I coach softball, how do I keep the players cool in the dugout during hot weather?
609523
As a former basketball coach, I have had the same problem in the past with very hot indoor basketball stadiums.\n\nThe best method I found, other than hand held fans was to get ice packs and let them thaw a little bit...\n\nThen put them on the major points on the body where the veins are closest to the skin.\n\nThe wrists and the back of the neck were the best places to put the cold packs and really work!!\n\nGood Luck!
719549
Lightly oil your bat with a thin film of raw linseed oil.  Then lay it on a flat surface with the face of the bat pointing upwards for a few hours.  Take a hard cricket ball and place it in a sock.  Make sure the sock material is not heavily ribbed or else it will impart the pattern in the face.  Strike the bat with many blows paying particular attention to the edges and bottom of the bat.  Repeat this procedure many times over.\n\nAT the end of the season lightly oil your bat again and store face up.\n\nEnjoy and remember too much oil will damage your bat.
1113270
Not All Softballs are harder.\nIt's the new material they're made from and the compression of the center core.\nSoftballs are measured by core rating and compression.\nCore are rated from 40 core to 50 core\ncompression is rated 300 compression(restricted flite) to 525 compression (Hot and long flite).\nBaseballs are the same way you have live core and dead core.\nWhen see a lot of Home Runs hit in a season they're using a live core. When the Home Runs are lower they're using a dead core.\nIn the Hone Runs Derby they have during the All Star Game. Those balls are hot, along with their bats.\nSame way when you get to batting practice and see the guys hit a lot of Home Runs those balls are hot to put a show on for the fans.\nIn Softball you have different associations ASA,NSA. ISP, USSSA,Super League(The big boys of softball).\nThe bats have hotter too. Also the prices reaching up to and a past $400.00 per bat.\nAll the different materials these softball bats are made of is crazy.\nIt has taken the game to a crazy level(and somewhat dangerous for the players the way the ball comes off the bats.\nIt has taken the fun out of the game when there were wooden bats and the first Alumiunm bats came out.After 1986 the bat market got crazy.\nSame way with the hotter softballs . Red Dot, Steele. Rocket Ball. Now the balls are hotter and some are getting hotter to match the bats.Then other ways they make the balls hotter(in the microwave & freezing(or cooling what some call it)the softballs). Anything to get that edge rather than using their abilities.\nI've seen guys weighing 135 pounds hitting the balls 350' with no trouble with the bats and balls out there.\nIf you need anyother information you can go to different softball websites and check out the band bats and balls(because how hot they are).\nwww.asasoftball.com, USSSA.com\nI hope this help and answered your question.
516482
I think you should definitely handle this before it becomes negative. This guy obviously has potential to not be a good sport and interfere. To avoid conflict I would explain to him that yelling to the players is distracting, conflicting....etc. Just bull your way through calmly. If he does not understand that is is problem not yours as long as you are a good coach and handle him appropriately that is your only obligation. I wish you the best of luck in the situation. Plus my sons play softball and side line coaching is not allowed. The coaches are good guys they have a unwritten verbal rule "no side line coaching" I sometimes do not go by this. LOL but I just get a look and I know to sit down and shut up. But I still feel welcome and a team parent.
449714
practice the pick off move more during practice, or have the pitcher hit the runner real hard with the ball and maybe he'll think twice about stealing
625829
alright ur stance nothing matters stand however u want but before the pitch comes get into a hitting position so you are ready for a fast ball and so you can keep your hands back on a off speed pitch o ya and ur grib should be loose and ur knuckles should be lined up
314467
Get to the ballpark about 2 hours before game time and head straight to the front row at the end of either dugout. This is where they go in and out for warmups and will often sign then. I even got Ichiro's that way. Best bet is at spring training though. Everyone signs a lot there, exept the true a-holes.
649221
Go to this site and poke around a bit. Lots of good softball stuff there. There is also a tips and drills area, look for it, it should give you what you need.\n\nhttp://eteamz.active.com/fastpitch/boards/fastpitch/
652704
Be a cheerleader. Softball players tend to get really big legs. Yes, I understand it's a generality, and superficial. But I've found it to be the case.
782155
Remember that the idea of the game is for your team to do well, not  for you to be outstanding.  Try to outthink the other team.  Where are there weaknesses on defense?  Try to find them and tip to those spots.  Do they have trouble defending the line?    Hit  line  instead of going crosscourt to their best defender.  Is there a weak player or a weak spot in the serve receive?  Try to serve there.  Can you read the other team's hits and tips.  Try to position yourself were you think the ball is going to go.  Is  one of your teammates really "on".  Try to involve her as much as possible.\n    Everything I've said above seems obvious, but in the heat of the game players often revert back to hitting the ball as hard as they can and trying to get by on just hustle.\n   To summarize, my tip is "outthink the other team".  Your coach will love you if you do!
