They roam to all sorts of college showcase tournaments and there are many of these.
The trick is finding a showcase where the coaches of your choice are likely to be in attendance and then hopefully get them to see you play. Now that sounds passive but it is not. You could approach this task as a passive, reactive pursuit and simply wait for some college coaches to see you smack the ball out of the yard or do something else noteworthy. Then you could sit back and wait for some coach to contact you and offer something. Maybe you'd get a partial scholarship offer from some school in a state you've never dreamed of going to college in at a school you've never heard of which does not offer the curriculum for the major you've wanted since you were five. Or maybe you could participate in the recruiting process a little more aggressively.
Here's a thought, how about making a list of schools you are interested in? You could cull the list down to a select couple dozen which you might consider and then check out whether the school has softball and decide whether the program is a reasonable fit for you. You could rank the schools from top to bottom, maybe cut a few more off the list. Then you might try contacting the coaches of the teams directly to express your interest. Coaches are not allowed to contact prospects until a certain point in their high school career and that is actually too late to start getting a coach's attention. But their is nothing to prevent you from opening the dialogue and once you do, you are likely to get loads more information, particularly about the softball program, than you might get through publicly available sources.
One of the first pieces of information you'll want to obtain from these coaches is where they go for showcase tournaments. Create a list of these and note how many of the teams you are interested in will have a coach at. After you have this knowledge, you can begin working on getting on a team which attends some of these. Then assuming you get on a team which hits the major showcases where all your favorite schools are in attendance, you're done right? How about taking the added step of letting the coaches know who you are and where you'll be? This way they can at least take a look at you and express interest or suggest that you might be better suited for another team.
Now doesn't that sound entirely more reasonable than passively waiting for the coach of your favorite college team to call you at home and offer a scholarship because she saw in your local paper that you hit 3 home runs in a game or made second team all-state? If I've convinced you to be less of a victim and be more aggressive, the next question is when should you begin this proactive process? The answer is the time to start is as early as possible. If you can find a team which goes to the showcases, go for it even if you're just a freshman who doesn't regularly play on the varsity. Coaches cannot base their decisions merely on how you do against your high school competition. So if you are not yet on varsity because there is a junior who hits .750 with 25 HRs per season who plays your position, that shouldn't discourage you. If you can get in front of the coaches for the team of your choice and show that you have the goods, they're not going to worry about the fact that you only pinch run on the varsity because Big Momma Wilkerson is entrenched at your position and already has a full scholarship to UCLA.
Everything in life is such a chore. Every day you have to take 200 rep.s at the batting tee, 200 grounders from each of the infield positions, 200 fly balls, an hour of pitching practice, circuit and weight training, etc., etc. But what's it all for if you really want to play college ball and you don't go that one extra mile of being proactive and understanding how the big game is played. Your future is in your own hands. This is not like boys baseball where professional scouts go to high school games to see who the big club is going to draft this summer. It's up to you.
Permanent Link: Game Of The Student
 
Recreational Pep Rally Part II - Winning Isn't Nearly Everything
by Dave
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
If you read "Pep Rally Part I," you may be waiting for part II, offensive skills. I've started that but lost inspiration along the way. In losing that inspiration, I came across a very different one. I promise the offense thing sometime soon but for now, here is a different thought.
A visitor to the site recently wrote regarding an particular subject but after a few back and forths informed me that the 9 and under recreational team he coaches had not lost a game in several years. I was immediately disturbed by this and here's why. Winning holds no meaning for 9 and under recreational players, none, zilch, nada. What does hold meaning for young, inexperienced players is playing well. They gain confidence by making a good fielding play, a strong throw, or a solid hit. Most of the time they don't know the score during a game and can be convinced the team won even if it really lost 40 - 0. Some kids are aware of winning and losing but this is the exception rather than the rule. So, if your team wins all its games, every year, what has been gained? Who is the proud winner? Certainly not the kids. And there is another more insidious problem with winning all your 9 and under games. Getting used to winning all the time does nothing to prepare a player to be successful at the next level. Winning games is not nearly everything for a young team and the young player.
