Setting Up A Batter

The weekly WHATCHAMACALLIT should be considered by all players of the game.  As a batter, or as a fielder (especially pitchers/catchers)...

What does it mean to 
"set up a batter"?

 HINT...

Answer: The pitcher and catcher have a perfect opportunity to strike out a batter by having a gameplan.  One example would be to throw two inside fastballs then throw an outside fastball.  To catch a batter off guard might mean to throw a change-up followed by a fastball, or vice-versa.  It is also important to have a total game plan.  It is important not to throw a changeup in the first inning, so by the second time you face each batter, they don't know you even have this off-speed pitch.  A total game plan might mean starting the first three batters with inside fastballs, then to the fourth batter throw an outside fastball to start.  Predictability is key.  If a girl is crowding the plate, push them off with an inside pitch, if a girl is too far away from home, then throw them something they cannot reach.  If a girl reaches for an outside pitch, throw them another one even further out to see if they will chase it.  

Bunt Situation

The weekly WHATCHAMACALLIT puts you in the position of a pitcher. What is your response to a bunted ball? A nicely laid bunt likely prevents a play at any base but first. In this case, what is a pitcher to do?

Your WHATCHAMACALLIT of the week is to comment with your answer to each of these two questions:

1. If the bunt is laid down down the left-field line, what fielder has a better chance of getting the out?
2. If the bunt is laid down the right-field line, what fielder has a better chance of getting the out?

Answer:

1. A well placed bunt down the left field line is definitely best handled by the 3rd baseman.  She has the best angle at the ball, and more importantly, the best angle for the throw at first.  And furthermore, the third baseman is standing in the baseline preventing any runners from scoring, just by standing there.

2. Bunts down the first base line are a little more difficult.  Think of it this way: as a pitcher, you can move into fielding position as soon as the ball leaves your fingertips.  A catcher must wait to receive the pitch, or at least until the batter bunts the pitch and runs out of the way.  So though one-in-a-million catchers may be able to jump out and get that bunt rolling down the first base line, it is better decided that the pitcher has to take control.  The pitcher has a slightly better angle than the first baseman, and the pitcher should already be moving in hard as the batter squares for the bunt.  So PITCHERS - be on your toes!  This ball is YOURS!  Catcher - your job is to tell her to keep going after it, and to call which base she should throw at.

Thanks for your first comments girls!  Good job on week one! 

Let's Interact!

We are going to use the month of January
as a "Power Boost" into the season.
While pushing our bodies toward strength and power, we are going to work our minds as well! I hope you enjoy this interactive website. Feel free to watch the video's and to look through past history... you may see photos of yourself and video's of your friends!


To start, lets get to know each other.
Tell us your favorite part about softball.
And tell us why!

• Remember to stay safe on the internet so don't ever post your full name! See, I'm "Coach Jordyn" - you can create a unique name too!
• To respond click on the "comments" link below this text, next to the envelope image.
• Feel free to comment on any other posts too!

January Boost

Ok girls, 2010 is upon us, with only a few months until the sun will be shining and dirt will be on our cleats. January is the month where we have to put in the hardest work, otherwise we will spend the rest of the season trying to make up for lost time.

This is a famous quote that we will focus on this month:

If you don't have the time to do it right, when will you have the time to do it again?

If you can commit to working hard this month, you will own the explosion and drive to conquer the next month or so of training, and in-turn, you will control your destiny this season. Lets use our personalized workouts and commit 100% to it. Reaching our goals means a commitment in January that will pave the way for spring diamonds!

Lets do this!

Focus. Commitment. And Drive!

Have a great break!

Warm wishes and cheers to all of the families involved in My Softball Training. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Coach Jordyn and David Bibiloni. We are enjoying the winter snow in Erie, PA and will see you all in 2010! Yipee!!

Winter is for training

I came across this great core exercises, and had to post this for anyone interested in strengthening your core. That should be everyone who wants to play a sport. The core muscles are the most important muscles on your body. Your core actually will help in injury prevention because without a strong core, bad habits begin to form and injuries follow. Check out this drill by Monica Abbott's trainer for a killer workout:

Winter Stretching = Power Pitching Ability

It's time to start stretching and getting our body ready to pitch again. Since we will be really kicking ourselves into high gear in December, it is important to initiate this plan with core strength exercises and stretching. This way our muscles will be loose and flexible, and ready to be worked hard, so we can get better, fast!

One way to strengthen your wrist muscle is using the "Rice Bucket Exercise". Here is a great video I found which shows how we are going to do this. The rice bucket exercise is a great way to strengthen all of the muscles involved in the wrist rotation, so each breaking ball will have a better chance of... breaking!



