Softball Coaches’ Manual V1.0, April 2016 1 http://www.mansfieldgirlssoftball.com Thank You! Coaches, Welcome to Mansfield Girls Softball. Obviously, you have made a decision to volunteer to help guide the girls of Mansfield and help them along their pathway to become more well‐rounded softball players and citizens. From the coaching perspective, we fully realize that your efforts require a lot of hard work and dedication. But it is also supposed to be enjoyable, rewarding and fun! This manual provides suggestions that I hope will help you get more out of coaching, and make the tasks associated with your commitment easier and more rewarding. The commitment you have made cannot be taken for granted. You are to be congratulated and thanked for your willingness to help. Beginning with this manual, I want to support your efforts in any way possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me for anything, at any time. Thank you again, and let’s get ready to PLAY BALL! Leo Lake President of Softball, MGSA 1 http://www.mansfieldgirlssoftball.com Table of Contents PURPOSE OF THE COACH’S MANUAL ................................................................................................................ 5 MANSFIELD FASTPITCH CORE PHILOSOPHY ...................................................................................................... 5 PRESEASON….GETTING READY…. GETTING ORGANIZED .................................................................................... 6 COACH SELECTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 TEAM FORMATION ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 NOTIFICATION OF TEAM MEMBERS ................................................................................................................................. 7 INSURANCE ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 CORI REQUIREMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 7 PONY COACHING ACE CERTIFICATION ............................................................................................................................ 8 HEADS UP ONLINE TRAINING COURSE ............................................................................................................................. 8 CODE OF CONDUCT ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 TOWN OF MANSFIELD CODE OF CONDUCT ........................................................................................................................ 9 COACH’S EQUIPMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 9 PLAYER’S EQUIPMENT .................................................................................................................................................. 9 TEAM PICTURES ........................................................................................................................................................ 10 RAINOUTS ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 INCIDENT REPORTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 HITTING AND FIELDING LINE UP .................................................................................................................................... 10 PHONE TREE ............................................................................................................................................................. 10 RULES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 10 KEY DATES ............................................................................................................................................................... 10 DURING SEASON…PLAY BALL…BE ORGANIZED ................................................................................................ 11 SOUND COACHING FUNDAMENTALS .............................................................................................................................. 11 PREPARING FOR A GAME IS CRITICAL TO SUCCESS.............................................................................................................. 11 COACHING DURING THE GAME ...................................................................................................................................... 12 DON’T FORGET THE POST‐GAME .................................................................................................................................. 12 (6U) T‐BALL AND (8U) PLAYER/COACH PITCH ................................................................................................. 13 8U AND 10U SPECIFIC SKILLS AND DESCRIPTIONS ............................................................................................................ 14 10U PLAYER PITCH ......................................................................................................................................... 16 10U SPECIFIC SKILLS AND DESCRIPTIONS ........................................................................................................................ 17 12U PLAYER PITCH AND 14U PLAYER PITCH .................................................................................................. 19 12U AND 14U SPECIFIC SKILLS AND DESCRIPTIONS .......................................................................................................... 20 SKILL SET DRILLS ............................................................................................................................................ 22 POST SEASON…HELP THE LEAGUE STAY ORGANIZED…. .................................................................................. 28 EQUIPMENT RETURN .................................................................................................................................................. 28 POST SEASON EVALUATION SHEET ................................................................................................................................ 28 REMIND THEM .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 http://www.mansfieldgirlssoftball.com/ 3 IMPORTANT REFERENCE WEB SITES www.mansfieldgirlssoftball.com www.registerasa.com (ACE Certification) www.pony.org (Pony Softball Website) http://www.cdc.gov/HeadsUp/youthsports/training/index.html (Heads Up Concussion Training) www.hgssl.org (Hockomock League Travel Website) www.teamusa.org/USA‐softball (ASA‐ Softball Website) *Special thanks to SAGRA softball league for their help with this manual* http://www.mansfieldgirlssoftball.com/ 4 Purpose of the Coach’s Manual Our goal is to provide coaches with a tool that helps prepare them for coaching youth softball. That applies to the encouragement of all of our coaches, new or experienced, Rookie Ball (6U) through to Senior League (14U), to focus more on teaching girls the fundamentals of the game of softball. We have included a variety of materials including: Sections on rules of the game Positional overviews Practice planning aides Age appropriate skill sets Communication suggestions We suggest that you view this manual as an ever‐evolving document. Please do not hesitate to offer suggestions on items for inclusion in future versions of this manual. We would further suggest that you read this manual each year you coach, no matter how long you have been coaching. For the beginners, this document can be a guide, for the experienced coaches it can serve as a reminder to some very important core principles (And you never know when you will pick up on some detail that will help you). Mansfield Fastpitch Core Philosophy Our philosophy is one shared by many of the best organizations and coaches in sports: “Winning isn't the goal. Learning the fundamentals well is the goal. Fostering enjoyment of the game is the goal. Winning comes from those things.” The Mansfield Fastpitch goal is to help the girls in our leagues develop. This includes development at softball skills, developing life skills through sports and teamwork, and having fun while doing it. Our hope is to increase the amount of time that each girl is interested in playing softball, giving our players good opportunities to compete as they move up through each level to the best of their abilities. If we can give the girls a good softball experience we hope that an ever‐increasing number of girls will stay with the Mansfield Fastpitch program. http://www.mansfieldgirlssoftball.com/ 5 Preseason….Getting Ready…. Getting Organized Coach Selection Each year Mansfield Girls Softball solicits coaching staffs for each of its Recreational and Travel teams. We endeavor to pick a Manager (Head Coach), and Assistant Coach and a Team Parent.