All you coaches and parents, think back to third grade when you were working on the times tables. Maybe you did everything perfectly - more power to you. I know I missed a few, like the 11 and 12 tables. Those were tough. But when I flubbed one or two, I became more focused. I worked the 11s and 12s until I knew them cold, until the phrase 12 times 12 immediately conjured up 144. Spelling bees were similar. If I missed a particular word, I would redouble my efforts and make sure I learned it. Even today, when I totally mess something up, I learn from the mistake, probably better than if I did the thing right the first time. So it goes with human beings. We learn fairly well vicariously but the best lessons, the ones we never forget, all center around some sort of personal failure.
Sports are an interesting study in human learning. There are no lessons more powerful than the ones learned from mistakes, those learned from defeat. Sometimes the defeated fails to recognize the value of defeat. On TV we recently saw college basketball stars J. J. Redick and Adam Morrison totally overwhelmed by defeat, each breaking down and crying when their teams were beaten. In the ladies tournament, the entire Rutgers University team, which was extremely good and possibly had the best individual player in the tournament, was reported to still be crying in their locker room a half hour after losing a "Sweet 16" game to Tennessee! We all know why they were crying. They had bigger dreams, dreams of winning the national championship.
I remember a few years ago when Duke won the national basketball championship. Coach K was speaking with sports reporters about the point in time that he knew this team was special. Without hesitating he began discussing a game the team had lost. They lost and the manner in which they dealt with that defeat was what molded the team into a national champion.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to watch the Cal State Fullerton baseball team begin their conference play. The team was mired in some evil funk and was not winning much. At the time I think the team was something like 11 - 18. I watched them lose two and win one or something like that. The year was 2004 and the team went on to become NCAA champion by beating a very strong Texas team.
I was once fortunate enough to watch a really great high school team in the midst of a two year winning streak. They had won all their games the year before, had something like a 20-0 record and were ranked in the national USA Today top ten. They had a magnificent pitcher who hadn't given up an earned run all year and even the number of unearned runs could be counted on one finger. If a team was lucky enough to get a runner on base, they would immediately forfeit the game and run off to celebrate their victory! Yes I'm joking but it was almost that extreme. But this team not only never learned to deal with victory, they hadn't even learned to play from behind. In the county championship semifinals, they were finally beaten by a young team. The coach expressed relief at finally losing a game so they could get on with things but I think she missed the opportunity to learn from loss. Later that year they again lost and this time it was in the semifinals of the state championship. The team which beat them had previously lost to them and lost badly. They had a pretty awful record half way through the year but went on a streak where they simply could not lose. They had learned to deal with adversity early in the year. they won the state championship.
I have yet to hear a successful coach in any sport discuss a game won as the turning point which molded a team into a champion.
In Major League Baseball, we frequently see young phenoms come into the league and go on a hitting tear. Then crafty pitchers find the holes in their swings and begin to get them out. What makes a young hitter into a real major leaguer is his reaction to the adversity. Every hitter gets into a slump at some time or another. the good ones learn from their mistakes.
It should come as no surprise to anyone that softball works the same way. An error in the field. A bad outing with the bat or in the circle provides the greatest opportunity for growth. If a nine-year-old girl only knows winning and success, ask yourself how she is going to react to losing a game or maybe losing a couple games. Ask yourself how she is going to deal with an 0 for 20 streak. Do you think she'll deal with it well? She has never had the experience. She may be naturally very resilient but my guess is she will have no idea of how one is supposed to proceed after a loss, after a very disappointing conclusion to a season, after 5 or 6 games without making solid contact.
Success is certainly important too, especially where confidence is concerned. Softball is definitely a sport where confidence is important. But assuming a girl or team is doing alright with confidence, what is really needed in order to improve focus and build the right approach is a defeat to show a player or team their shortcomings. It isn't always easy to stage a defeat. Maybe it is not something you are comfortable with. But if your team can lose a game early in its season, that is a good thing for the team and for the individual members. And if you are coaching 9 and under recreational softball, consider that your girls get nothing out of being undefeated for multiple consecutive years. They do get something out of learning good fundamental skills including dealing with adversity.
As you look forward to your coming or already started season, please consider that especially early on, winning is not nearly everything. Actually it is not particularly important.
Permanent Link: Recreational Pep Rally Part II - Winning Isn't Nearly Everything
Q & A, What Kind Of Bat Should I Get?
by Dave
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
A visitor asks:
My daughter is aged blah blah, weighs blah blah, etc. blah blah. What kind and size of bat should I get for her?
