You are absolutely 100% on the money. I've seen coaches put a girl at SS who has an absolute gun of an arm but Zero range and bobbles a ton of ground balls and doesn't have SS instincts instead of a girl that has it all with a good arm but not a howitzer. Great Job Coach I enjoy your videos.
thanks for watching! and yes, shortstop is HARD. There's a reason only the few can stick at that position as they rise through the ranks. Hats off to all the true shortstops out there
Question as I’m watching this - will colleges recruit a SS that isn’t exactly what they want at SS, but they have a need at 2nd or 3rd? Or do they recruit position specific?
most big schools pick every shortstop they can, then convert SSs into 2Bs and 3Bs. In baseball, they draft SSs and let them fight it out in the Minor Leagues. If you can play short, you can play anywhere else in the infield, but it doesnt work the other way.
I agree. The only thing I’d like to be reinforced on here is that the kids who are on that cusp … may just need additional and better training. When I was in highschool I was always quick but not considered that fast by most. My time from home to first was around 3.4 seconds when I was 15. My weights teacher at the time must have seen potential with me because he said he saw moments of speed and that I could develop it with additional training and losing some weight (I was about 180 at this point ) for the next year we worked on speed and agility and strength training. the following year I was clocked home to first at 2.65seconds (indoors) . The varsity coaches literally didn’t believe that I beat the time of their top slap hitter so they had me run it again. After that, I ended up becoming the usually the top 1 or 2 fastest players on my future teams as I continued to train. To make it even a more odd combo, I was a left handed pitcher who ended up being the lead off slapper. I also didn’t look that fast, not the typical small build that you see. I had gotten down to around 165 lbs at 5’5” and consistently got to first base in 2.7 seconds or under outside on the dirt. I understand this doesn’t always happen, but from a coach’s perspective It’s absolutely imperative to recognize those who have that potential that hasn’t been tapped into yet and encourage them To develop it. What I learned from that growth carried over into my life outside of softball and what i could accomplish. Only telling my personal experiences for kids who may see this, be close in skill, but possibly lacking with their quickness or other areas. Also, I wish a lot of parents would understand just because their kid doesn’t play SS it doesn’t mean they can’t rock another position. My daughter is a softball player and I remain extremely objective when it comes to her skill level (but very supportive). when parents can’t do that they’re just hurting their own kid in the process when they end up having a coach who has players start based on skill and not politics. -former player and current coach
Yep - 100%. I'm a late bloomer myself - I didnt get a scholarship, walked on to a small D1, and later turned pro. The goal here was to build proper expectations, and the intent was more that, if you don't have these skills TODAY, you're not a shortstop TODAY, though I perhaps could have articulated that better. thanks for the comment.
I can honestly say my daughter does possess the 5 criteria you outlined. She is starting 2nd year of U12 and her new coach specifically picked her for his team to play SS. She has played the position on/off over past two years but never regularily typically because she was used a utility player as kids were rotated around. In addition she pitched as well by now watching her play short exclusively, I can see her developing into that position. I have interest in your "she's got a cannon" program, but would rather have a one on one discussion about the program before I sign up. Let me know. Thanks for your great videos.
@@SnapSoftball This is very true. The vast majority of parents are great and let me do my job. Its just that the one or two make things miserable and it's to forget that 1 girl's parents out of 12 really isn't bad.
I think it's best to have someone locally do that - someone who knows her better and has seen her play at length. Sending me videos wouldn't be as effective, not a good use of your money.
I’m a freshman in high-school and I really want to play in college. My main position is pitcher. I have an amazing range of pitches (curve,change,rise,drop,fast,screw), but speed is my dilemma. I’m not as tall or big as most pitchers, but i can still strikeout hitters. I’ve been getting into strength training. Do you think i could still play in college even with my size? (5’3 115 lbs throws mid 50s)
You are absolutely 100% on the money. I've seen coaches put a girl at SS who has an absolute gun of an arm but Zero range and bobbles a ton of ground balls and doesn't have SS instincts instead of a girl that has it all with a good arm but not a howitzer. Great Job Coach I enjoy your videos.
thanks for watching! and yes, shortstop is HARD. There's a reason only the few can stick at that position as they rise through the ranks. Hats off to all the true shortstops out there
Question as I’m watching this - will colleges recruit a SS that isn’t exactly what they want at SS, but they have a need at 2nd or 3rd? Or do they recruit position specific?
most big schools pick every shortstop they can, then convert SSs into 2Bs and 3Bs. In baseball, they draft SSs and let them fight it out in the Minor Leagues. If you can play short, you can play anywhere else in the infield, but it doesnt work the other way.
