the most important player on the field
DESCRIPTION
The reason is our sport is so conditional. In any other sport you can try to manipulate the flow of the game to take advantage of your best player. But in fastpitch softball, you're kind of stuck. Think about it. In basketball you can try to work the ball to Lebron James or Tamika Catchings when the game is on the line. In hockey, you want Sidney Crosby to have the puck, or Roberto Luongo in the goal. In football you're going to hand the ball to Adrian Peterson or try to throw the ball to Calvin Johnson. But in softball, you have very little control. If you need a long fly ball and you have your weakest hitter at the plate you're stuck. Sure, you can pinch hit for her, but odds are if the hitter coming in was that much better she wouldn't be available to pinch hit. She'd be playing already.TRANSCRIPT
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
The reason is our sport is so conditional. In any other sport you can tryto manipulate the flow of the game to take advantage of your bestplayer. But in fastpitch softball, you're kind of stuck.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
Think about it. In basketball you can try to work the ball to LebronJames or Tamika Catchings when the game is on the line. In hockey, youwant Sidney Crosby to have the puck, or Roberto Luongo in the goal. Infootball you're going to hand the ball to Adrian Peterson or try to throwthe ball to Calvin Johnson.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
But in softball, you have very little control. If you need a long fly balland you have your weakest hitter at the plate you're stuck. Sure, youcan pinch hit for her, but odds are if the hitter coming in was that muchbetter she wouldn't be available to pinch hit. She'd be playing already.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
It's even worse on defense, because it's totally reactive. You can try topitch to get a ground ball to your stud shortstop, but if the hitterdoesn't cooperate and loops a blooper out behind first base there's nota whole lot you can do about it.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
Or take a situation where you pull the infield in to cut off the run athome. If the hitter hits a shot between two infielders, either a line driveor a ground ball, that run is going to score and maybe another onebehind it. You did the right thing, but the other team simply didn'tcooperate by banging a ball right at your fielder.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
There are all kinds of situations like that. Sure, it would be nice if theball went to your strongest fielder, or your best hitter came to the platewith the bases loaded and you in need of a couple of runs. But you can'tmake it happen like you can in other sports.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
So what can you do? Basically, remember that the most importantplayer on the field is the one in an important situation at a given timeand make sure you're working with all your players. And we all knowthat the ball always has a tendency to find the weakest fielder in acrucial situation when we're on defense. That's like a law.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
Instead of relying on your studs all the time, train up your weakerplayers so they can contribute more. Plug your holes. Encourage yourplayers to get outside help if you don't have the time or knowledge tohelp them yourself.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
Do something, anything, to avoid having to hold your breath and hopethat the ball doesn't go to so-and-so, or finding yourself praying towhatever deity you worship that today is the day the kid in the clutchsituation finally gets a hit.
Softball Tips
Contact Us - 1-866-589-0439 154 Charlotte St., Suite #C508
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2X 4A1
Hitting Tips
The Most Important Player on the Field
In softball, the most important player changes game by game, inning byinning, and sometimes even pitch by pitch. Keep that in mind and it willhelp you ensure you're training your team for all eventualities. It'll saveyou a lot of heartache.