What do I need to do to prepare for softball?
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.
59469
You need to prepare a document, a SPONSORSHIP REQUEST document, where you will write about your softball team and your intensions. You also need to clearly state the benefits that one company will have if they sponsor you. Plus, i suggest you offer them different packages for sponsorship, like GOLD SPONSOR, SILVER SPONSOR and so on...\n\nE.g. If somebody pays for a GOLD SPONSORSHIP plan, you can offer them to have their company logo printed on your official team wear and stuff like...\n\nYou need to come up with these plans and the sponsors benefits, meaning what they get when they pay for a certain plan. Compile all this information into a nice document and there you go. But remember the "KISS" rule... keep it short and simple... preferably not longer than 6-10 pages.
1108315
Oh boy - about a 1000 things come to mind in less than a second.  Here are a few thoughts to get you started:\n\nFirst, there are no magic answers and there are no guarantees.  You can do everythign you can to prepare in the offseason, but you may flat get beat by someone better than you.\n\nSecond - HS is 4 year program; be patient if you are a freshman.\n\nThird - be a team player; if the coach needs you somewnere else, accept that.\n\nStarters and stars are not made during the season; they are made in the offseason.  Physcial and mental preparation are king.  Don't expect to go into camp and be built into a starter.  I guarantee your competition is working in the offseason and so you must.\n\nIn the offseason:\n\npractice your skills seems the obvious answer, but just going out and throwing the football around isn't going to help you a whole lot.  You must practice with intent; you must practice with effort - one thing I tell my team is "You play like you practice".  Go ahead and write that down and tape it on your bedroom door and anywhere else you will see it every day.  \n\nThe first thing you need to do is open your mind and accept coaching.  That may seem simple, but if you have been doing something a certain way for a while and your coach wants to tweak or change it, you need to try.  For example, if you are throwing with a low release point (e.g. side aremed) the coach may try to get you to throw more over the top.  Don't fight him, listen to him.  There is a reason he is adjusting your throwing motion even if you have had past success your way.\n\nYou need to break the physical skills into the major components and practice those until you can do them in your sleep and then 'rep' them some more.  (In a triple option attack it takes the QB a good 300 to 400 repetions to get the two option reads down pat alone much less the pitches and the passing part of the game).  \n\nSome of the physical skills you need to break down and practice are: \n- taking the snap from center and push off from center\n- footwork for a 3 step drop, a 5 step drop and possibly a 7 step (if your system uses them) \n- your footwork for giving a handoff and misdirection plays that require you to change direction.  Much effort and emphasis is put onto passing and not enough on sound skills in the running game.  Passing is the single hardest thing to do in football even for the pro's.  In HS, I would venture to guess that the vast majority of your offense is predicated on the running game.  If you don't knwo the running game or can't make the handoffs, pitches, fakes, and misdirections quickly, you won't play. \n- Work on your play action fakes and learn to hide the ball on play action passes.  \n- Work on your throwing motion and accuracy.  (you can improve accuracy by thowing at targets such as hula hoops raised up to a reciever level or trash cans - don't accept aythign less than a bullseye).  \n- Work on opening your hips correctly when you come out from under center.  \n- Work on your footwork and your hips in yoru throwing motion.  \n\nWhen practicing a skill - for example, footwork coming out from under center.  Start with the first step (both to the left and to the right) and do it slowly every day in short sessions of about 25 reps each - get four sessions a day.  Demand perfection in yourself.  For example, Put tape on the floor to mark where you toe should hit every time on your first step.  Hit it everytime.  When you hit it everytime (about a 100 times in a row without missing), pick up the speed.  Rep it.  Add the next step - slow at first, then pick up the speed.  Form and muscle memory are more important than speed.  If the motioni is burned into your mind and body at slow speed, it will happen correctly at full speed.\n\n- Have someone film some of your practices and watch yourself to find errors.\n\n- Go to QB camps.\n\n-Do speed training.\n-Lift weights.\n-Get out with several rece
400520
If you mean USSSA do a search, they publish their rules online. They are not very comprehensive though.\n\nIf you mean ASA, or USA softball, those must be purchased from an ASA commisioner. Go to the ASA website (search ASA Softball) for more info. \n\nYou can also check in some sporting goods stores, I have seen the previous years books in some.
808546
The coaches will be looking for fundementals.  Make sure that you do everything the right way and make good throws.  If you need to, overexaggerate things like catching flyballs with two hands, and fielding groundballs in front of you.
361265
You have to have a strong arm and most of it really is a gift.\nYou either have a srong arm or you don't.\n\nNot everyone with a strong arm is a good pitcher for various reasons.\n\nLifting weights will help give you a stronger arm but you don't want to be lifting real heavy weights and make your muscles too tight.\n\nIf you do have a strong arm, then you need to learn different types of pitches and how to throw them.\n\nPractice a lot with a catcher and play as much ball as possible.\nIt would be good to practice with a good softball pitcher who could show you the proper technique.\n\nIf you have the talent it will start to show the more you play.\nIf you don't have the arm or are not a real good pitcher you still could be a very good ballplayer and have a lot of fun playing another position on a team.
769841
1. be patient\n2. learn to READ bowlers grip\n3. anticipate\n4. get in line of the ball..with full face of the bat\n5. wait for the ball (which is half pitched)\n6. charge the ball (which is over-pitched)
991631
Are you gifted in either swimming or gymnastics?  Those are specialized sports that require specific talent or body type.  Both softball and track are more general sports that a greater number of different talent levels of athletes can succeed at.  \n\nThe bottom line, though, is that you need to participate in the sport or sports that give you the most enjoyment and self-satisfaction.  Don't make your decision based on what "others" think you should do!!
