Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com

Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com
[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]

About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Not Javy Baez on October 4, 2025, 10:43 am

I noticed a college coach at a horse show type camp working with infielders and focusing exclusively on slot throws and throwing on the run. I thought it a bit new wave and strange.
Then I discovered this practice becoming common at colleges and even by elite travel programs. Again, I thought the fad of extreme focus on this technique would pass. I was wrong about the fad passing by my gut was correct about the over-use of the technique.
When a softball infielder unnecessarily makes a throw while on the move they have increased the likelihood of making an errant throw. Further increasing the difficulty of a throw just to look slick or smooth ultimately will burn you. I recently watched a P4 bound SS twice in the same game make throws to first base while on the run. In both situations the SS should have planted her back foot and made the throw. In this case the result was good on one throw and an error on the other throw.
Thoughts?

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Coach on October 9, 2025, 8:33 am, in reply to "About 1200 games ago…"

I have a college player that is a slapper and plays third base. Throwing on the run to beat a slapper is a very low percentage play. Because my daughter has the foot speed and the arm strength she does not need the low percentage throw on the run to beat a slapper. I will admit, she did do it at camps during recruiting because that is what coaches wanted to see.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Go Bears on October 5, 2025, 6:02 pm, in reply to "About 1200 games ago…"

I will be closely watching this!

I suspect you may be on to something.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @Not on October 5, 2025, 1:16 pm, in reply to "About 1200 games ago…"

Interesting observation. I think it depends on each individual play. Here is what I would say from my experience. My daughter was a D1 pitcher who had a great drop ball. Over her 5 year career (Covid year) and close to 700 total innings, I can't tell you how many soft infield grounders to SS, 3B, and 2B she induced with her drop. Thank God her team had solid and vey athletic infielders who could throw from the slot and on the run. They saved so many infield hits for her on poorly hit balls. So I would say infielders practicing this drills are essential. Solid team defenses in this regard is critical in my book.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Captain obvious on October 4, 2025, 2:50 pm, in reply to "About 1200 games ago…"

Just a thought... Maybe practicing it helps the errant throws

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Dansby Anyway on October 4, 2025, 2:11 pm, in reply to "About 1200 games ago…"

I think your point about throwing in the run being emphasized is valid. My daughter went to Camp Healy and they seemed more interested in 1% of the throws than the 99% of throws that make a difference.

Throwing in the run is way more of a baseball thing.
Get the damn out and quit throwing the ball down the RF line!

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @Dansby on October 5, 2025, 2:32 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

I don't think you could be more wrong about your statement that throwing on the run way more a baseball thing.

There are far more close plays at first base in softball than there is in baseball. Which means there is more use for throwing on the run.

When was the last time you watched a baseball game? Infielders in baseball have all day to throw the ball in comparison to a softball game.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @Dansby on October 5, 2025, 11:22 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

If you’re a high level SS and you’re defending an elite slapper, you had better be able to throw on the run. Or she’s safe all day.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @@Dansby on October 5, 2025, 12:25 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

I wondered when that would come up. My daughter played four years at SS in the Big Ten, and I'd say 40% of the plays were thrown on the run. Travel and HS can get away with waiting, but athletes are better in college.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Not what I witnessed on October 5, 2025, 7:58 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

My DD played C and recently finished her career. My eyes saw 95% of throws being made by planting your feet and squaring your shoulders.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Analogy on October 6, 2025, 8:45 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Agree the throw on the run is overrated. Coaches stressing during training are making a mistake.
If a basketball coach spent 10 minutes each practice working on 1/2 court buzzer beaters instead of taking that 10 minute to work on finishing your shot in the paint with your off-hand it would be ridiculous. My eyes tell me softball coaches are working too much on 1/2 court buzzer beaters.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by LMAO@Analogy on October 6, 2025, 3:25 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

What a dumb post. 2B, SS, 3B had better be ready for elite slappers to work them over if they can't throw on the run.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by On the move on October 6, 2025, 6:11 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

I think the writer has a point.

