by moosemcnair@aol.com » Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:54 am
Hi guys,
Yes, I am the so called insane coach who had the ten 10U practices in December. I also agree that rest is good and that kids should be kids. When I posted that statement, I posted it in the Tryout section, looking to add another player to the team. It was said to entice a player to a very active 10U team, and ward away any player not serious.
I too think that sports have changed and in many ways, not always for the better. Due to specialization in softball and all the sports(Volleyball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, swimming, gymnastics) there are some very strong positives and negatives for the health of young athletes. While some of the positives include background checks, coaches that teach better fundamentals and understand how to properly train young athletes, especially teaching them proper warm up and down techniques. These coaches might also teach better hydration and nutrition then the old gym teacher/coach of the past. Hopefully these coaches also understand how to reduce wear and tear on the joints and ligaments of these young athletes. Understand how to lower stress levels and recognize signs of burn out in athletes. Most certainly they know better first aid practices and how concussions are treated has come around miles from the old days. Well actually maybe all 10U and other age groups coaches aren't always the best and have studied and done their homework for years on how to watch out for the safety of their players, so making sure you get a good, experienced. level headed coach is important. At 10U is is even more critical. Other important things are, does he or she help these young players develop a passion for the sport.
Now the negatives, Year round practices, games and training. Less opportunities to cross train and use other muscle groups by playing other sports. Playing other sports not only reduces the amount of overuse injuries, study after study concludes playing multiple sports as a young athlete is very beneficial to young athletes. Other problems are being so over burdened with the time it takes to play serious travel sports, can create stress and burn out. Overuse injuries are huge and you hear of college girls with no cartridge in their shoulder at 21, all too often. It's not to cool that your DD can't reach her arm up over her head in her early twenties!
I jut want to clarify that we did practice the ten times in a month. I also want to assure you that while I am insane and I believe and say that anyone involved in travel sports is insane is not a joke, but a fact. I will tell you that I myself, don't know what to do with myself if my team can't practice at times. Here is what I have learned over the years and here is how these 10 practices went down. First I am a safety first guy and require all my players to wear masks at practice, even when I coached older age groups. I run a high paced energetic practice with balls flying all over the place at times. I want to make sure as a coach that all these girls get to go to their Senior Proms with their real teeth!!!. I make sure the girls are properly warmed up. We run dynamic warmups that are supervised and a team jog. Their arms are warmed up properly with massive focus on proper throwing techniques. While some of the warm ups might be overkill for 10U's, it teaches them to properly warm up for life and sets forth that culture! I don't allow kids to throw the ball with out proper technique. If they are, I stop them immediately and address the issue as well as discuss it with their parent. We come up with a plan(usually drills) to fix the problem and monitor it, pushing for constant progress until the technique is corrected. I am not a big fan of long toss for young athletes and limit long toss as well as supervise it, making the girls use their legs and throw with proper fundamentals.
Our first drills in practice are roll out drills (these roll outs are 30 minutes to 45 minutes of practice). We roll out balls and stress receiving it forehead down, with a good fielding triangle, top hand and footwork, the player then runs the ball to a bucket with no throws(great cardio). We do charge it drills, left and right, choppers, short hops, bare hands, without throwing just to save the kids arms. These girls have very strong and accurate arms and over throwing will only invite injury now and way down the road. We then do throw, but stress setting the feet and shorten the distance to first base in order to let the kids learn different types of throws(off the opposite foot, throwing from low, backhands,and across the body) that they should learn to feel and be introduced to doing these types of advanced throws for the future. All the while we stress foot work and setting the feet. This is again to ensure we preserve their arms.
We do batting circle, where the girls warm up their swing before batting. We even have a matrix drill where they swing in slow motion, as part of the warm up.
I keep a close eye on them and make it clear that they are to report any soreness or pain. If I notice anything out of the ordinary, I immediately ask them to come over and question them as to if something hurts.
We carry 3 main pitchers and never pitch a girl more then 1 1/2 games on a Saturday or Sunday at 10U! I see pitchers overused way to much! We also have a 4th pitcher who gets all the innings when we are way ahead or behind. My own daughter is one of the pitchers and the third female pitcher in the family. So, I am aware of preventive measures and suggest pro-ice after pitching for the day even at 10 years old to reduce inflammation.
As the head coach, I vary the routine at practice, so they have different drills that use different muscles at times. By shaking it up and varying the routine, the young girls have more fun and are less likely to suffer burn out! We have contests and sometimes just have fun, like making our own snow cones right at practice!
I am an advocate of more shorter training sessions rather then less longer sessions. I prefer that young pitchers warm up and pitch for 15 minutes 4 to 5 times a week, rather then 2 or 3 times for an hour, throwing pitch after pitch, that has no bearing on how a real game happens. By throwing more often for 10 to 15 minutes after a full warm up of overhand and X to I drills from short distances and finally from the full distance, it allows young girls to gain better muscle memory and command of their pitches. they have better attention spans for 20 minutes then an hour plus. They have time to do other things they like(trampolines or swimming) and more time for homework and relaxing after a long day at school. Others may disagree, but I also like them to hit 1 bucket of balls off a tee 5 days a week with different drills. It takes 10 minutes and by doing it 5 days a week for only 10 minutes, the body and swing memory is outstanding!
6 of these practices were indoor and we had the field for a hour, followed by hitting for an hour. Far from the Japanese Little league teams routines. The other 4 were on dirt and were 3 hours with short breaks.(being honest) Never did the kids complain, but most are always surprised when it's over! They say "THAT WAS 3 HOURS!"
So in this crazy travel ball world, I am guilty of wanting to win as much as anybody else, but not at the expense of 10 year olds bodies. I always say this is a sprint and a marathon. That means I have to teach them to have proper techniques and culture now, with some winning and a solid passion for the game, as well as the tools and experience to play at the highest level they pursue in their softball careers.
I am sure you still think I am nuts and are overdoing it on 10U athletes, and I am nuts, because this whole travel softball sport is nuts. However, I love coaching the girls and seeing them develop. Most of them show an amazing passion for the game and I do my best to help them to have a fun, healthy, rewarding experience! If you still don't believe it, maybe someone else does!!! By the way good luck Robert, and thanks for standing up for me, I think!!!
Coach Moose/Universal Fastpitch 10U (415)699-3848