Fastpitch softball coaching tips

At some point this question will enter your mind if your daughter gives you the impression that she's truly interested in the game of fastpitch softball. The first advice that we would give is to take her softball skills as far as you can on your own. This will save you some money and create a quality bonding experience for the both of you. However,  we highly recommend that you're very honest with yourself here, trying to teach her something about the game of fastpitch softball that you're unsure of will be a good indicator as to when to consider taking her to a paid instructor.
Conversely while you may have and understand all the necessary skills to advance your daughter to the next level, sometimes you will not see the improvement until she hears it from someone else, so keep an open mind as you focus on improving her fastpitch softball abilities.

If you've never played the game of softball or  have little or limited knowledge of the skills required then you're best bet is to start out with paid instruction. Depending on your daughters age and current skill level this could be as easy as having her work one on one with her rec or travel coach all the way to finding a specialized hitting or pitching coach.

The next task is to understand what you should be looking for in a fastpitch softball instructor? This task assumes that you're looking for specialized training.

Hitting instructor:
Have  they played fastpitch softball and at what level? Okay this question may light the fuse of those instructors who played B and C level Rec or tournament ball, but its a fair question. True, you don't have to be a great player to be a good coach, but it really helps if you're taking your daughter to someone who has had hitting success at the upper levels of tournament or college play. The reason is  very  simple, they have actually seen better pitching and will understand what is required in the fastpitch softball swing to make solid contact, and yes, there are subtle differences in baseball and softball swings. A baseball hitting instructor that has never seen a quality rise ball will be just as baffled by it as your daughter, not a good choice. Do your homework.

Pitching Instructor :
Here's a real simple rule of thumb; if they can't throw the pitch they're trying to teach don't waste your money or time. Ask around, these lessons can be expensive. Look for a pitching instructor that understands the mechanics of the pitching motion and can demonstrate what they're speaking of, this can be a violent action and if it's not taught correctly can cause injury to numerous parts of the body.

In both cases look for an instructor that truly understands the mechanics required to be a good fastpitch softball hitter, or pitcher and has the ability to communicate, and break down these mechanics to the level of the student they're teaching. Nothing worse than seeing a 12 year old kid with a "what the heck are you talking about look" on their face, while the instructor delivers a self fulfilling dialog about the values of the rotational swing. Remember, you're there to make your kid a better hitter or pitcher, while their philosophies may have merit the real question is, can they communicate them so that your child understands what they're saying? Have the instructor Draw it in crayon before they give you a blueprint. This approach works wonders for the younger player, as their understanding of the mechanics develop, so will their technical vocabulary, Keep It Simple! Be sure to find a coach that can break it down and make the instruction easy to understand.

While there is no one size fits all instructor the above tips will go a long way in finding the right one for your young fastpitch softball playing athlete.

Best of luck The Softball Clinic



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