Sudbury Girls Softball League 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION

YOUR JOURNEY SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION Kindergarten Clinic: A 6 week clinic, with fun learning Throwing / Catching / Hitting / Basic game rules Minor League: 1-2 nd grades 4 Teams One practice on weekends – one game weekday Introduce game play (coaches pitch or hit off a tee) – no walks / no strike outs No stealing / no sliding / no bunting / one base advance / parent umpires An inning is 3 outs or 8 batters whichever comes first / 1 hr 45 min game limit or 6 innings Junior League: 3-4 th grades 4 Teams One practice on weekends – one practice weekday – one game weekday Introduce player pitching – gets 4 balls then coach pitch Stealing 3 rd only / sliding / no bunting / base advance 4 runs per inning or 3 outs ends an inning / 1 hr 45 min game limit or 6 innings

YOUR JOURNEY SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION Intermediate League: 5-6 grades 4 Teams One practice on weekends – one practice weekday – one game weekday Player pitch Stealing 3 rd and home only / sliding [slide to avoid rule in place] / no bunting 6 runs per inning or 3 outs ends an inning / 1 hr 45 min game limit or 6 innings Senior League: 7-8 grades 4 Teams One practice on weekends – one practice weekday – one game weekday Player pitch Stealing / sliding [slide to avoid rule in place] / bunting allowed 6 runs per inning or 3 outs ends an inning / 1 hr 45 min game limit or 6 innings 200 PLAYERS - 16 TEAMS - 40 MANAGERS & COACHES YOU

PARENTS ROLE MODEL SKILL SETS AT HOME - we have the players for a couple hours each week - you have them the rest ALIGN EXPECTATIONS - you are not them / they are not you – allow them engagement levels ALIGN DEFINITIONS OF SUCCESS / FAILURE - throw me the ball / “Did you win?” / succeed 1/3 times = HOF POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT - negative is ….. negative / celebrate success – learn from mistakes SAFETY VIGILANCE - HIGH ENERGY / LOW AWARENESS - PROJECTILES / CLUBS SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION REMEMBER – THIS IS HARD FOR THEM

MISSION STATEMENT INTRODUCE AND BUILD THE SOFTBALL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF EACH PLAYER IN A FUN, SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT PUT FUN IN THE FUNDAMENTALS PUT THRILLS IN SKILL DRILLS USING A STANDARD CURRICULUM WE ARE BUILDING MUSCLE MEMORY ONE MUSCLE AT A TIME SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION

COACHING TIPS LEARNING STYLES AUDITORY - I HEAR / I DO VISUAL - I SEE / I DO KINETIC - I FEEL / I DO USE ALL 3 WITH: REPETITION & BUZZWORDS SKILL VARIABILITY COACHES CUSTOMIZE SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION

PRACTICE STRATEGIES THE BEST ENVIRONMENT BALANCE SLOW & FAST SLOW …. ENOUGH TO GET IT FAST …. ENOUGH TO KEEP IT INTERESTING DRILLS …. NO MORE THAN 10 MINUTES EACH - IF ONE ISN’T WORKING - CHANGE IT QUICK - REPEAT THE BEST DRILLS “LATER MIX IT UP GIVE’EM A BREAK WATER …. SMALL BODIES IN HEAT NEED COOLING - SITTING …. CAN USE TIME FOR AUDITORY GRASS CLASS …. EFFECTIVE VARIATIONS ON A THEME EYE TO EYE … DIVIDE & CONQUER SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL

PRACTICE STRATEGIES THE BEST ENVIRONMENT SKILL SESSIONS DESCRIBE AND DEMONSTRATE …. EXPLAIN WHY AND HOW - USE PROPS / HUMOR …. RELATE TO A 5-6 YR OLD - USE KIDS AS DEMONSTRATORS - IF THEY CAN DO IT …. MAYBE …. GROUND IN BUZZWORDS …. - EXPLAIN THEN REPEAT / REPEAT / REPEAT ENGAGE PLAYERS ….. - ASK QUESTIONS... SPECIFICALLY TO A PLAYER SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL

PRACTICE STRATEGIES THE BEST ENVIRONMENT COACHING TIPS CANNOT COACH TO A RESULT - THROW STRIKES / HIT THE BALL - FOCUS ON MECHANICS ALIGN EXPECTATIONS - VARIOUS DEFINITION OF SUCCESS - YOU / PLAYER / PARENT DELIVERING A STANDARD PLATFORM TO 12 INDIVIDUALS - TAKE MANY SMALL STEPS …. KEEP THE FUN UP SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL

