With tryouts over and teams selected for the upcoming year, it’s now time to shift your focus to the fall ball season ahead. Whether your team is planning on a fall league, a handful of tournaments, showcases or practices and scrimmages, there are a number of essential skills that can be acquired during this season with the right approach.
Focus on Small Skill Development
Clean fundamentals are often the difference-maker in close games. Fall is one of the best times in a new season to develop muscle memory and get back to the basics – making these skills as flawless and innate as possible. This mindset is applicable to all aspects of the game – from pitching and catching – to offense and defense.
Whether you’ve developed a dip in your swing, a hitch in your throw or an ineffective drag in your pitch, this is the time to break down your mechanics and start rebuilding. Not only does this part of the season allow you to work on these fundamentals during practice, you should also have an opportunity to put them to the test during friendlies and scrimmages.
Learn a New Position
Another common occurrence during the fall season is your coaches moving players around to figure out what works. Even if you’ve only added a few new players to the roster, it’s a critical time to see how those new players and your returning athletes fit together. Someone that was once the starting shortstop may be asked to play second base now because your reach is better on the opposite side of the bag – this is a great way to showcase your team-first mentality, highlight your versatility and add another position under your belt. Don’t be afraid to ask the coach questions about what they expect from a player at that position and any extra drills you can do to improve your chances of seeing the field! Fall is the season of renewal – and this includes baseball and softball teams!
Prepare to Learn New Things
Whether it’s a new team, a new coach or moving up to an older division, be prepared for some changes to the way you’ve been doing things. Softball and baseball are constantly evolving, so the same defensive plays or pitch calling you are used to from the prior years may need to be updated this year. Be open to learning a new way to execute plays in a game, whether it includes changes to coverage in different scenarios, cut-off plays or simply a new repertoire of throwing pitches. And remember, if you don’t understand why you’re doing something the way you’re doing it, don’t be afraid to ask the coach! They will be happy to explain to you what the purpose of the play is – and a firmer understanding of the “why” will help you better execute the “what.”
With the right mindset, fall can be an incredibly beneficial time for softball and baseball players. This season allows you to refine skills, garner new ones and evolve your understanding of the game. Be ready to leave it all out on the field – wherever they put you – and elevate your game to a whole new level!
Did you earn a starting pitching spot and aren’t sure how to evolve your mechanics? Or maybe you’re playing a new position and need to learn the fielding and footwork involved? No matter what part of your game you’re looking to improve, we have instructors ready to help you reach new levels! Call (937) 848-1990 today to learn more about baseball and softball pitching, hitting, catching, throwing and fielding lessons in Dayton!
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