Softball for boys

[Music] softball is one of America's most popular outdoor games for spectators and for players we're going to look into some of the fundamental techniques of pitching catching fielding and batting and we'll see that softball is a team game demanding constant cooperation among the members of the team working especially close together are the pitcher and catcher let's concentrate first on the pitcher alone and here's an expert to demonstrate hurling techniques within the rules of the game the pitcher has room to develop many kinds of pitching curves drops a rise ball and a fast ball most important of these is the ordinary fast ball for the fast ball delivery is made from the tips of two fingers and the thumb with the Palm up the pitcher takes his stance both feet touching the plate both hands on the ball he takes one step forward as he brings his pitching arm back then the arm comes swinging through in the pitch watch again the technique for throwing a fast ball see how arm and body follow through all the way curves are delivered by making the ball rotate a Twist to the right gives you an in curve breaking in toward a right-handed batter the opposite twist produces an out curve breaking away from a right-handed patter here's the in curve to deliver a drop ball hold the ball like this and deliver it off the fingertips with a forward spin watch the ab up drop the soft ball pitcher can also deliver a deceptive slow ball which will confuse the batter even in slow motion the slow ball delivery looks almost exactly like the fast ball but look the ball is held between three fingers and the thumb palm of the hand downward thus the ball slides from the fingers going to the batter much more slowly than the fast ball with a similar grip by using the wrist and fingers to give it a back spin the ball may be made to rise or curve upward here's the rise ball here's that slow ball and here's the all important fast ball in a game one of the catcher's most important duties is to size up the batter and signal for the particular pitch that he feels will make the batter strike out or hit into an easy out the catcher's mitt is the target for the pitcher put it right there all right back up let's see how the boys play the game signals get set for the pitch there it is strike and an easy toss back to the pitcher let's try a rise ball on this batter and make him hit under the ball tossing off his mask the catcher gets under the ball and takes it for the out again an easy snap toss back to the pitcher let's see that again ball back just behind the ear a snap of the wrist completes the throw this snap throw is accurate and fast for short distances notice that the catcher hands give slightly in receiving the ball teamwork between pitcher and catcher can't always prevent hits there he goes center fielder has his eye on the ball and a speedy return to the infield holds the runner at first and now on the first pitch to the next batter the runner tries to steal second but a fast snap throw a second and it's two out the catcher's fingers extend upward for a pitch above the waist fingers down for a low pitch now a hard grounder that draws the first baseman off his base as the pitcher covers the base the catcher moves down to back up the play three out while the new team in the field warms up let's watch some of their techniques infielders frequently use an underhand whip throw like this sometimes an accurate short toss saves time slow motion shows how one smooth continuous motion gets the ball away fast reaching to meet the ball the first baseman keeps his foot on the base whenever possible all right play ball keep your eye on the second baseman he gets in front of that grounder and then a quick whip nails the runner at first remember in playing grounders move in fast in front of the ball make your throw part of the motion of picking up the ball outfielders Play Bouncing Balls the same way one out and the second batters up it's a hit but the center fielder gets it to hold the runner at first here comes the next batter and we're going to see some fast infield teamwork short stop and second baseman cooperate in covering the base and it's a neat double play to end the inning to start the next inning here is a left-handed hitter the outfielders generally play nearer right field for a left-handed hitter a high fly right fielder moves quickly to take it and throw it in to the infield let's watch that play again an outfielder needs a sharp eye to judge flies and get under them then a forward stride and full follow through add power to his throw what chance has the batter against all this defense teamwork here in slow motion is good batting form a side stride starts the swing the bat moves parallel to the ground and a full follow through adds power notice too that the batter keeps his eye on the ball until the instant it meets the bat a full hard swing meeting the ball squarely has good chances of becoming a hit but even a powerful long hit can sometimes be caught for the put out and good Fielding ends the inning what's this the new team at bat seems to be plotting something the batter is rare in the goal the fielders size him up and play to the left which is just what the batter wants because now he's all set to place a hit in right field the next batter will try to advance his teammate to Second here's one way a sacrifice bunt the batter goes out but now there's a runner on second let's take another look at that punt on the pitch the batter pivots to face the pitcher he Taps the top of the ball again Watch how he holds the bat Loosely and lets the ball bounce off the bottom of the bat to fall along the Baseline now let's get back to the game one out remember and a runner on second now is the time for a real Power Hit there it is and it looks like it will score a run with a runner on third the base coach stands by for teamwork a long fly sets the stage and the runner holds his base until the coach signals him to run for home a good slide into Home Plate brings in another safe run in slow motion watch how the runner hooks the base with one foot as he slides away from the catcher effort to tag him with the ball and so goes the game no matter who wins softball is a thrilling game that calls for individual skill good teamwork and above all good sportsmanship n