College softball across the country is really split into three seasons. The fall college softball season begins when athletes report back to campus at the end of summer. Fall season typically consists of 20 hours of practice a week and an additional 6-8 games, which aren’t recorded towards the team’s overall record. Then comes Winter season where practice hours are shortened to eight hours a week and no games. After Winter break concludes athletes report back for Spring season, 20 hours of practice a week, travel, and regular season games. The regular season for college softball begins in February of each year, but while we wait for February to come, let’s shift our focus to what’s about to begin. Fall practice and more importantly, fall games.
Fall College softball games are important for the following reasons:
- Easier to evaluate players from a game setting: With fall ball comes 20 hours of practice a week. That also includes weight and speed training but much of those 20 hours consists of repetition work. Rolled ground balls in the infield, drop step drills in the outfield, pitcher, and catcher workouts, hitting off front toss and controlled team scrimmages. Fall games give the athletes a chance to engage in a real game setting and put to the test what they have been consistently working on.
- Opportunity for Freshmen: Fall games are a great way to get the new additions involved. It’s the best way to test their abilities and decide what they are capable of. Even though several D1 schools play lower level competition in the fall, it’s still the best way to give the freshmen a taste of what game settings will be like in the spring.
- Games show true potential: Playing actual games at times show more about a player than practice does. There will be certain players on teams who master the art of practice drills but struggle with execution in-game settings. There are other players who may tend to struggle with certain elements at practice but thrive under pressure in games. Games are extremely impactful when it comes to determining an athlete’s true potential.
- Expectations set: Fall games are the perfect opportunity for coaches and players to evaluate where the team’s starting point is at, and set goals for where they want to come spring. It’s a great way to introduce the players to the programs atmosphere and culture. If coaches approach Fall games as they would spring games, the players can get a grasp on what will be expected of them and they will continue working to fulfill those expectations throughout the fall and winter.
- Fan involvement – a preview for Spring: Fall college softball games are a great way to get fans involved and to get them excited for what’s to come when Spring season kicks off. Fans love their softball. They won’t care that the games don’t count towards the team’s record, rather they will be happy with getting to spend a few extra weekends at the ball field in the fall months to support and watch the sport they love.
