Im in softball how do you dive?
Question:i am a freshman and i play for my school softball team. i already have learned how to slide properly but i still want to learn how to dive dack to bases so i can get a bigger lead off. are there any drills, websights, ect. that can help me? also can you get hurt eayser when diving as opposed to sliding?
Answers:
I know it's just one game, but how about my Tigers? A grand slam in the top of the 12th?
Let me preface this by saying, as an umpire, I see many, many different styles of diving back to a bag, and honestly, very few players at a sub-varsity level (and even at a varsity level!) know how to do this properly. There have actually been many studies (medically) about sliding feet first versus sliding head first. It is important to note that there is an increased risk of serious injury associated with head-first sliding, as opposed to feet first sliding. Generally, with head-first sliding back to a base, a player wants their knee(s) to hit first, then their torso -- arms and hands are usually left slightly off the ground so that they might strike the base unobstructed by contact with the ground (not to mention that sliding an unprotected arm along a hard dirt ground will definately cause a nice cut, I once cut the back of my hand on the warning track in center field during my playing days, going for a fly ball - I caught the ball, brought it back, and fell, back-of-hand first, onto the ground -- not pretty, but I digress). When sliding head-first, you never want to bury your head, even though looking straight ahead might leave you meeting a cleated enemy -- this is a main disadvantage of sliding head first.Diving head-first, much like sliding head-first is equally dangerous for similar reasons. But, to execute this, first get into your position that you'd assume right before a dive "the runner's ready position" on a lead-off. Then, pretend a gust of wind, directed particularly at your upper body, is pushing you back to first base (your left side). Push off on your right foot, while allowing your torso to fall downward to the first base direction. Simultanously take all weight off of the left leg. First thing to hit is usually going to be your left knee -- to alleviate this stress, you might want to stretch out, trying to get your torso down at a similar time (but not before). In the dive, your hand often will slide across the dirt to the bag, which is why the dive can hurt sometimes.
There is no significant difference in speed between head-first and feet-first sliding at all levels of play, up to and including the collegiate level. HOWEVER, the most important thing to note is that at every level (up to and including collegiate ball), feet-first sliding on average takes less time (but not significantly less) to execute, mostly because players must take extra precautions when sliding head-first not to injure themselves, thus head-first sliding proves to be more a disadvantage more of the time.
Diving has a higher probability of getting you injured than does sliding because diving is usually not as taught, and usually is not as easy to put into practice in game situations. Sliding is usually anticipated in a game. Diving is not.
Like everything else, the only way you will learn is to practice this, especially with your coaches. Have them help you. You will learn infinately more from their wisdom than you will from online assistance.
Well its true, you get hurt easier diving than sliding. Cos with sliding you land on your bums, whereas with diving you either land on your chest, if fully stretched or hard on your forearms. You have to make sure you bend your arms to absorb the impact.
Its similar to as if you're diving into the water, accept in this case you keep your hands apart, as if you're gonna reach out for the Base plate. You may want to practice on rainy days, on dry days, you'll get abrasive cuts even if you're covered up.
Diving is not often used in softball, because of the distance, most of the time when one dives, you either hit your face against the lower part of the Basemen, bruising your arms / elbow.
I would not encourage diving, though its look cool, But if you wanna look at diving, try watching some NBL games, not much difference in techniques between Baseball and Softball though.
If you're staying in Singapore, drop me a mail, perhaps we can play a few balls.
Cheers.
Men only: I'm a college student (20 y/o). Is this haircut a good thing for me to ask for?
If you're getting into a proper stance when you lead off the base, you shouldn't have a problem diving back in to first. It always came pretty natural for me and I was good at it.All you really have to do is pivot on your left leg, turn your body and push with your right leg.
As for sliding, when you do it, your legs should look like an upside-down number 4 to you.
More Questions & Answers...