First off, let me say I am not an expert on softball bats. Secondly, the swing is of far greater importance than is the bat. The right length and weight for a softball bat has a lot to do with comfort. There are a broad variety of types of bats. I cannot provide you with a complete analysis of these here. Aside from this, I am not in a position to recommend particular makes and models. I'll leave that to someone else.
What you should be aware of is that there is a formal process whereby softball sanctioning bodies (ASA, NSA, etc.) approve (or disapprove) of specific bat models. The bats carry markings stating they are approved by this or that organization when they are approved. This is like the goodhousekeeping seal of approval. Bats not so marked will be disallowed in competitive tournaments.
That having been said, it is entirely possible to innocently go out to the sporting goods store, purchase a bat with proper markings on it, and get yourself an illegal bat which will be disallowed by umpires in tournament play. Organizations audit the bats they have previously approved and if bats fall outside their standards, they are disallowed via a list of "non-approved bats." A good example of this process is the ASA, the governing body of United States softball. The ASA originally approved of the Louisville Slugger SB305 Catalyst, subsequently audited it and when the results fell outside the acceptable range by a mere .3 mph, it added the bat to its list of "non-approved" bats.
Please note that the ASA's bat approvals are not followed by all softball sanctioning bodies. They are obviously observed for all ASA championship play. Also PONY, NCAA, NFHS, NAIA, and NJCAA are governed by ASA ratings.
Each manufacturer has its own policies dealing with illegal bats it has sold to you. If you have purchased an illegal bat, you should consult with the manufacturer. In the case of Louisville Slugger, the company has a section in its FAQ stating "The non-compliant status of the FPC305 is only applicable to ASA governance and the bat remains eligible for other associations (NSA, USSSA, ISF, etc.). If you play ASA governed softball and your FPC305 is no longer permitted for championship play, we will replace your bat with one that is ASA approved. Please visit www.slugger.com for replacement options and procedures or call Customer Service at 1-800-282-2287 Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time." (Please see below update)
Every year these lists are of non-approved bats are published. As of today, March 28, 2006, The ASA lists the following bats as Non-approved:Manufacturer: Model:
Anderson Techzilla Reborn
Anderson Rockettech Reloaded
CE Composites B1 Da Bomb
CE Composites Uncensored
Demarini Dark
Demarini DXEVO - Yellow Barrel EVO
Easton SCN2 Synergy + CNT
Easton SCX2 Synergy
Easton SCX23 Synergy Plus
Easton Synthesis
Louisville Slugger FPC 305 Catalyst
Louisville Slugger SB34 Genesis
Louisville Slugger SB105 Catalyst
Louisville Slugger SB305 Warrior XXL Balanced
Louisville Slugger SB405 Warrior XXL End Load
Miken Freak Plus
Miken MSMM Maniac 585
Miken MSTC T22C6
Miken Ultra
Miken Ultra (Maxload)
Miken Ultra II
Mizuno Blur Advanced Series
Nokona Tomahawk
Rawlings Liquidmetal Plasma Fusion 120 SBLMPFU
Rawlings Plasma SBLMP 120
Shutt Shutt+
Worth ASY 120 (Asylum)
Worth EST9
Worth MAX 120
Worth MAY 120 (Mayhem)
Worth Mayhem M7 120 (M7120)
Worth Mayhem Reload (JH120)
Worth PST 120
Worth PSTOC (PST)
Worth QESTFP
Worth SBWK (Wicked)
Worth WIC 120 (Wicked)
Worth XEST9X
Worth XWICKX (Wicked Slow Pitch Version Only)
Worth Wicked (Wicked Slow Pitch Version Only)
Worth WWSC Wicked Composite (Slow Pitch Version Only)
Please take special note that if your bat is one of the models listed above, even if it has approval markings, it will be disallowed in ASA controlled competitions. You should not try to slip one by or assume the markings will get you by. If you try this, you run the risk of becoming accustomed to a bat which you will not be allowed to use in a critical game.
Update:
I wasn't aware of it when writing this but Louisville Slugger has a fomral policy conerning returns of this bat. It is located here
Permanent Link: Q & A, What Kind Of Bat Should I Get?
