Drills and Activities to Improve Softball Pitching

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By Marc Dagenais

Softball pitching is one of the offensive armaments in the softball. Most coaches and trainers pay much concentration in the pitching capability of the players because they believe that this added an artillery and fire power to the game. Poor pitching techniques oftentimes results to a bad performance of the team. Worse, it might lead to losing the game. That is why there is a more complexity in the field of softball pitching drills and activities. Softball players should be equipped with the dos and don'ts of the softball pitching process.

Read on and perfect these valuable drills and activities which will help you get an edge over hitter and batting lineup you face:

The pitching all happens with the release. When this is happening just: · Stay Tall · Pull your shoulders back · Have a firm front side · No bending at the waist

For lower body pitching mechanics: · Make a powerful push from the pitching rubber · Build up a strong, fast and long stride · Make a push-back against the stride leg as the pitching arm comes down through the release point

To maximize your pitching speed, you must: · Make sure that your upper body is upright when at the release · You push back against your stride leg · Your shoulders should most of the time way closed · Your hips should be halfway or less closed at the release

The power, the speed and the landing of the stride determines how effectively the pitcher can push back against the stride in order to throw the ball with a maximum speed.

The fastest pitch depends on the lower portion of a pitcher's body. Remember to always improve the speed and control of the leaping styles. The leaping style must have a fast and strong push-off from the pitching rubber in order to drive the stride leg out fast and far.

Always look at the power and the quickness of the stride to allow for a blocking or a hard push against the stride leg at the end of the pitch sequence. Ideally, your pitching strides must be precise and sure so that a powerful pitching technique will be achieved.

Softball pitching requires technique, speed and proper pitching location. The edge to softball pitching lies upon the perfection of the most comfortable techniques you already have or at least bend your softball life on learning more of the existing pitching techniques.

Marc Dagenais, MHK, CSCS, is a softball peak performance coach that helps players and teams hit with more power, run faster, throw harder, become mentally tougher, and be more dominant on the softball field. Visit us and sign-up to get tons of great FREE Softball Pitching tips to boost your game!

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Softball Tips on Five Common Nutrition Mistakes and How to Fix Them

SoftballrUs.com

By Marc Dagenais

If you are serious softball player, then, you may have undergone a rigorous training for the past several weeks, working on tapering and perfecting your performance for the coming tournament. You may know that aside from improving your performance, you need to carefully watch what you eat and drink. And so, you may be eating a lot of foods rich in carbohydrates, consuming a lot of water and loading up on vegetables like broccoli and beans. But is this the right thing to do?

What you eat before the game seriously affects how you perform on the field. But what you may be doing is so extreme that you are not really helping your body to achieve proper nutrition. You may be skipping a meal, consuming too much food and drink or munching on foods that may not agree with your stomach. So, in order to avoid some common nutrition mistakes, here are some softball nutrition tips that you can follow and can help you get ready for your game.

First Mistake: Consuming a Boxful of Pasta

Most softball players think that they need to load up on carbohydrates to achieve optimum energy that they would be able to expend during the game on the next day. But the problem with carbo loading is that your body may not be able to burn all of the carbohydrates that you consumed, which can lead to digestive problems and even cause you to rush to the toilet often during the game.

How to Fix This:

Eat in moderation and do this days before your game. For instance, for breakfast, you can eat oatmeal. For lunch, you can have potatoes. And finally, for dinner, you can eat pasta. Be sure to consume food that is enough to satisfy your hunger so, you do not have to experience indigestion our sleeping problems.

Second Mistake: Consuming Gallons of Water

Hydration is very important but if you are going to drink more water than your body needs, you would have a bloated feeling as well as harm your electrolyte levels. This can lead to muscle cramps and even worse, hyponatremia, a fatal disease caused by exceptionally low sodium levels.

How to Fix This:

Several days before your game, you can drink a variety of fluids that you would normally consume to achieve proper hydration. You can drink water, juice or sports drink. And during the morning on the day of your game or approximately three hours before, you can consume about sixteen ounces of water or other fluids so, your body would have the time for processing the fluids.

Third Mistake: Consuming Too Much Fiber

It is good to eat a lot of fruits, vegetables and other sources of fiber but the problem with eating too much fiber is that if you are not used to eating these, you may experience uncomfortable gas and coupled with pre-race jitters, you would feel stomach pain.

How to Fix This:

Avoid from eating too much fiber a few days before your game, especially when your body is not used to digesting a lot of fiber. You can opt for cereal but be sure to eat small amounts only. You can also eat small amounts of fruits of vegetables.

Fourth Mistake: Missing Breakfast

You may get nervous and jittery on the day of your game that can cause you to lose your appetite. But even so, it is very important for you not to miss breakfast because dong so would mean that your body would not have the energy that you need to perform well and last through all the innings of your softball game.

