Ultimate Cheat Sheet on Softball IQ

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I used to work with a good coach who tried to teach players to be smart and understand the game. It was 2015 and I ran Chicagoland Baseball & Softball Academy’s softball program. My baseball counterpart wanted to have the boys coach first base so they’d start to understand the game better.
He gave them some guidance then sent them out on their way. Unfortunately, they had a really hard time. Although he told them what to do, they still struggled. He wondered why. When he was a kid, everyone coached first with ease. Another parent pointed out to him that the boys don’t watch baseball like they used to. There are too many other media options that steal their attention, and boys just don’t watch baseball on TV. Consequently, their baseball IQ doesn’t develop until later.
Alas, we have to start from scratch. While the number of televised softball games on TV have pretty much tripled in the last few years, there are still too many alternatives.
Most of the girls coming into pitching school aren’t sure of the strike zone. At intro clinics, 7 to 9 year olds have never seen anyone pitch a ball underhand. It’s not a bad thing, it just means we have to change what we focus on during development.
One idea I really like for improving softball IQ is to have the battery to call their own pitches. This is a bit tougher than it seems, so I’ve included a few ideas on how to integrate it into your program.
First, teach your battery the “rhythm” of an at-bat. Explain to them why pitchers need a first-pitch strike. For example, if she throws a first-pitch strike, your pitcher has a 66.8% chance of striking the batter out. Whereas if her first pitch is a ball, her chances of walking are at 74.3%. * Then teach the battery three different types of pitches they’d throw or call depending upon the scenario.
Opener/Go-To - Count with no strikes, 0-0, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0. Throw a strike.
Second/Set-up - Called strike or they chose pitch.
Kill/Strikeout - 2 strike count, swing and a miss. A fall ball is also great.
Sit next to the pitcher while she practices at-bats, asking her to say aloud which type of pitch she is going to throw. “This is a go-to pitch, fastball outside.” Which of their own pitches match up? Is Emma’s go-to pitch a fastball low and outside? Is Ava’s strikeout pitch a curveball? Is Avery’s set-up pitch a changeup low and inside?
Then I’d take at least half of a season calling pitches for them. Teach your team catcher to look at you in the dugout for the sign, then she’ll relay it to the pitcher. If your catcher is skilled, teach her to relay back to you whether or not the pitcher hit the spot. The reason I’d take an entire half-season to call pitches is because this is another way to teach pitchers which pitches to call. Observation works wonders (see the first paragraph!).Warn the pitcher and catcher they are going to do this themselves soon so they’ll participate with intention.
Not many pitchers will voluntarily throw their very first changeup (or any new pitch) without some pressure to do so. They like to wait for it to be perfect, and it never is, so you have to push them. If you call pitches for a while, it will force them to start including pitches they feel uncomfortable with. It is imperative for their long-term development.
Once they learn how to call pitches, you can start working on them for coaching first base. I'd love to hear other coaches' experience and suggestions on improving your team or daughters softball IQ - just add to the comments below.
*One Pitch Warrior - 1pitchwarrior.com/
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