Our Head Coach, Mike Malatka, has worked with Lori Oaks at the Dugout in Ontario to put together an intensive softball skills clinic featuring hitting, fielding, base running, and speed/agility.  Lori and her partners at the Dugout are trusted experts and this promises to be a great morning of learning for players, parents, and coaches!  The cost is $35 per participant.  Participants will also receive a $5 voucher for future services at the Dugout.  See the flyer below!  The event will take place at our own Pantera Park!!!

12/19 - 12/23 
 
Spend your winter vacation brushing up on your skills for the upcoming baseball / softball season.  The Winter All-Skills Camp will focus on basic skills of offense and defense.  Hitting sessions will teach proper body stance, balance, swing mechanics, and power to generate the most effecient and powerful swing.  Fielding sessions will work on fundamental body movement, glove placement, and footwork to become a more effective defensive pressence.  A portion of the camp will also be dedicated to agility and conditioning to prepare young athletes for the rigors of the game. 
 
Dates: 12/19 - 12/23
Time:  10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
For:  boys & girls age 14 & under
Location:  RBI Batting Cages

PRICE:
$25 per player per day
$100 per player for entire camp (5 days)
 
Call 909 598 5922 or email back to reserve your spot! 

Our Umpire-in-Chief (or "UIC"), Mr. Greg Busch, is in the process of putting together another fantastic array of young folks interested in taking on the huge challenge of umpiring for the ASA in Diamond Bar!  More information on the DBGS and ASA Junior Umpire program can be found here.  This is a terrific opportunity for players, former players, and other young adults to develop both their character and knowledge of the great game of softball.  We are grateful to have Mr. Busch leading this program.

In its continuing effort to offer Diamond Bar girls opportunities to develop their softball skills, the DBGS Board last week voted to extend the pitcher development clinic being offered each Sunday to players designated by team managers by four weeks.  The next two Sundays (10/16 and 10/23) will be covered by DBGS.  The last two weeks (10/30 and 11/6) are offered at $5 per player (50% covered by DBGS).  

These sessions have been offered by DBGS for girls serious about learning the art of softball pitching as part of its ongoing effort to develop the finest players possible.  Lessons are conducted by Lori Oaks and are currently held at The Dugout facilities in Ontario.

Taken from Candrea on Coaching, a monthly softball-related newsletter from an Olympic softball coach...On behalf of the Amateur Softball Association, welcome to the August issue of the ACE Coach monthly email from ASA Director of Coaching Education and two-time Olympic Coach Mike Candrea: Candrea on Coaching. As a youth sports coach, you naturally want to prepare your team to win as many games as possible, and as a Responsible Coach, you want to prepare your players to win off the field, too. The Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports program is proud to bring you this series in which Coach Candrea will provide you with coaching tips and resources that you can use for the betterment of your youth softball team.

The short game is, and will always be, a key component of offensive success in fast-pitch softball. Our ability to maximize scoring opportunities by moving runners is crucial to the success of any team. The development of short game skills is the foundation for success in fast-pitch softball. Short game skills are much easier to perfect than the swing itself. By having the proper knowledge of the fundamentals and consistent practice of the skills, anyone in your line up can have productive at-bats and increase your opportunities to score runs.


One of the most underrated aspects of executing the short game is the pressure it puts on the defense. By having the ability to put runners in motion and getting the ball on the ground, you increase the chances of defensive mistakes and forcing quick decisions that must be made by the defensive players. Speed kills in our game, even with average speed and forcing the defense to move laterally, you open opportunities to move runners and score. As you get to higher levels of fast-pitch softball, you will find that the game is played on the ground. A groundball has to be fielded properly, thrown with accuracy and caught. A fly ball just has to be caught. The successful execution of the short game will win championships and the inability to execute those skills will increase your chances for defeat. Obtain proper knowledge, practice the execution and be 100% confident that your team can perform in game situations. Everyone can be a good short game player!

Bunting:
The most often used short game skill is the bunt. The most common bunts are:

1.     Sacrifice Bunt
2.     Push Bunt
3.     Drag Bunt (Sneak Bunt)

The sacrifice bunt is named as such because the hitter is sacrificing their at bat to advance a runner already on base. The sacrifice is used to advance a runner into scoring position. Every hitter needs to be able to execute the sacrifice bunt.

The two basic techniques used to execute the sacrifice bunt are squaring around both feet and pivoting the back foot only. Which ever method you choose to teach your team, here are some common thoughts to execute the sacrifice properly:

• Bunting from the front of the batters box increases the amount of fair territory to work with.
• Achieve a balanced athletic position with adequate plate coverage.
• Bat held at the top of the strike zone.
• Bat held level or barrel slightly above the hands.
• Always adjust from high to low by using your legs as an elevator. Never allow the barrel to drop below your hands or reach for a pitch.
• Bunt to the middle of the field — the pitcher is usually the farthest defensive player from home plate in bunt situations.
• Grip should be firm but not tight.
• To soften a bunt — contact should be made toward the end of the barrel.
• Attempt to bunt strikes only — most pitchers will try to make it tough on the first two pitches, be selective!