Vanderbilt University Baseball Exercise- Rice Bucket - Watch more Funny Videos

Winter Workouts

I hope all softball players have had the opportunity to take some time off this month of November. It is important to take time off mentally and physically so we can get back into pitching again with excitement and fresh muscles!

December should really be the first time you are throwing again, and if it's January, you can probably get away with that unless you are planning on pitching varsity for high school. (Just being honest).
I hope you are enjoying this time off, but you may be asking yourself... So what do we start with in December?

The off-season is the best time to break down your pitching mechanics. Watching video's online of pitchers with good mechanics such as Kat Osterman and Jennie Finch will help you get an idea of what we are going for. But everyone has their own style and bone structure/muscle buildup... so everyone will look a little different. Basically - winter is to break down mechanics and see how absolutely HARD we can throw. Building power is our December goal. This is also a great month to begin working on developing new pitches, so you have plenty of time to practice before game-day!

So, enjoy your break... A few tools that you might help "whip you into shape" this winter include:

• RevFire: proof of your speed and power is in this machine; it tracks speed and rotation on the ball to help us see where we need to focus our work on.
• Stopwatch: we will be working speed for time and there is nothing better than a basic stopwatch to tally our progress in number of exercises in a time frame (pitches, pushups, burpees, squats, sprints, etc)
• Power Bands and Tubing: want to use all you've got? How about building that to give even more! These bands and tubes will help with resistance training to build your strength.
• Weighted Balls: whether you are developing a new pitch, or improving your fastball, a weighted ball will help strengthen your wrist to improve your snap.
  

It's That Time Again

The cold weather is creeping in, and soon little white flakes will cover the fields. This is a great month (October and November if you can spare it) to take a REST! I call this "hibernation" time.

My pitchers: you have done a fantastic job this year and we have basically been throwing since December... You need a break; mentally and physically! Now is the time to take advantage of no softball practices. Yes, you may be finishing up a few last games or one last tournament, but when fall ball is over, TAKE A BREAK! You will then be refreshed and excited to come back in 2010 to being working hard towards the spring seasons. I am already getting excited myself!

Wondering what to do without softball? "Hibernation" workouts are daily exercises that you can be doing that don't specifically involve softball, but are still helping you gain core strength.
Every day before or after your shower/bath, hold a plank position for 30 seconds. Every night before crawling into bed, do an additional 30 seconds. YES - even if you just take a shower before bed - 60 seconds a day isn't a lot to ask, is it?

For my older girls: try 20 push-ups instead of planks! P.S."Neck Peckes" don't count; real push-ups do, even if you want to start with modified (knees on the ground) push-ups.

If you have a stress ball, use it to strengthen your wrists while watching t.v. at night.

If you have the time, you can work a little on your pitch speed by doing windmill snaps into your glove. Just make sure you don't miss inside the house EEK!

Enjoy!

Eating For Performance...

Another post that is worth bringing up: eating for performance. While we are not going in depth calorie counting or watching our weight, it is important to consume proteins and other foods which will give you energy to "show your stuff" out on the softball diamond!

Suggested Pre-Exercise Foods
Eating before exercise is something only the athlete can determine based upon experience, but some general guidelines include eating a solid meal 4 hours before exercise, a snack or a high carbohydrate energy drink 2 to 3 hours before exercise, and...(sports drink) 1 hour before exercise.

1 hour or less before intense workout/competition

• fruit or vegetable juice such as orange, tomato, or V-8, and/or
• fresh fruit such as apples, watermelon, peaches, grapes, or oranges and/or
• Energy gels
• up to 1 1/2 cups of a sports drink.

2 to 3 hours before intense workout/competition

• fresh fruit
• fruit or vegetable juices
• bread, bagels
• low-fat yogurt
• sports drink

3 to 4 hours before intense workout/competition

• fresh fruit
• fruit or vegetable juices
• bread, bagels
• pasta with tomato sauce
• baked potatoes
• energy bar
• cereal with low-fat milk
• low-fat yogurt
• toast/bread with limited peanut butter, lean meat, or low-fat cheese
• 30 oz of a sports drink

Information retrieved from http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/sportsnutrition/a/EatForExercise.htm.


For more nutrition information, check out StackMagazine's article: Baseball Nutrition Plan.

Overall, eating the right foods at the right times is crucial. #1 HYDRATE as much as possible. Water is the BEST thing for you, no matter what the commercials say. And #2: eat the right foods before competition, pack peanut butter crackers or trailmix on-the-go.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to call or email me!