Dysfunctional
Don't be hatin'
How does your team do it?
Senority? Tryouts? Captain/Coach decides? Chaos? Vote? Who can kick who's ass? etc.
Senority? Tryouts? Captain/Coach decides? Chaos? Vote? Who can kick who's ass? etc.
Choosing who plays where?
- Thread starter Dysfunctional
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rotogrip300
Addicted to Softballfans
We put the fat guys in the outfield and the people that are afraid to get in front of the ball in the infield. We put the best player at catcher so he doesn't get hurt and put the oldest guy on the mound so other teams have a better chance at hitting him.
TheBigKahuna
The Veteran
The immobile ones play 1st and catcher, sometimes pitch. The athletes who can run play outfield. And the semi quick ones with an arm play 3rd and SS. Unless it's co-ed, then none of that matters...you've got 4 or 5 holes in your defense no matter what you do!
shindig153
Addicted to Softballfans
Be up front with your players and tell them positions are subject to change. If something is not working out with a position then you need to try to fix it. This is a team sport and most people playing it are adult or a least I assume they are. This approach works well for my team and if someone has a problem with it they can be mad, quit or be replaced. Nip is in th a** before it starts. We have a great group of guys on my team and all are willing to do what it takes to improve.
just moonshots!
2 out nightmare
We start from the dugout and whoever gets to the position they want first wins... Better hope you're fast..
BigBL87
29 oz, you say?
This, except if you have someone who is a legit 1B and can play the position well, put him there over just a slow guy. A good 1B can make an infield look great.
this is the mother****ing truth! i know, i play ss and 2b and one of my team my 1b cant pick his ****ing nose...help me out a little bit man!
mattroush22
Addicted to Softballfans
Make the throw, help yourself out, MAN!
Swinging Bunt
Addicted to Softballfans
We let all the players pick where to play. Sometimes we'll have 6 outfielders and other times there will be 2. We tried not carrying a catcher once but our pitcher hates having to walk to the backstop if the batter doesn't swing. Oh wait, are we talking about BP or an actual game?
xethicx
Addicted to Softballfans
For me I have two types of players on my team, people that can only play one position and people that are very versatile. I try my best to make sure people are in positions where theyre effective and yet also comfortable.
For example, I have one guy that is amazing wherever I put him, he loves playing shortstop but I have another guy that is decent at short and not very effective anywhere else apart from maybe 2 bag. The awesome guy plays in the outfield most of the time but he also knows the score and knows he has a lot of value in CF.
So basically, I have a lot of practices and scrubs before the season starts, I move people around and see where they excel and seem comfortable, then I talk to them about where Im thinking about putting them most of the time and see what they say about it.
For example, I have one guy that is amazing wherever I put him, he loves playing shortstop but I have another guy that is decent at short and not very effective anywhere else apart from maybe 2 bag. The awesome guy plays in the outfield most of the time but he also knows the score and knows he has a lot of value in CF.
So basically, I have a lot of practices and scrubs before the season starts, I move people around and see where they excel and seem comfortable, then I talk to them about where Im thinking about putting them most of the time and see what they say about it.
this is 100% accurate... i play/coach co-ed for my work, and it is a headache every game
TheBigKahuna
The Veteran
My comment was facetious.
BIGPAPA33
ULTRA MEGA
Best player at each position.
FlashTheLeather
Addicted to Softballfans
If you built a tournament team without having positions already in mind, then you might as well play everyone wherever they want because the result is going to be the same.
Dysfunctional
Don't be hatin'
I'm not running things. That is how I think it should be though... do what's best for the team. Team is half new guys and I already see the "he's my bro, so therefore he's better than you" mentality brewing.
rlopezjr1977
King EUUUUPPPPP
We always go by who plays that position best. On our team it is 2 sided you have to hit as much as you play D. We can live with our Pitcher and SS hitting 500 but the rest better hit 650-700 otherwise you are replacable.
BIGPAPA33
ULTRA MEGA
Yeah...played on teams like that. When I coached I didn't care how good of friends I was with teammates...I put the best at each position. Feelings got hurt, but winning took care of that. If it's just a BS fun league then I wouldn't care, but if not I would look for another team.
BigBL87
29 oz, you say?
Haha, I figured but in all honesty depending on your team's talent level what you said can be true. 1B can be a throw away position for non-athletic, less athletic, or declining guys, heck look at the MLB and you can see it there. True defensive first basemen are becoming rarer and rarer at all levels, much less in the recreational game of softball.
HrBump13
Addicted to Softballfans
We find out where each person likes to play & then evaluate them in practice in order to form our team & iron out positions. Tell everyone that they will be placed in positions according to the needs of the TEAM. Folks rarely complain once they all see the talent/lack of said talent amidst the entire team. They usually get it.
DOM713
Addicted to Softballfans
Put guys where they will be able to make all or most of the routine plays, and if you have a couple guys who can make all the routine plays and have a lot of range stick them at SS or LCF/CF. It's nice when you have guys who can get to balls that would usually be hit and give themselves a chance to make a play on em.
Dysfunctional
Don't be hatin'
That would be me
Playing this weekend... It was said to me "I think we should let him play wherever he wants..." so sounds like my pos is pretty solid, although I'm a little skeptical of who's in a few positions. I'll just keep catching everything within 150' of me
and stay quiet untill I'm asked my opinion.
Snakes914
Addicted to Softballfans
if you can afford to, dont rule out putting someone who doesnt have the range but with talent behind the dish instead of say first base. cant tell you how many games have been decided by great plays by our catcher picking the ball and putting the tag on. this is also league play so it may not mean s**t