PRACTICE STRATEGIES THE BEST ENVIRONMENT THEY WON VS AN ADULT FUNNY - SLAPSTICK I DID IT !!!! THEY REMEMBER 3 THINGS DO IT THE WRONG WAY - WITH DISASTROUS / FUNNY RESULTS - FOLLOW-UP WITH THE RIGHT WAY USE MINI COMPETITION IN DRILLS TELL THEM … THEY PROBABLY DON’T KNOW REMEMBER THIS IS HARD FOR THEM SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL

OBJECTIVE USE TIME TESTED / SUDBURY BASEBALL / SOFTBALL ENDORSED / SKILL PLATFORMS TO PROVIDE EACH PLAYER WITH CONSISTENT SKILL TRAINING THROUGHOUT THEIR SUDBURY LEAGUE EXPERIENCE SKILLS PLATFORMS EXECUTION INCORPORATE EACH SKILL PLATFORM - THROWING / CATCHING / HITTING INTO EACH PRACTICE SESSION USING DRILLS THAT COMBINE FUN - SAFETY AND THE THREE LEARNING TYPES BUILD SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE USING THE 5 STEPS METHOD - AS SKILLS PROGRESS INCREASE LEVEL OF TECHNICAL TEACHING WITHIN EACH OF THE 5 STEPS USE DRILLS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE GENERAL SKILL LEVEL OF THE TEAM BUT INCLUDE PERSONAL ATTENTION FOR EACH PLAYER SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL

THROWING: 5 STEPS 1. READY POSITION - SIDEWAYS TO THE TARGET 2. LOAD - LEG UP BALANCE POSITION 2. LAUNCH - BIRD POSITION – POWER POSITION 4. FIRE – ROTATE - THROW 5. FOLLOW – FOLLOW THROUGH SKILLS PLATFORMS HITTING: 5 STEPS 1. READY POSITION - FEET / LEGS / ARMS / HANDS / EYES 2. LOAD – GO BACK TO GO FORWARD 3. LAUNCH – KNOB INSIDE THE BALL - TWIST THE HIPS 4. FIRE - SNAP THROUGH THE BALL 5. FOLLOW - FOLLOW HIGH THROUGH CATCHING: 5 STEPS 1. READY POSITION - FEET / LEGS / ARMS / HANDS / EYES 2. HUNT – GO TO THE BALL 3. CAPTURE – 2 HANDS - OUT TO IN / DOWN TO UP - GRIP 4. LOAD – CENTERLINE – SQUARE – CROW HOP 5. FIRE – THROW TO TARGET – FOLLOW THROUGH SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL

SKILL PLATFORMS THROWING 1. READY POSITION - SIDEWAYS TO THE TARGET 2. LOAD - LEG UP BALANCE POSITION 2. LAUNCH - POWER POSITION – BIRD POSITION 4. FIRE – ROTATE - THROW 5. FOLLOW – FOLLOW THROUGH SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION READY - AIM - FIRE WORKS FOR LOWER LEVELS

SKILL PLATFORMS HITTING 1. READY POSITION - FEET / LEGS / ARMS / HANDS / EYES 2. LOAD – GO BACK TO GO FORWARD 3. LAUNCH – TWIST THE HIPS HOLD THE HANDS 4. FIRE - SNAP THROUGH THE BALL 5. FOLLOW - FOLLOW THROUGH SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION READY - AIM - FIRE WORKS FOR LOWER LEVELS

GENERAL COACHING TIPS “UNFORTUNATELY, YOUTH LEAGUE COACHES COMMONLY MAKE THE MISTAKE OF TELLING HITTERS TO KEEP THE BACK ELBOW UP. THIS IS GENERALLY A MISGUIDED ATTEMPT TO GET THE PLAYER TO A POINT WHERE HE ACHIEVES A SLIGHT DOWNWARD STROKE THAT RESULTS IN LINE DRIVES AND GROUND BALL. … ELBOW [UP] FURTHER COMPOUNDS A COMMON PROBLEM WHENEVER THE BACK ELBOW STARTS UP, IT MUST COME DOWN BEFORE THE BALL IS HIT. THE SWING THEN TENDS TO GET UNDERNEATH THE BALL, WHICH CAUSES THE PLAYER TO POP UP OR MISS THE BALL ALTOGETHER.” WHY NO ELBOW UP IN THE HITTING STANCE FROM “YOU CAN TEACH HITTING” BY DUSTY BAKER - PAGE SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION

SKILL PLATFORMS CATCHING 1. READY POSITION - FEET / LEGS / ARMS / HANDS / EYES 2. HUNT – GO TO THE BALL 3. CAPTURE – 2 HANDS - OUT TO IN / DOWN TO UP - GRIP 4. LOAD – CENTERLINE – SQUARE – CROW HOP 5. FIRE – POWER THROWING POSITION – THROW - FOLLOW SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION

SCHEDULE SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION

THE FINAL WORD THANK YOU !!!!!! SUDBURY GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE 2012 PARENTS ORIENTATION Our Program would not work without your support!