Do girls throw it on the run unnecessarily at times increasing the level of difficulty? Yes!
Are they being trained to throw it on the run? Yes!
If you do not need to throw it on the run should you plant your feet then throw it? Yes!

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by ESPN on October 8, 2025, 8:45 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

You hear college coaches talking about the IFers ability to make all the throws. On the run, from all the angles. The reason it’s practiced so much is because it is difficult.

You know what makes it less difficult? Practicing it regularly.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @ESPN on October 8, 2025, 9:08 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Exactly, well said.

I guess the other poster's premise is that most of the ball will be hit directly to you, or move slowly enough that you can run around the ball path and set your feet. I'm not sure that's the college game. If you can set your feet, cool, otherwise make the play.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Watching on October 8, 2025, 9:37 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

I watch this stuff closely. Certainly the girls need to be able to make all the throws,BUT way way way too many throwing errors are made by not setting your feet and increasing the level of difficulty needlessly. I think the original point was valid.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by 2.7 seconds on October 8, 2025, 11:39 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

OK. Go get the ball, stop, set your feet, and throw the ball. That means every slapper is SAFE at 1B. But that's ok, it was a good throw.

You want to double the importance of slappers? Train your innies to always stop, set, then throw. Setting fastpitch softball back 20 years.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by traffic cop on October 8, 2025, 10:18 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

How about you two get together with some nice mango trulys in the parking lot so that the rest of us can go on with our lives. Side note, watcher-with-giant-ego, you are right about setting one's feet when you can. But other-guy is more right about using ones athleticism and practicing other arm angles. Concessions also feature pineapple, I'm told, enjoy!

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Bottom Line on October 8, 2025, 1:46 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Let's not stop teaching our female athletes something just because it's a difficult skill. These girls are strong enough, athletic enough, and very capable of acquiring this skill. Quit putting limits on them.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @Bottom Line on October 8, 2025, 2:31 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Sarcasm? .. I hope.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Bottom Line on October 8, 2025, 3:01 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Have you read the posts? We don't want our girls doing this because it's too hard and occasionally creates an error.

Go back to sleep.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Arguing facts not in evidence on October 8, 2025, 3:30 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Nobody wrote that the technique is not necessary. Wow!
You just got laughed out of court.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @Arguing on October 9, 2025, 10:39 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

They posted that it’s practiced too much. And they should stop because it creates throwing errors. (ie. too hard).

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Betty on October 9, 2025, 1:28 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Time to send these girls back to home ec.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by EagleEye on October 9, 2025, 6:06 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Learning how to throw on the run is about learning how perform under pressure. If a player can confidently perform that skill it makes the more routine situations feel slower so they can make more accurate throws.

How many times have you seen interviews with NFL rookies who say the game is slowing down for them? The game isn't slower. They've adjusted their play to the speed of the game.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Senior Smoke on October 10, 2025, 9:51 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

That’s true!

But are infielders throwing on the run when not necessary causing more throwing errors?

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @Senior Smoke on October 10, 2025, 11:40 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

It's all instinct. Good infielders are moving through the balls and throwing on the run. If a ball catches you flat-footed, plant and throw. Instincts come from repetition, which is why team practices are essential.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @@senior smoke on October 10, 2025, 6:04 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

If team practices are so essential why are the Beverly Bandits, so good? The older Bandit teams practice about 2 times per year as a team.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by @@@Senior Smoke on October 11, 2025, 9:23 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Because the benefit of better athletes from different geographic areas outweighs the benefit of practicing together as an infield, at some point in their career, they practiced as an infield, and when my kid was a Bandit player and coach, when they were together, it was pretty much scrimmages and live pitching.

Also, why do college teams practice as a team if it's not beneficial?

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by Truth on October 10, 2025, 9:48 am, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

Elite level infielders accurately throw on the run every day. With relative ease in fact, because they practice it regularly.

Re: About 1200 games ago…

Posted by But But But on October 10, 2025, 4:27 pm, in reply to "Re: About 1200 games ago…"

But why do it when it is not necessary!

« Back to index

[ Midwest Fastpitch - keeptheboardcorrect@gmail.com ]