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Philosophy

Panther Fastpitch Softball

Program Philosophy

Main Goal:

Get better each day by:

  • Helping others  improve
  • Learn more about the game
  • Knowing your strengths
  • Work on your weaknesses
  • Focus long-term over short-term
  • Make excellence a habit

Priorities:

  *What kind of a team are we going to be?

  • Play Fast
    • o   Pre-game is crisp and orderly
    • o   Run on and off the field, no walking on the field
    • o   Sprint on walks and home runs
  •   Play Hard
    • o    Compete-compete-compete
    • o   Every team will hate to play us
    • o   Look for, expose, and attack weaknesses
  • Play Smart
    • o   Be coachable
    • o   Know the situation, when to take risks
    • o   Make adjustments as a team and as an individual
  • Play together
    • o   Team over self (everyone works toward the same goal)
    • o   A good team will beat great players
    • o   A great player will always make others around him better

*Compete in every game

*  Solely pursuing winning is dangerous

  •    Eliminate ugly wins  (playing up to our potential no matter the opponents level)
  •    Learning from a loss (solely pursuing winning will ruin opportunities to learn)
  •  

*How will you deserve more respect and more playing time?

  •    Show up early
  •    Stay late to work on skills
  •    Personally help others to get better
  •    Be coachable
  •    Hustle everywhere you go
  •    Keep your mind on the task at hand
  •    Volunteer to help out
  •    Encourage you teammates
  •    Shake hands with and thank the officials
  •    Be a good student
  •    Always act in a first class manner 
  •    Come to practice and games prepared

Attitude:

*  Realize that your education comes first. 

*  Maintain good body language at all times

*  Respect everyone, fear no one!

*  Be slow to speak and quick to listen

Offensive Philosophy

Hitting:

*  Main Objectives

  •    Get on base
  •    Move ‘em up
  •    Move  ‘em over
  •    Move  ‘em in

*  Priorities

  •    Be aggressive, make the defense pick up the ball
  •    Hit the first good pitch, you may not get another good one
  •    Do not fear any pitcher
  •    On a 3-2 count,  swing, swing, swing
  •    Take a strike when behind in the lst inning
  •    Runner on 1st-hit behind the runner
  •    Runner on 2nd-hit behind the runner, drive the ball
  •    Runner on 3rd-find some green, don’t get cheated

Base Running:

*  Main Objectives

  •   Always look for an extra base
  •    Force the defense to make a play
  •    Be aggressive yet smart
  •    Make the pitcher think about you on the bases
  •    Anybody can steal bases

*  Priorities

  •    Make up your mind and go all out
  •    Freeze on a line drive
  •    Make the defense force you back to the bag on your secondary lead
  •    Stay alert

Bunting:

*  Only bunt strikes (unless the suicide in on)

*  Get the ball down first, then run

*  Placement is key

*  Frustrate the defense (50% of all bunts result in everyone being safe)

Defensive Philosophy

Keys to Successful Defense

*  Get outs (it’s a race to 21 outs)

*  Play catch

 * Throw through your target

*  Make the routine play

*  Take care of the small stuff

*  Get your feet in front of the ball

Infield play:

*  Attack the ball, don’t wait back

*  Catch the ball away from the body

*  Catch the ball slightly on the glove side of the midline

*  Catch the bottom of the ball

*  Communicate with other infielders

*  Know position priorities

*  Move feet toward the target to throw

*  Be quick, but don’t be in a hurry

*  Everyone has a place to move on every play

*  An extra throw is not always best

Outfield Play:

*  Run to where the ball is going to land, no drifting

*  Communicate with other outfielders

*  Know position priorities

*  Back-up everything

*  Play shallow rather than deep

*  Hit cut-offs

Catching:

*  Be in charge

*  Snap the ball back-a good throw every time

*  Stand up to throw the ball back

*  Know the hitter-know their tendencies/weaknesses

*  Know your pitcher-know her strengths and likes/dislikes

*  Keep everyone in the game

 

Pitching:

*  Main Objectives

  •    We want to challenge hitters
  •    Let the hitters get themselves out
  •    We want to keep our defense in the game by working quickly
  •    Each pitch has a purpose-no wasted pitches (each pitch leads to the next)
  •    Your most important pitch is you next pitch

*  Priorities

  •    Location, location, location (hit your spots)
  •    Change speeds
  •    Movement
  •    Velocity

*  Goals

  •    First pitch strikes
  •    Work quickly (next pitch 8-10 second after receiving ball from catcher)
  •    Less than 3 free bases per game (walks, HBP, etc.)
  •    No missed signs (if you are not sure, step off and meet)
  •    2:1 strike-out to walk ratio
  •    Keep base runners in check (1 pick-off attempt for every 3 runners)

*  What you can control:

  •    Physical and mental preparation for the game
  •    Preparation for next pitch, next hitter
  •    Your response to tough situations
  •    How you bounce back/regroup

*  What you cannot control:

  •    Hits
  •    Runs
  •    Errors
  •   Keys to Pitching Success…
    •    Be a Panther on the prowl. You are the toughest pitcher today. 
    •    The team will take on the personality of the pitcher so have a strong presence.
    •    Work Fast.  Your teammates will love you and your opponents will hate you.
    •    Challenge-challenge-challenge.  Force teams to beat you.
    •    Attack hitters.  Be ferocious in going after hitters.
    •    Nothing gets in your way.  You have a goal for every game/pitch.  GO GET IT!
    •    Be resilient.  Nothing breaks you concentration.
    •  

Panther Softball  Building Blocks for Confidenc

                 1.   Self Evaluation

                 2.   Goals

                 3.    Preparation

                 4.    Persistence

 

“When you choose to become part of a team, you cease to exist as an individual.”     -John Wooden

 

Confidence is arrogance under control.

 

I’m prepared.

I’m confident.

I’m so confident that I pass it on to my teammates. 

I’m so confident; I take it away from my opponents!

MOST OF All, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENERGY I BRING TO THIS SPACE!