835974
A goof place to start looking for softball teams (or any sport for that matter) is www.eteamz.com!\n\n\nGood Luck on your search!
583070
Use the inside of your foot, by your arch.  Practice practice practice! Also, if you just need more difficulty to ramp up your game, try doing what you normally do, but with a softball on concrete. Just be careful not to step on it and have it roll out from underneath you and knock you flat. It hurts, I should know.
151756
Just keep taking grounders.  Get in front of the ball.  Keep your glove down.  Watch the ball all the way into your glove.  Use two hands.  Don't worry about making the throw; you have to field the ball first. Don't get nervous. Just keep practicing and work on the fundamentals that I described.
440375
Team one decent batting, need pitching.\n\nTeam two good pitching, and decent batting.\n\nGet pitching now.\n\nQuarter way through season change some batting.\n\nI'm no expert, though I play and have a decent record.
283517
At that level I would think that any good high school softball player could get them on the right track. Call your athletic director and see if you can get a couple of volunteers.
698913
Tubes, core strength and flexibility, towel drills, endurance running.  Make sure you are staying flexible.  Baseball workouts are not like football workouts-especially for pitchers.  Have someone help you with form if you are unfamiliar with the lifts.
629286
Play sports and learn to be the best at it what ever you do. I play high school sports and college level. At first I did it to get friends and have something to do but to be honest my grads went up, my esteem went up and life was good. So my sugestion do it go play and kick some but it feels great. Playing softball will actually make you quite the opposite of a dork.
161184
GENERAL\n\n1) SELECTION OF COACHES\n\na) Must be approved by  Softball Committee.\n\nb) It is recommended that new coaches serve at least one year as an assistant before becoming a head coach.\n\nc) Coaches should possess good rapport with children and be fundamentally sound coaches.\n\nd) Assistant parent-coaches will coach on the team that their child is assigned.\n\n2) SELECTION OF TEAMS\n\na) All new players must try-out and be rated by the coaches, from A-D.\n\nb) Teams are chosen by the coaches to be as even as possible.\n\nc) The teams are numbered and the coaches draw for their team.\n\nd) Players of parent-coaches are traded for equally rated players.\n\ne) Every effort will be made so that each team has a child that has a parent that will serve as an assistant coach.\n\n3) COACHES/PLAYERS DISCIPLINE\n\na) Any action by players or coaches that is detrimental to the league shall be reviewed by the  Softball Committee.\n\nb) Players or coaches shall have the opportunity to explain their actions.\n\nc) TheSoftball Committee has the right to reprimand as follows:\n\ni) First offense – Suspension for two (2) consecutive games.\n\nii) Second offense – possible expulsion from league.\n\nd) The Softball Committee’s decision is final.\n\n4) ALL-STARS\n\na) COACH SELECTION\n\ni) The head coach of the All-Star team shall be determined by a vote among all head coaches of the respective age group and theSoftball Committee.\n\nii) Assistant coaches shall be the two top vote-getters of the remaining head coaches.\n\nb) PLAYER SELECTION\n\ni) Each head coach nominates players that they feel should be given consideration.\n\nii) Players are chosen by majority vote of the head coaches of their respective league.\n\niii) The proceedings are mediated by one or more league officials.\n\niv) All-Star teams/coaches are announced at closing ceremonies.\n\n5) COACH/TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES\n\na) The head coach of the first game home team is responsible for the following:\n\ni) Preparing the field for play – drag and lime.\n\nii) Placing equipment on the field – this should be done once and the equipment building should be locked.\n\nb) The head coach of the second game home team is responsible for the following:\n\ni) Repairing any major damage to the playing field with rakes and/or drags – especially the pitchers mound.\n\nii) Placing all equipment back into the equipment building – all equipment should be placed in the proper place.\n\niii) Turn off all lights.\n\nc) The visiting team of each game will be responsible for policing the grounds after their respective game and picking up all trash.\n\nd) The home team will supply the balls for each game.\n\ne) There shall be no food and/or drinks allowed in the dugouts. The only allowed drinks shall be in coolers provided by the coaches or in water bottles brought by the players.\n\nf) Defensive coaches must stay behind the fences in front of the dugout at all times unless the head umpire has called time to allow the coach onto the field.\n\ng) All players not on the field in a defensive position, the batter, or on-deck batter must stay inside the dugout at all times. Players shall not be allowed to stand at the fence with the coaches.\n\n6) RAINOUTS AND POSTPONEMENT\n\na) Prior to the start of each game the head umpire and a league official will decide whether the game should be played. Their decision is final. After a game begins, the head umpire will make all decisions pertaining to continuation of play. He/She may delay or postpone based on their judgment. See your rulebooks for the lengths of official games due to weather for each respective age group.\n\nb) Rescheduling of postponed games is to be done by the  Softball Committee in conjunction with theYouth Board. Policy is to make up the games during the same week of the rainout if possible. No team will be required to play a doubleheader to make up a game if possible. All remaining rain games not made up by the end of the sea
287067
Practicing is very essential in learning how to play baseball... The first thing you should do is watch a few games and get a basic understanding of what the game of baseball is!!! Baseball is an art that can be learned but so few can master... The first thing one would need in learning to play baseball is a Glove and a baseball throw it against a wall let it bounce right back and field it with your glove... As for hitting the baseball go to a neighboorhood batting cage... get on the slow ones and let it rip... In know time you will get the basics and from there you can prosper