How to Fix This:

If you have no appetite on the day of your game, be sure to get up from bed a few extra hours so, you can have a slow breakfast. If your stomach has a hard time digesting solid food, then, opt for fruit smoothies that can give you the energy that you need without making you feel overly full.

Fifth Mistake: Attempting to Consume a New Dish

Remember not to eat any new dish that you may not have tried before the game, especially because if the food affects your body abnormally, this may lead to diarrhea or other digestion problems.

How to Fix This:

Be sure to eat what you are familiar with several days before your game. You can eat cereal or any food that you are used to in small amounts.
As mentioned before, it is very important for you to achieve proper nutrition in order to help you stay at the top of your game. So, be sure to avoid the five common nutrition mistakes given above and at the same time, follow the softball nutrition tips that can steer you away from committing these mistakes.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. Visit his site and sign-up to get his FREE softball hitting tips!
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

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Fastpitch Softball Pitching Drills

By Marc Dagenais

Softball pitchers should really take the time to improve their game by going over fastpitch softball pitching drills that work on different areas of the all important position and will help them become an all-star player. The following softball pitching drills are a great start for pitchers to reach an elite level and become very solid at their position.

Drill 1 - Wall Pitching (Softball Pitching)

Purpose: To develop speed without worrying about accuracy.

Procedure: The pitcher stands 10 to 15 feet from a wall and throws hard, focusing on mechanics and the feeling of throwing the ball hard. The repeated impact will soften a ball before long, so the pitcher should use the same ball. Don't use a rubber ball that lacks seams because the pitcher must be able to grip the ball properly. An advantage of this kind of practice is that pitchers can do it on their own at any time.

Drill 2 - Speed Pitching

Purpose: To develop speed while throwing to a catcher.

Procedure: The pitcher works with a catcher, concentrating on exploding off the mound and attempting to throw each pitch a little harder.

Drill 3 - Basket Throws

Purpose: To focus on making the ball drop by using a visual target.

Procedure: The pitcher throws from regular distance and attempts to pitch the ball into a laundry basket at home plate. This drill helps imprint the image the pitcher should see before every drop pitch. The pitch can be thrown to a bucket, but the ball will not ricochet as much off the softer basket.

Drill 4 - Long Toss

Purpose: To practice getting under the ball for rise-ball release. The drill also develops body and arm strength.

Procedure: The pitcher pitches to a catcher from second base or farther, lobbing the ball up as if she is throwing it over a telephone pole. This action forces the pitcher to get under the ball. To develop strength, the pitcher keeps backing up (from second base, to center field, to the fence) to see how far she can throw it.

Drill 5 - Play a Game

Purpose: To experience gamelike pressure during pitching practice.

Procedure: The pitcher pitches a specific number of innings with the catcher calling balls and strikes. If you have a batter standing at the plate, she should assume different positions in the box and stand in as both a left-handed batter and a right-handed batter.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog

He also helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html - Go Sign-up Now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

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SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!

5 Softball Pitching Drills

By Marc Dagenais

Drill 1: Fast and Slow

Purpose: To practice changing speeds.

Procedure: Working with her catcher, the pitcher alternates fast and off-speed pitches. The goal is to keep the delivery the same.

Drill 2: Football Toss

Purpose: To develop correct rise-ball release.

Procedure: The pitcher throws a junior-sized football underhand to a partner. Grip it along the seam with all the fingers and with the thumb on the opposite side. The ball should spiral. If it wobbles in flight, the palm has turned toward the catcher at release.

Drill 3: Four-Corner Control

Purpose: To develop control and accuracy.

Procedure: The pitcher throws to the extreme four corners of the strike zone. When she achieves accuracy at one spot, she moves the target to the next corner. A catcher or a target on the wall can be used. To adjust for the in and out targets, the pitcher must adjust her body angle from her normal stance. She turns the toe on the rubber about a half inch in or out from the position she used to throw to the middle of the plate.

Drill 4: Wrist Snap Behind Back

Purpose: To develop the wrist snap by isolating the wrist, which prevents the pitcher from using the elbow to snap the ball.

Procedure: The pitcher stands sideways 5 to 10 feet from the catcher or a wall. The glove side faces the target, and the ball is behind the back. The pitcher flips the ball by snapping the wrist.

Drill 5: Oversized and Undersized Ball Spins

Purpose: To make the pitcher practice throwing a riseball.

Procedure: Using a baseball or an 11-inch ball may help the pitcher make the correct movements to get underneath the ball. The smaller the size of the ball allows the fingers to be more flexible and allows the correct movements to occur with less effort. A pitcher can use an undersized ball when initially trying to create muscle memory for the correct spin movements. An oversized ball is helpful in speeding up the wrist snap because the hand must pass under more area in the same amount of time. The oversized ball can also illustrate the spin to a pitcher who may be struggling with the backward concept. A 14-inch ball seems to be the perfect size because the pitcher can hold on to it comfortably throughout the circle before snapping the wrist at release. The routine used with these balls can mirror the routing used with the Spinner-starting close up without the circle and adding distance as well as the full circle.

