Coaching Softball - The Seven Deadly Sins of Softball

2) Not Thinking Ahead!

Softball is all about making quick decisions. The action happens in short bursts. If you wait until the ball comes to you to decide what to do with it, you’ll never make the play. Before the pitch is thrown, you have to make the play in your head and know what your options are. Then when the ball is hit to you, let the play happen automatically.

3) Missing Signs!

There’s a reason your team has signs. It’s so when the coach sees an opportunity, he or she can take advantage of it. What I’ve always wondered is why the other team sometimes seems to know our signs better than we do! I’ll call for a steal, and the third baseman will immediately yell “Watch the steal!” Then my runner stays glued to first base. It’s a question of paying attention, and looking for the signs. Here’s how it can hurt you. In a tournament a couple of weeks ago, I called for a bunt and run with a runner on second. The runner took off for third, and the batter just stood there taking a called strike. By not showing the bunt, she hung the runner out to dry. Look for those signs! We’re not just making all those motions for show.

4) Throwing To A Base When The Runner’s Already There…Or  Even Almost There!

There’s a time to make the throw, and there’s a time to hustle the ball back to the pitcher. If the runner is four steps from third and you’re standing next to second, only bad things can happen if you make that throw. Eat the ball, and get ready for the next play.

5) Throwing A Change-up To A 6, 7 or 8 Hitter!

If you’re playing at the elite level, that’s okay. But if you’re at a more general youth level, understand that the change may be the only pitch you have that the 6, 7 or 8 hitter can hit! He or she may be trying to time your fastball, rise, or drop, but they don’t have the bat speed. That change, though, comes in just right, and the next thing you know it’s on its way to the outfield, and you’ve just made somebody’s day. Don’t mess around with the weak hitters. Blow the ball by them unless they prove they can hit it fair.

6) Turning A Little Error Into A Big One!

This one is also known as the “hero syndrome”. You’re playing shortstop when a hard ground ball comes your way. You miss-play it a little, and don’t get a clean pick-up. That’s a LITTLE error. Knowing you’ve now lost a little time, you grab the ball off balance, rush the throw, and proceed to chuck it into the parking lot for the nearby soccer field. That’s a BIG error. The runner who would’ve been safe at first anyway is now safe at second. (By the way, if you have a slightly different angle and proceed to chuck the ball into right field where it rolls forever, that’s a HUGE error since that little ground ball is now a home run!) Don’t try to be the hero all in one play. In other words, don’t panic. Sometimes the best option is to just eat the ball and do better the next time.

7) What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate!

Ok, you knew I had to get a movie reference in here somewhere. Ask your parents ( or your grandparents) about that one. It’s from the movie Cool Hand Luke, but I digress. It’s important for players to communicate with each other all the time. Fielders need to talk about coverage before the play, and call the ball if it’s in between them. Catchers need to call the play as it develops, whether that means what base to throw to or whether to cut off the ball. Pitchers and catchers need to communicate about what pitches to throw. On-deck hitters need to tell runners heading for home whether or not to slide and to which side of the base to slide. I know that you know how to communicate. You do it all the time before and after the game. Make sure you do it during the game too, as long as it’s about game-related issues.

Those are the seven deadly sins of softball as seen from these eyes.