Softball Skills Challenge

The Softball Skills Challenge is composed of 5 skills, designed to test the athlete’s various softball skills.  Each athlete must participate in each event in order to be eligible to win or place in this event.

Defense

Throwing

• distance
• accuracy
• velocity

Fielding

• fly balls
• ground balls
• movement

Pitching

• Velocity
• Control

Catching

• blocking
• throws
• passed ball recovery

Offense

Base Running

• home to first
• first to second
• first to third
• home run

Hitting

• distance
• accuracy

Bunting

• control
• slap bunt

Softball Skills Challenge Event Description

Defense

Throwing for Distance

• Each participant will have 3 attempts to throw softball as far as possible.  A throw will not count if the participant steps on or over the foul line prior to releasing the ball.

Throwing for Accuracy

• Each participant will attempt to throw softballs to a coach from 4 different distances and the bonus distance.
• Participants will have 2 chances at each distance and points can be earned twice at each distance.
• No warm-ups will be allowed at the actual competition area.
• Points will be awarded as follows:

Distance                         Points 
15 feet                               1 point per ball thrown perfectly to the coach
25 feet                              2 points per ball
35 feet                              4 points per ball
40 feet                              5 points per ball
55 feet  *Bonus Ball      10 points – One attempt

• Tie Breaker:  Sudden Death from the 40-foot line.

Throwing Velocity

• During the throwing transition activity, a radar gun will be used to track the velocity of each throw
• The last 3 are counted

Fielding Fly Balls

• A 10ft by 10ft square zone is marked by cones
• A fly ball is hit or thrown anywhere in the zone.
• The participant starts in the middle and must catch the fly ball cleanly with good mechanics
• 5 attempts are made – the last 3 are counted

Fielding Ground Balls

• Cones are set up 20 feet apart with the fielder in the middle.
• The coach hits ground balls from 50 feet away.
• Fielder attempts to field as many ground balls cleanly and make good throws back in 2 minutes.
• 3 attempts are allowed

Catcher – Throw to 2^nd

• Catcher assumes the catching position in full gear
• A runner heads off from 1st to 2nd
• Record the amount of time it takes for the catcher to get up and throw to 2nd base
• 5 attempts are made – best 3 attempts are recorded

Catcher – Blocking

• Catcher assumes catching position in full gear
• A coach throws balls at the dirt within a marked area
• The catcher blocks the balls with good mechanics
• 3 attempts at 5 blocks per attempt – success out of 5 is recorded

Catcher – Passed Ball Recovery

• Catcher assumes catching position in full gear
• A coach throws balls passed the catcher
• The catcher gets to the ball and tosses it to home plate
• 5 are made – best 3 are recorded

Pitching for Control

• Each player will make 10 pitches towards home plate
• The object of the event will be to have as many balls as possible hit the target – a coaches glove in a specific location
• One warm up will be allowed

Pitching Velocity

• During the Pitching for Accuracy, velocity will be recorded with the radar gun.
• The highest 3 numbers will be recorded

Offensive Skills

Base Running Timing

• Home to 1st
  • Start in a batting position

• 1st to 2nd .
  • use pitcher for timing

• 2nd to 3rd

• Home Run

Hitting for Distance

• Each participant gets 5 hits
• The furthest 3 distances are recorded

Hitting for Accuracy

• The field will be divided into 3 areas.
• Each hitter will get 7 hits
  • a foul, foul tip, or home run will count as a hit, but no points.
• Hitters must provide their own pitcher.
• Points will be awarded as follows:

1. A fair ground ball hit into any of the 3 sections            1 point
2. A line drive that lands in the left or right section         2 points
3. A line drive lands in the center section                           3 points
4. Hitting every section                                                           1 Bonus Point
5. Infield Fly Ball that land in the infield will not count for points.

Bunting – Control

• The participants will get 9 pitches
  • 3 bunts down the 3rd Baseline
  • 3 bunts down the 1st baseline
  • 3 bunts right in front of the catcher out of immediate reach
• For each successful bunt that does not foul off or is missed, an additional point will be added

Bunting – Running Slap

• The participants will get 3 pitches
• They will get a point for each successful running slap bunt