Aggressive corners will overplay the bunt and this will open some other options. One option would be the push bunt. The push bunt is executed by holding the bat tighter in your top hand and using your legs to push the ball towards the second baseman or in the seams between the corners and pitcher. We are attempting to bunt the ball hard enough to get it past the corners and pitcher. The key is to look for a good pitch that you can bunt easily. Right-handed hitters would look for a pitch middle-out to push toward the second baseman. Remember — the second baseman covers first base on the bunt so watch for infielders that cheat! This would present a great opportunity for the push bunt.

The drag bunt, or some call the "sneaky bunt," is sometimes used in a sacrifice situation but most commonly used to get a base hit. The drag is shown much later than the sacrifice and depends on the element of surprise.

From the right side, the drag bunt is executed by dropping the right foot back into a sprinters position as the bat is placed in a bunting position. Having our hands and bat head out in front of our center of gravity is crucial to our contract position. This allows for better vision and increases our ability to keep the bunt fair. Once again, it is not so important the direction of the bunt but the distance from home plate. Far enough from home plate that the catcher cannot field the bunt too quickly.

From the left side, the drag bunt becomes the foundation for any slapper that is an offensive threat. Most left hander's will use the same footwork as they would for the slap which are the straight-crossover, the step-back and crossover, and the shuffle.

A key factor for quick left handed slappers is their ability to explode out of the box. By running hard through the box, you gain valuable distance & time in getting to first base. The drag can be executed off any of these foot works with effectiveness. Everyone can be a great short game player if they choose to understand the importance of proper execution and the tremendous affect it has on developing a productive offense. Watch for a future article where we will go into more detail on the left-handed slap and how you can utilize speed to become an offensive weapon.

Taken from Candrea on Coaching, a monthly softball-related newsletter from an Olympic softball coach...On behalf of the Amateur Softball Association, welcome to the August issue of the ACE Coach monthly email from ASA Director of Coaching Education and two-time Olympic Coach Mike Candrea: Candrea on Coaching. As a youth sports coach, you naturally want to prepare your team to win as many games as possible, and as a Responsible Coach, you want to prepare your players to win off the field, too. The Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports program is proud to bring you this series in which Coach Candrea will provide you with coaching tips and resources that you can use for the betterment of your youth softball team.

Professionalism – A Code of Conduct

As I travel back from a very memorable trip to New York where I had the opportunity to experience a weekend with the New York Yankees, I thought I would share with you some observations of arguably the most successful franchise in professional sports.  It is hard to imagine the wealth of success (27 World Championships) and a tradition that defines the sport.  Walking through the offices and seeing pictures of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Mickey Mantle (my idol growing up), and all the great players that have worn the uniform, must be quite the challenge for today’s Yankees to live up to the expectations of fans from every generation possible.  The one thing I could feel from everyone that I had a chance to visit with from coaches, players, and front office was the sense of pride and obligation that went with representing the New York Yankee organization.

As I have the opportunity to watch many softball games during the summer, I always like to focus on the programs that ultimately find a way to position themselves for a chance to compete for a National Championship.  Believe it or not, many of the teams have the same qualities as the New York Yankees, although at a different level.  What are these qualities that separate the good from the great?  Yes, the Yankee’s are quite wealthy and are not scared to spend money to get the best players.  Although, after my trip, it is obvious that these players must also be a good fit and embrace the code of conduct and professionalism set by the organization.  These same expectations can be seen in a few softball organizations today – which are exciting to see.

I had the opportunity to visit with a former Arizona Wildcat and now the hitting coach for the New York Yankees, Kevin Long and really hear about what kind of people these great athletes are.  I wanted to know what kind of a teammate they were, work ethic, preparation, discipline etc.  A laundry list of what we try to instill in our players and kids.  The answers I received were exciting and confirmed the qualities of true professionals.  There is a reason why these players are in the major leagues and continue to stay at that level.  I imagine your job can be a great motivator when you have that kind of money at stake.


This excerpt was taken from the book “The Checklist Manifesto” written by Atul Gawande and speaks about learned occupations.  A tremendous lesson derived from being on a team and striving for success understanding that it does prepare you for success after softball.

“All learned occupations have a definition of professionalism, a code of conduct.  It is where they spell out their ideals and duties. The codes are sometimes stated, sometimes understood.  But they all have at least three common elements.

First is an expectation of selflessness:  that we who accept responsibility for others – whether we are doctors, lawyers, teachers, public authorities, soldiers, parents, or pilots – will place the needs and concerns of those who depend on us above our own.

Second is an expectation of skill:  that we will aim for excellence in our knowledge and expertise.
Third is an expectation of trustworthiness:  that we will be responsible in our personal behavior toward our charges.

Aviators, however add a fourth expectation, discipline:  discipline in following prudent procedures and in functioning with others.”