336475
Hello,\n\nSoftball Rules Simplified   \n\nTHE GAME\n\nThere are 9 players on a softball team. \nThe playing field is divided into the infield and outfield \nThe lines between the bases are 60’ apart and when joined they form a “diamond”, inside the baseline is known as the infield \nOutside the baseline but inside the playing field is called the outfield. \nAny ball going outside the 1st or 3rd base line is a foul ball ( runners can not advance and the batter gets another try unless the ball was caught in the air, which translates to an out) \nAn official game is 7 innings (a inning is when both teams have had their turn to bat) \n\n\nPITCHING\n\nThe pitcher must have both feet on the pitcher’s rubber and can only take one step forward while pitching. \nThe ball must be thrown underhand. \nBoth hands must be on the ball at the start of the pitch. \n\n\nBATTING\n\nBatters must follow the same order throughout the whole game \nThe batter is out if and when: \na) three strikes have been called\n\nb) a fly ball is caught\n\nc) the batter does not stand in the batter’s box\n\n\nBASE RUNNING\n\nRunners must touch each base in order \nRunners may overrun 1st base only, all other bases the runner may be tagged and called out if they are off the base. \nRunners can not lead off a base, they must be on base until the ball as left the pitcher’s hand \nAfter a fly ball has been caught the base runner must tag the occupied base before advancing to the next base \nOne base runner can not pass another base runner that is ahead of them. \nStealing a base is not permitted \nA runner is out if: \na. they are tagged with the ball before reaching a base\n\nb. the ball gets to 1st base before the runner\n\nc. they run more than 3 feet out of the base line to avoid being tagged\n\n\nTERMS:\n\nBall- a legally pitched ball that does not enter the strike zone (four balls equals a walk) \nGrounder- A ball that is hit on the ground \nForce out- when the runner has to advance to the next base to make room for the following base runner. \nFly ball- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nOn deck- the next batter \nPop up- ball hit up in the air to the infield \nStrike- term used when a ball is swung at and missed or is called when the ball enters the strike zone and is not swung at all. \nStrike zone- the ball passes the batter over the plate between their chest and knees  \n\nSreekar.
818589
sometimes hitting anything with a bat can relieve stress. maybe you can be a little more efficient and hit your coaches with a bat......get the stress out and get them to take notice of the dilemma. then sit down and talk with them....if they give you anymore trouble.......just keep the bat in plain sight......
450558
Call your team "The Other Team." We did that for our softball team. It was a riot.  \n\n"Who's winning?" "The Other Team."\n\nYou get the idea.
1131603
Teach them to swing level. Step into it, and use their hips for power. Then work on bat speed.
482135
Here are some tips for Slow-pitch softball hitting. \nAccelerate as you hit the ball - don't slow down while you hit the ball. Acceleration through the ball maintains your bat speed, which helps the ball to jump off your bat\n\n\nMaintain a loose grip on the bat - don't squeeze the handle tightly. Tension in your hands will reduce your bat speed, causing a loss in power.\n\n\nKeep your eyes on the ball - don't lose contact with the ball as you hit it. See the ball clearly as the bat hits the ball\n\n\nPush with your back (top) hand while pulling with your front (bottom) hand. The push gives you better power and follow-through while the push adds energy to the swing. Don't forget to do both - PUSH AND PULL\n\n\nRelease the top hand in the follow through - this adds extension to the swing which will give you more power\n\n\nKeep your hands in front of the bat - throw your hands at the ball so the bat head is the last thing to go through the strike zone\n\n\nShift your weight from your back foot to your front foot. This will increase power\n\n\nHold the bat with the knob in the palm of your hand, with the pinky of your bottom hand off of the bat. This will improve your leverage, and increase bat speed\n\n\nKnow where you like the ball to be when you hit it - then wait for that pitch. To find your spot, go to the cages...\n\n\nKeep your head down - start the swing with your chin on your front shoulder, end with your chin on your back shoulder.
903980
ok just calm down and be yourself...If you are yourself, then you will do fine, but if you think about every little thing that can mess you up, then you will mess up, but if you think positive and be yourself, then you will do great!!! Do what you know then your fine....\n\nTips:\n*Encourage other girls on the team\n*Encourage everyone when you guys are playing a game\n*Do NOT ask the coach constantly about other peoples scores, or your score, wait for the results
958068
I'm a junior in high school and we've won the 6A Kansas State Softball Championship the past 3 years in a row and I'm also on a traveling team.  It depends on how old you are.  If you're below the ago of 11 a regular bat and glove should do fine.  You should practice taking grounders and go to the batting cages to get in some hitting practice.  If you're older you should get a good glove and bat.  The glove should fit you but it doesn't matter on the quality of it so long as its nto going to fall apart.  I myself had used the same glove since third grade until last summer.  For the bat, I would recommend a Louisville Catalyst or Easton Synergy.  Make sure that you get a bat that is light/heavy and long/short enough for you.  Brush up on the rules as well.  All players should have cleats, regardless of age.