Marc Dagenais is a softball peak performance coach that provides softball tips, softball drills, and information on techniques for hitting, pitching, coaching, and training through his blog at http://www.softballperformance.com/blog

He also helps softball players and coaches improves their game by sharing with them the tips and strategies used by the world's best softball players and coaches to achieve extraordinary performances. You can sign-up to get his FREE Softball Tips at http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-tips.html Go Sign-up Now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marc_Dagenais

Check out these coaching articles at the Softball Coaching Digest:
---SoftballCoachingDigest.com
---Articles from the Youth Softball Coaching Clinic Blog
---Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Pitchers Blog
---Articles from the Coaching Fastpitch Softball Hitters Blog
---Articles from the Tips for Fastpitch Softball Coaches Blog
---The Fastpitch Softball Training Equipment Blog

Fastpitch Softball Pitching Takes a Lot of Work

SoftballCoachingDigest.com

By Gregory Covey

Fastpitch softball pitching is much harder than people think. Proper mechanics will make all the difference in the world for accuracy and speed. It must be a natural motion.

My daughter has been a softball pitcher since she first began the game. She has progressed each year but it has not come without a lot of time and effort.

When I talk about mechanics I am speaking about the motion the softball pitcher will go through as they deliver the ball to the plate.

There are some different beliefs as to which motion works best but I will speak to the one she uses since I believe it has worked very well for her, while at the same time not doing any harm to her back, arm, or shoulder since she has been softball pitching.

I am speaking from the perspective of a right handed softball pitcher, since that is what she is.

The first and most important thing is to stand almost straight up with your right foot on the mound and the left foot just behind the mound.

Your left foot big toe should be at the heel of the right foot at shoulder width apart.

This particular element of the softball pitching delivery will save on your daughters back. Many softball pitchers will lean way forward as they prepare to deliver the softball. The pitcher should have their nose just behind their hip. Leaning forward does not help with speed or accuracy. It is simply a bad habit that needs to be corrected.

One law of physics is that any action will have an equal or opposite reaction.

So every motion that your daughter has in her delivery needs to be evaluated so that you are not making unnecessary motions.

The next motion should be to present the ball to the batter. This is in the ASA Softball rules.

Next she raises her hands together with the right hand holding the ball inside the glove hand as if she is praying. They are now up against her chest together.

Then she moves her arms straight out still holding the ball inside the glove hand. The hands are straight out in front at shoulder height. A good way to tell if she is doing this correctly is that it should be blocking her view of the batter and catcher.

Then she separates her hands as she swings them back directly in alignment so that both go just as far back behind her back and at about should height and width apart or so.

Once the right arm swings back completely and starts moving forward is when she should start to be moving forward and pushing off the mound. The legs are a huge part of the speed she will get from her pitch.

Then both arms come forward with the glove hand slowing down and staying out in front almost blocking the view of the batter and catcher again while the right arm keeps swinging around. A great way to know if things are going well to get the most speed from the pitch would be to see the right arm behind at the same height of the left arm in front.

As the right arm continues around she should be pushing hard forward off the mound while stretching out her left leg and foot directly toward the plate. Remember in ASA softball rules a softball pitcher's right foot (if they are a right handed pitcher) can't leave the ground.

One thing to keep in mind is that the left foot as she is stretching out toward the plate should not be pointing up. If you are standing at the plate and you can see the bottom of her foot the left leg is coming to high off the ground in her stretching motion. This is wasting effort that will cost her in her softball pitching speed. Teach her to point her toe toward the batter and this should stop this habit.

The left leg and foot should be planted just as her arm is at her hip. This will cause a tremendous amount of force to be stopped and this is what creates the most speed of all. That sudden stop as she is delivering the ball is a mighty force.

The drag foot should create an opposite question mark like design on the ground behind her. If it is more like a check mark then she is wasting motion and her pitch will slow down. This will also be hard on her body.

I hope this was of some help.

May God Bless You and good luck!

Follow my daughter's softball career on my blog where I discuss the ups and downs that are sometimes embarrassing. Go to Playing Softball.

You can visit my blog where I talk about being a parent and all the struggles we as parents go through. My wife and I have four children and have been married for over 25 years, so we have some experiences to share.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Covey



SoftballrUs.com/FastpitchSoftballSupply.com is the ultimate online fastpitch softball online store. SoftballrUs.com has Batting Trainers,Pitching Training, Training Bats,Defensive Training Equipment,Coaching DVDs & Books, Softball Pitching Machines, Softball Complete Net & Frame Batting Cage Packages, Batting Cage Nets, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, and BatAction Hitting Machines, and much, much more. Visit Softballrus.com now!