Basic Fielding And Throwing Tips For Youth Softball

This collection of videos is a great introduction to fielding and throwing for youth softball players, parents, and coaches. We believe that these fundamental skills should be taught correctly and practiced regularly at the earliest levels of the game. The series opens with a piece for parents and coaches on how to select the right youth softball glove for their players. Ensuring that youth players have gloves that fit their hands properly and match the size of the ball being used is critical to their development in basic skills like fielding and throwing. Softball Equipment: How to Choose a Softball Glove examines various types of softball gloves and provides some good pointers on what to look for and what to avoid.
 
Even with the right glove, youth softball players can often struggle with catching the ball consistently. Many times a simple adjustment to glove positioning can improve their technique and help them overcome their fear of getting hit by the ball. In Softball Fielding: How to Hold Your Glove, Coach Stricchiola demonstrates some solid tips for teaching youth players the basics of catching balls that are thrown to different locations. Softball Fielding: Catching Fly Balls applies this same approach to catching fly balls and pop-ups. When teaching these skills, be sure to emphasize the importance of keeping "soft" hands to avoid the ball bouncing out of the glove. Similarly, balls that are hit or thrown in the air should always be caught slightly in front of the player’s body rather than directly above her head. We recommend trying this drill with a tennis ball before using a softball.
 
Learning how to throw a softball begins with the grip. Unlike baseball players who hold the ball with their index and middle fingers, softball players rely heavily on their middle finger and ring finger for their grip. Softball Throw: Basics of Gripping a Softball demonstrates how youth players with smaller-sized hands can use this finger alignment to maximize their throwing accuracy and wrist snap.

The last piece in this series, Softball Throw: How to Throw a Softball, does a fantastic job of breaking a full throwing motion down into several easy-to-understand steps. Take advantage of these tips to teach your players to practice coordinating their upper and lower body movements when they throw. Simple training props, such as stickers, are always a hit with young kids and can go a long way to visually reinforce what you tell them.