Sound familiar?  These are the necessary qualities that we look for in any good organization, team, player, coach or parent.  This is a quick check list for reducing failure and being a functional member of the team.  Are we teaching our players to be true professionals – even though we know that they will go Pro in something other than softball?

Until next month!

Coach Candrea

Take from an article by Mike Candrea, written for ResponsibleSports.com

As we begin competition, the most demanding challenge of any coach is to develop and maintain confidence in his/her players. It is amazing how the confidence level of players reaches a healthy high during pre-season workouts and begins to become fragile as competition enters the picture.

Confidence has to be one of our top priorities. The understanding of the development of confidence can be a great asset to any group leader both on and off the athletic field. Confidence has a great influence in the success of an individual and the lack of it can most influence their failures.

Pre-season workouts are designed to prepare teams for upcoming competition and the challenges that lie ahead. Most of the time, as coaches, we do a very good job during workouts to create an atmosphere to encourage learning and skill development. It seems much easier to keep athletes positive and confident because we structure drills and praise to build confidence on the practice field. You can always find a way to make sure a hitter leaves the batting cage feeling good about their swing. The challenge that we all have is when the reality of competition sets in and we begin to face the built-in failures of the game. In reality, confidence and performance go hand in hand. The higher our levels of performance become, the more confident we become as players.

Confidence is key for creating an atmosphere of learning and building a youth athlete's confidence levels, on and off the field. Responsible Sports, along with our partner, Positive Coaching Alliance, offers an entire section on this subject, Coaching Beyond the X's and O's , for coaches to use as a teaching resource. The best coaches build opportunities for character education into their program, creating, recognizing and capitalizing on teachable moments. Go to ResponsibleSports.com to learn more

The primary job of any good leader is to give your athletes the necessary tools and skills to handle any situation that will come their way during the season. Confidence is nothing more than believing that your ability is equal to or greater than what is demanded by the situation and/or task. If you are prepared to perform well in the situation, chances are you will. You must also understand the complexities that are involved in the game of softball. No one sets failure as a goal, but failure is a statistical probability/reality in the game of softball. A player needs to face that possibility and can't be afraid to fail. Coaches must be very careful in handling this process. A lack of encouragement and understanding by their leader will cause a player to never find that key ingredient of confidence. The road to confidence is a journey that takes small steps in the right direction. Your ability as a coach to understand this process and play a vital role in allowing the athlete to perform aggressively without worry, will pay large dividends to your athlete and your program in the long run.

The greatest obstacle I see in today's athlete is the fear of embarrassment. The embarrassment of going 0-3 or making an error; fear of humiliation from booing fans and lost games; fear of a father's wrath or a coaches' displeasure. The bottom line to all of this is that no one can make us feel as if we're failures without our own consent. Confident people never consent. They approach risky situations as a challenge. We must remind ourselves that everyone experiences fear - athletes, singers, corporate executives, mountain climbers. The successful performers don't prevent fear. They control it rather than being controlled by it.

Confidence is simply a choice. Confidence is choosing to focus on your strengths instead of your weaknesses. Confidence is stressing a positive approach that will allow players to make mistakes and grow from their experiences. Always remember, we are preparing these young ladies for a much bigger game than softball - the game of life!

Strength and speed training in Ontario is not beyond a team like our DBGS 10U All-Stars...  Our friends at The Dugout in Ontario have terrific training facilities for pitching and hitting, but their new physical fitness section and trainers are terrific.  Here's a sampling of our girls' adventure this morning.

The 2011 CSUF Titan Summer Softball Camp is coming up.  This camp will cover all aspects of the game of softball.  We will go over: hitting; defense (specific position play); base running (which includes sliding); the overhand throw; and the mental game.  The campers will be participating in organized game play every day.  We will be taking the campers to our pool on campus on Monday and Wednesday of the camp (so campers need to bring their swim stuff and prepare for fun!!) We will also be having guest speakers throughout the camp, so be prepared to meet some pretty amazing people.  On the final day of camp—we will break campers into teams and play a small tournament.  After lunch that day (which we will provide for that day only), we will have some “FUN” summer activities on the field.  This is a camp for under high school age girls.  REGISTRANTS WITH DBGS WILL RECEIVE A $50 DISCOUNT (TOTAL COST FOR THE WEEK IS $250).  INTERESTED PARENTS SHOULD SEND AN EMAIL ASAP TO DBGS VICE PRESIDENT JEFF DEUTSCH FOR REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS AS THE DEADLINE FOR EARLY REGISTRATION IS 7/11.

ASA members, linked below is a short video showing the motion analysis system available from our video partner PowerChalk®.  This easy to use system requires no software installation and helps coaches and players improve their game.  The system is available to all ASA members at: http://www.powerchalk.com/ASA

Two minute tutorial available at bottom of this post.  ASA PowerChalk® users can record an analysis, compare player's side by side and broadcast their screen to fellow coaches and players.