Announcement
What do the Recreation Softball evaluations entail?
What do the Recreation Softball evaluations entail?
The Recreation Softball evaluations involve a series of drills which are designed to allow players to demonstrate their softball skills to the coaches in their division as well as to independent evaluators. Players will be evaluated in the following areas:
- Pitching
- Hitting
- Running
- Fielding
- Throwing
When girls first arrive at the evaluation session, they will check in at the front desk and will provide some basic information after which they will then be given a player number. From there, they will wait by the warm-up area for their turn. When it is almost their turn, they will move into the warm-up area and will be given approximately 10 minutes to take warm-up throws.
When called by the evaluation coordinator, each player will report to the on-deck area and will state their player number. The evaluation coordinator will announce the player and then guide her through the drills. Players will participate in all drills regardless of their preferred position (e.g., they will pitch even if they are not a pitcher) and will be rated in each of these categories.
The player will start on the pitcher’s plate and will throw a few pitches. The player will then move to home plate and will hit soft-tossed balls into a net. After her last swing, the player will run out the “hit” all the way around to second base. The player will then retrieve her glove and field a few ground balls followed by a few fly balls each time completing the throw to first base. This completes the evaluation.
Altogether, the entire evaluation – from being announced by the evaluation coordinator to completing the last drill – takes less than 5 minutes.
Everyone involved in the evaluation process recognizes that it can be a bit nerve-racking for the players, so every effort is made by the volunteers, coaches and evaluators to make the evaluation a positive experience for the players.
