How to Have Teamwork in Softball

There are two approaches to recreational softball, whether you play on a men's, women's or coed squad. One of them works; the other doesn't. The one that doesn't is the one that an unfortunate plurality of teams employ: compile a roster of miscellaneous non-connected friends and co-workers, give them a schedule, set a lineup and play. This is a recipe for disjointed 0-10 seasons. The strategy that works, on the other hand, is the one that emphasizes camaraderie and teamwork, both on and off the field.

Things You'll Need

  • Practice field
  • Bag of softballs
  • Assorted aluminum or composite bats
  • Batting cages
  • Sports bar
  • Jerseys with team names (individual player names optional)
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Instructions

  1. Facilitating Teamwork on Your Softball Team

    • 1

      Pick your teammates with chemistry in mind. Teams are likely to work well together if they play well together. Many of us have multiple groups of friends with different personalities and styles. Mixing and matching is usually a bad idea that leads to conflict and denigrates team spirit. Also, be cognizant of each individual you put on your roster. Lone rangers and narcissists -- usually the guy who plays softball like he's a Major Leaguer -- might add talent to your team, but they sap energy. Also, who cares if you win if you don't enjoy yourself on the field?

    • 2

      Practice and play as a team. Take your team to the local batting cages and take a few swings. Schedule a few voluntary practices at a nearby park before the season starts. After the games, head to a sports bar and enjoy pizza, wings and a few pitchers of beer. The more time your team is together both on and off the field, the more your team will rally around the idea that they aren't just a collection of 12 individuals, but instead one unit.

    • 3

      Learn to hit your cut-off man. Nothing kills a softball team's chances, and its spirit, more quickly than poor defense. When an outfielder tries to hit his catcher on the fly as the baserunner rounds third, it is likely the runner will score anyway, and all other baserunners will advance on the error. Drill it into your outfielders' heads that when throwing the ball back into the infield, they have to hit their cut-off or relay man. Left and left-center fielders should relay the ball to the shortstop; right and right-center fielders should relay the ball to the second baseman. Further, first and third basemen should get into the habit of backing up plays at second base by positioning themselves behind the throw in the event that it goes wild.

    • 4

      Put player names on the backs of jerseys. This can be a powerful identifier as the player associates himself, and his performance, with his team and its performance.