Q & A, New Kind Of Throwing?
by Dave
Monday, March 27, 2006
A reader writes,
My daughter is on a softball team where the coaches are teaching all of the (very young) kids how to throw based on a drill they say is endorsed by a number of the major softball teaching bodies. I am certain the coaches are very well intentioned, and are trying to implement a drill that does exist and is endorsed by experts, but I have a strong suspicion that they somehow got the mechanics of the drill confused and are now teaching each child the absolute wrong throwing mechanics.
In essence their drill has a right handed child stepping forward with the right foot then throwing with the right hand, while leaving the left foot trailing during the entire throw. The explanation is that this drill encourages proper hip movement. The result of this drill is all of the kids are throwing incorrectly and a lot of them are getting frustrated, confused and discouraged.
If you have heard of the drill I describe please provide clarification.
Answer:
Welcome to the wonderful world of recreational softball where well-intentioned, dedicated, volunteers who have never seen a reasonably competitive fastpitch game become "experts" by attending a couple hour program held at the local little league fieldhouse where another well-intentioned, dedicated, volunteer who has never seen a reasonably competitive fastpitch game teaches them unorthodox drills. These volunteers will then invariably get the drills wrong and then teach them to kids at an even worse degree of misunderstanding!
The first reaction I have to this is wondering if it is part of some sort of skill progression. I could see having girls throw without stepping in order to teach proper arm movement and wrist snap. But I assure you, it will not teach proper hip movement since the result of what you describe is an over-rotation of the hips. Over-rotation is a common error so why would you want to teach that? Ask your daughter's coaches if this is a skill progression and if they tell you it is, ask for the rest of the steps. If they understand what they are doing, they should be able to explain it to you in a way which makes sense.
There is a skill progression which begins teaching very young girls to throw just with their wrist, then with the wrist and forearm, but then everything else is geared towards a step with the opposite foot. The reason for this is a law of nature which says that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you step forward with the throwing hand, the glove side bodyweight shifts backwards which creates imbalance forward toward the throwing side. If you now throw the ball, you have zero body weight working behind it and all the stress is placed on the throwing shoulder and elbow. It is a dangerous way to throw.
It isn't enough for your coaches to think they are right when they advocate such an unorthodox drill. It can result in injury to your daughter. Ask them for specific references (not vague generalities but specific references) of who is advocating this. If they "appeal to a higher authority" by, for example, saying "all the big name schools are teaching it," ask them to name one specific school. You will often hear uninformed people grasping at straws by claiming that "all the big time coaches are doing X." Appeal to a higher authority is a logical fallacy and should never win any argument. If they are so sure all the big name softball schools are teaching it, then they ought to be able to name just one for you.
Does Mike Candrea (head coach Olympic team, national team, and perenial powerhouse Arizona U. team) endorse it? Does defending national champion Michigan coach Carol Hutchins endorse it? Does UCLA head coach, Sue Enquist, endorse it? None, NONE of their players throw that way. Does Jennie Finch, Michele Smith, or any known person who is a coaching consultant advocate this? I've never heard anything evenly remotely similar spoken by any known softball coach or coaching consultant.
If you are not satisfied with the answers you get, tell them your daughter will either not be throwing that way or will not be on their team. You should contact the person in charge of the girls' softball program and get them in on the discussion. Perhaps they can straighten out the coaches or assign your daughter to another team. In any event, do not allow your daughter to engage in a drill which is not proper and which holds potential to not only teach her the wrong skill but also to injure her.
It should be understood that I am not merely disparaging every recreational softball coach. Many are quite good, know proper mechanics, and can teach skills very well. But for every good coach, there are as many as a hundred who are completely out of their minds. Of the hundred bad coaches, maybe 20% think they know what they are talking about. This particular subset of bad recreational coaches can ruin the whole rec experience for you and, more importantly, for your child. You have to be aware of it and fight against it. If you are knowledgeable in softball mechanics, I suggest you attend some coaching clinics and then get off the sidelines and become a coach. Your humble knowledge will counter the effects of so many bad coaches. That is the only way to achieve balance in the girls recreational softball universe.
Follow-up Posting - October 18, 2006:
Brad writes in: "I bought a throwing mechanics video by Mike Candrea. It has a drill on it which sounds exactly like the one described. It is not a "this is how you throw" drill. It is intended to correct certain mechanical flaws." The video is entitled "Throwing Mechanics & Drills". It is available from Candrea's web site here: http://www.candrea.com/pages/form_pro.html
Permanent Link: Q & A, New Kind Of Throwing?
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