In order to be able to fully help your softball players to be good throwers, it helps to have a good understanding of the skill from as many angles as possible. Following is what can referred to as a referent model which can be used for softball throwing analysis that will give you some ideas on how to improve small specific pieces of the skill that need to be refined.
Softball Throwing Analysis
The best way to analyze softball skills is with video analysis. The ability to slow the motion down and see specific movements by the player will allow you to not only take not of the refinements but also allows the player to see it as well. This will be useful in the development of kinesthetic awareness.
Technical / Tactical Skill Factors
We don’t always consider it, but throwing is a technical and tactical skill. How and when the player throws the ball will determine the ultimate success.
Some Technical Errors for Throwing
|
Technical Errors |
Improvement Strategies |
|
No Wrist Snap |
Flip the ball at a wall or snap to partner |
|
Stepping with the wrong foot |
Mirror the movement with athlete |
|
No follow through |
Remind her to point her front shoulder after the throw |
|
Not looking at the target |
Use targets and move the target before throw |
Some Tactical Errors for Throwing
|
Tactical Factors |
Improvement Strategies |
|
throws to incorrect base |
have them stop before throwing |
|
doesn’t know where to |
use practice situations |
|
no confidence in receiver |
reinforce good throwing |
Psychological Requirements
This game that has a lot of psychological barriers for athletes during competition. The psychology of throwing should be a part of the softball throwing analysis and requires skills that are going to have a:
- Narrow focus – making sure to hit the target
- Confidence – feeling capable of making a good throw
- Emotional Control – not worried about the outcome
- Concentration -not distracted by environment and thinking about the process
Some Psychological Challenges for throwing
|
Technical Factors |
Improvement Strategies |
|
Scared to overthrow |
Cue word just before throwing |
|
Not confident about abilities |
Visualization in between |
|
Believes receiver cant catch |
Focus on own skills , talk to the coach |
Physical Requirements
Softball is a power sport that requires the following biomotor skills:
- Coordination – transition to throwing / good mechanics
- Balance – being able to plant the lead foot to start the throw
- Speed strength – strong through full range of motion
- Maximum strength – explosive power on the release
- Flexibility – most productive range of motion of the arm
- Agility – quick footwork in the transition to the throwing motion
Some Physical Challenges for throwing
|
Technical Factors |
Improvement Strategies |
|
Lack of strength |
Therabands / weighted balls |
|
Coordination |
Coordination drills |
|
Flexibility |
Yoga / Post activity stretching |
Performance Outcome Factors
Every softball skill is executed with a desired outcome. That outcome however can be broken down just as the skill itself is. Here are some expected performance outcomes that you might have in throwing analysis.
|
Expected Outcome |
Mechanics / Biomechanics |
|
Accuracy |
Grip |
|
Correct location |
Stride |
|
No effort required by receiver |
Arm / wrist action |
|
High velocity |
Body rotation / wrist snap |
|
Quick transition |
Follow through |
Interventions
As coaches, error detection and correction is what we do. There is a time and a place however for that activity to occur. During competition is generally not the time. Following is a few recommended paths you can take to help your players improve their skills.
|
Intervention |
Timing |
|
Break down the skill |
During practice |
|
Kinesthetic feedback |
During practice |
|
Skill instruction |
During practice |
|
Provide a mentor |
During practice |