ImminentDanger
Up and Over
SAFETY PRACTICES WHEN PITCHING
1) Angle the dirt in front of the mound.... I've never had a ball hit the rubber and bounce up except when I did not smooth and angle the dirt..... make it a ramp that prevents the ball from 'catching the lip'....
2) After the pitch, step back from the rubber.... at least two steps and then SET YOURSELF BEFORE THE BALL IS HIT.... Don't be backpedaling when it's hit, you'll be off balance...
3) After the pitch, always raise your glove to chest-high..... this gives you the best reaction point to protect both high and low critical areas.... your shins, feet and ankles will definitely fair better in a direct hit than your face or the family jewels....
4) After the pitch and you're set, concentrate all your attention (1000% of your attention) on the ball at the very second it is hit with the bat.... This cannot be emphasized enough---- CONCENTRATE ALL YOUR ATTENTION ON THE HIT --- this will give you an EXTRA 1/100 of a second in reaction time --- treat every hit as though it was going to come directly back at you....
5) Keep track of the batters..... Knowing how batters hit will help prepare you to handle the shots around you.... and if you have a batter that is determined to hit it directly at you, don't feel obligated to give him the chance.... pitch around him or intentionally walk him.... it's part of the game....
6) Lobby your league to create a PITCHING BOX..... allowing you to pitch upto 6 feet behind the pitching rubber.... and teach your pitchers to use all 6 feet of the box.... this is a safety issue that can be addressed without affecting the rest of the game.... USSSA & ISA already provide this & ASA has done this at the senior level but not all levels.... IT IS THE BEST CHANGE OUR ASA LEAGUE EVER MADE FOR PITCHERS.... even if some pitchers don't use it (idiots)...
7) If you're scared, DO NOT PITCH..... seriously, you should be comfortable in that position and need to keep practicing until you are.... if you do not have the reflexes to avoid being hit by the ball at the level you play, reconsider your position or the level at which you play.... Softball should be FUN, but it's definitely not fun to be seriously injured...
8) Buy protective equipment.... it's better than getting an injury.... Especially, use a protective net during BP - you tend to get lazy during BP and don't protect yourself every second.... Decide what protective equipment you need for your league/level... Face mask, mouthguard, shin guards, etc.
9) Mix up your pitches and put some arc in them.... because keeping the batters off-balance (as much as possible) reduces the chance for them to square up on the ball and send it back the middle...
Be safe out there....
(ID)