Welcome to the Miss Scotties Softball Coaches Corner

This page is intended to address the needs of our Recreation League Coaches. Please check this page frequently for updates.  For you convenience, you can view this page on your mobile device.

Background Checks

All head coaches are required to have a Background Check performed at the following link.  The league will reimburse the coaches.  

Background Check link

Injury Reports and First Aid

We do not require any coach to have formal First Aid training, but attached is a link to familiarize yourself with some basic information.  First Aid Kits will be provided by the Equipment Director (email here) with gloves, bandages, ice packs, and compression wraps.  When in doubt, locate the parent or call *911.

For all injuries – please fill out a report and leave in concession booth or forward to 2^nd Vice President – (email here).  If in doubt – always fill one out.  If injury requires medical attention – provide parent with the instruction sheet on how to file a claim.

Practices

Have a parent meeting before or after the first practice.  Set rules and expectations.  Find a reliable “Team Parent”.

Parents have to volunteer in concession, do field prep, assist in warmup and practices.  Ask for this type of help the first day.

“Team Parent” will set concession schedule, assist with team picture schedule, hand out team picture packets, sell tickets to “pasta Dinner” fundraiser, collect items for Basket Raffle.

For Majors and Seniors – let players know that if they want to pitch they need to learn how and practice and attend clinics.  Nobody benefits from a game where no strikes are thrown.

I also recommend telling all girls they will have to rotate through catching.

Preparation is the key to a productive practice.  Be on time if that is what you expect of your players.

It is always wise to request the girls be on the field, dressed and ready by the requested start time.  For practices, I request 6 pm sharp start time.  I begin stretches exactly at 6 pm to discourage tardiness.  If you chat and goof around for 5-10 minutes, the parents will begin to show up 5-10 minutes late.

Be aware of the weather and allow for appropriate rest and water breaks. 

Here is a basic outline for a practice:

6:00-6:15 – stretching & warmup

Please see attached for some recommended stretches:

            Warmup stretches

Arm circles – small to large – front and back

Tricep stretches – reach arm over head and down thru middle of back

Shoulder stretches across chest

Twists

Walking lunges

Bend over calf stretches

Butterflies

Squats – infield ready position

Karaoke

Base running    sprints from home to first – running thru base

sprints home to second – rounding first

sprints first to home – rounding each base (down in proper base running position, leaving at appropriate time)

(use a stopwatch – they love to be timed and try to “beat” their times)

6:15-6:40 – throwing and catching – most important part of the game

At every age, always demonstrate proper technique at every practice.

Walk around and correct form – move them in and out for shorter and longer throws.  Make sure to address outfield throw with crow hops.

Contests          10 catches with dropping,  most catches in 1 minute

Drills                square drill  throw to each other in a square pattern–add grounders on 2 sides–sprinting after your throw

relay drill         line of 3 to 4 girls ball thrown down line and back

zig zag             2 lines facing each other – staggering the girls.  Throw ball zig zagging back and forth up and down lines.

6:40-7:00 – grounders and pop flies – use groups or stations – never have

long lines of girls standing around – use time wisely – keep them moving

Line 1 – Coach hits grounder – field ball and throws to player next to you.  The fielder sprints to replace the catcher, catcher sprints to end of Line 2.

Line 2 – Coach throws popup – catches ball and throws to player next to you.  The fielder sprints to replace the catcher, catcher sprints back to end of Line 3.

Line 3 – Coach throws 1 hop grounder – catches ball and throws to player next to you.  The fielder sprints to replace the catcher, catcher sprints back to end of Line 1.

Please see the attached for some suggested softball drills:  Softball Team Drills

7:00–7:25 – hitting – use groups or stations – never have

long lines of girls standing around – use time wisely – keep them moving

At every age, always demonstrate proper technique at every practice.

Group 1 – spread girls out with bat.  Walk thru proper steps of hitting

Group 2 – tee into net (1 armed drills, normal hitting, soccer ball)

Group 3 – soft toss into net

Group 4 – bunting station

Group 5 – Hitting stick

Group 6 –  waffle/pickle balls

End with something fun!

Relay contest – split girls into 2 even teams – 1 at home and 1 at 2^nd.  Each group has 1 ball.  On go – girls run around bases handing ball to next runner on team.  1^st group thru all players wins!

One and done –  girls line up to hit – coach pitch.  One at a time – up to bat – 1 chance to hit the ball and onto next girl. (make sure you throw strikes) switching batters very quickly  – coaches/parents/siblings do the fielding.

Videos

Please review some of these helpful videos:

1. Baserunning
2. Ground Balls
3. Grounders

Game Day

Weeknight games will be scheduled to begin at 6:15 pm.  Please tell your parents that arrival time must be 5:45 pm to allow proper stretching and warmup time.  Weekend game times will vary – but ask for them to arrive 30 minutes before.

Pregame warmup:

Stretching as outlined in practice

Sprints to fence and back

Throwing and catching

5 hits each – live, tee or soft toss

Pitchers MUST warm up.  Identify who will be pitching the game before.

Use your parents to help with warmups or field prep.  Ask for this type of help the first day. 

Concession and Field Prep

For each game, your team will either be in charge of concession (visitor) or field prep (home).

Concession – Team parent should crate a rotational schedule for all parents to cover.  I like ½ hour slots.

Field Prep –  Home, 1^st, 3^rd and pitchers mound should be raked smooth – puddles and ruts removed.  Field should be lined with chalk as outlined in attachment.  Batters boxes have a template.  Pitching circle has an 8 foot radius from center of rubber.  Majors pitch from 35 feet and Seniors pitch from 40 feet.

 Rotate lineup each game. Don’t honor requests – once you start they will not stop asking.

Rotate field positions every 2 innings and keep track of who played where.  Equal infield and outfield time for everyone. Don’t honor requests – once you start they will not stop asking.

If a player wants to pitch, find out at the first practice so they can learn and practice.  Do not rely on Travel girls to do all the pitching – it is not fair.