@@jdampier1 colleges want a SS at every position in softball.
I agree. The only thing I’d like to be reinforced on here is that the kids who are on that cusp … may just need additional and better training. When I was in highschool I was always quick but not considered that fast by most. My time from home to first was around 3.4 seconds when I was 15.
My weights teacher at the time must have seen potential with me because he said he saw moments of speed and that I could develop it with additional training and losing some weight (I was about 180 at this point ) for the next year we worked on speed and agility and strength training. the following year I was clocked home to first at 2.65seconds (indoors) . The varsity coaches literally didn’t believe that I beat the time of their top slap hitter so they had me run it again. After that, I ended up becoming the usually the top 1 or 2 fastest players on my future teams as I continued to train.
To make it even a more odd combo, I was a left handed pitcher who ended up being the lead off slapper. I also didn’t look that fast, not the typical small build that you see. I had gotten down to around 165 lbs at 5’5” and consistently got to first base in 2.7 seconds or under outside on the dirt. I understand this doesn’t always happen, but from a coach’s perspective It’s absolutely imperative to recognize those who have that potential that hasn’t been tapped into yet and encourage them To develop it. What I learned from that growth carried over into my life outside of softball and what i could accomplish.
Only telling my personal experiences for kids who may see this, be close in skill, but possibly lacking with their quickness or other areas.
Also, I wish a lot of parents would understand just because their kid doesn’t play SS it doesn’t mean they can’t rock another position. My daughter is a softball player and I remain extremely objective when it comes to her skill level (but very supportive). when parents can’t do that they’re just hurting their own kid in the process when they end up having a coach who has players start based on skill and not politics.
-former player and current coach
Yep - 100%. I'm a late bloomer myself - I didnt get a scholarship, walked on to a small D1, and later turned pro. The goal here was to build proper expectations, and the intent was more that, if you don't have these skills TODAY, you're not a shortstop TODAY, though I perhaps could have articulated that better. thanks for the comment.
I can honestly say my daughter does possess the 5 criteria you outlined. She is starting 2nd year of U12 and her new coach specifically picked her for his team to play SS. She has played the position on/off over past two years but never regularily typically because she was used a utility player as kids were rotated around. In addition she pitched as well by now watching her play short exclusively, I can see her developing into that position. I have interest in your "she's got a cannon" program, but would rather have a one on one discussion about the program before I sign up. Let me know. Thanks for your great videos.
sure. shoot me an email here: www.snapsoftball.com/connect/
College or scholarships should not be the goal. Let the game teach you lessons about life. And this is from a former college baseball coach.
100% now can get all 12u parents to watch this!!!
Coached youth baseball in the 90s… couldn’t do it now as everyone thinks they’re more knowledgeable than the coach
most parents are good, but a few bad apples make it feel rough.
@@SnapSoftball This is very true. The vast majority of parents are great and let me do my job. Its just that the one or two make things miserable and it's to forget that 1 girl's parents out of 12 really isn't bad.
yeah, thats life, the way we're wired. We remember that one bad bike crash with more detail than the 1000s of scenic miles.
How can I get you to evaluate my daughter to see if she should keep going or try something else?
I think it's best to have someone locally do that - someone who knows her better and has seen her play at length. Sending me videos wouldn't be as effective, not a good use of your money.
More people in my hometown should watch these videos! Everyone here wants to be a ss! 😎
I’m a freshman in high-school and I really want to play in college. My main position is pitcher. I have an amazing range of pitches (curve,change,rise,drop,fast,screw), but speed is my dilemma. I’m not as tall or big as most pitchers, but i can still strikeout hitters. I’ve been getting into strength training. Do you think i could still play in college even with my size? (5’3 115 lbs throws mid 50s)
Yeah maybe. Keep working. Being a freshman means you still have a few years to develop and improve your velocity.
Does the size of the girl make a difference
Truth hurts