when is it time to call off the dogs?

[NumeroUno]

I have had this conversation many times over the years. I have seen teams run up the score and never stop scoring during a game. I know when I played fastpitch if you were up by 5 or 6 runs and someone laid down a bunt good chance the next batter took a fastball to the ribs. If a batter hits a ball to the fence ya they keep running but should you take extra bases up by ten. What about running on past balls and tagging up on balls hit deep to the outfield. I played on a pretty good team but when we started playing fastpitch we really sucked. We were getting beat game after game by a lot so I have been on that losing side, not a great feeling.

[Ace]

9 runs. Thats just me, but if we cant protect a lead after nine runs, we have problems. Its about respect, and I dont care WHAT the other coach thinks. We go station to station. Period. My first base coach knows that if its a gap shot, the runner stops at first, puts her head down and ignores everyone but her coaches. Thats how I was taught to play the game. On the other hand if we have a chance for the run rule, we take it. Get our girls outta the sun, and the ump from behind the plate. I agree with you NU, There is nothing like being the guy up to bat when your killing a team and your runner on third steals home on a passed ball! You know your gonna take one in the thigh!
Girls dont play the game that way, but as a manager I teach them to respect their oponent. If the game is a blowout, then have your players step off the bag. If the blue doesnt call it, tell them to lead off halfway to the next bag while the pitcher has the ball in the cirlce. It WILL get called.

[blogndogn]

it never time to call of the dogs in a tourney. but a friendly and their running up the score, just smile at them , and thank them for giving your defense a good workout. win or lose you have to find something positive to learn that day, dont let it be a waste. if your pitcher is pitching 7 out innings because of errors. dont be mad at your defense, think positive , the pitcher got stronger, it may not of been fun . thats the talk on the ride home. To get up you first got to fall down. some managers and coaches unfortunately dont teach class and respect for other teams.

[NumeroUno]

it never time to call of the dogs in a tourney.

I am not talking about state or nationals but running up a score in a tourney is not right either, have you ever played sports yourself?
So you are beating a team in some worthless tourney, they have not got a hit in 4 innings. You are up by ten and you think it is still okay to steal bases?

[3Bsnag]

So you are beating a team in some worthless tourney, they have not got a hit in 4 innings. You are up by ten and you think it is still okay to steal bases?

I'm not going to be popular after this, but hell yes. Never, ever play down to your opponent or contradict your coaching (in your example, aggressive base running).

That's not to say you don't adjust your game. Do your substitutions, step off a bag early to end the game/inning, or let the wanna be slapper slap. Those are all game management strategies by the coach, but players should always play hard regardless of the scoreboard.

[GIMNEPIWO]

It just doesn't show any class to pound another team into the ground ... but you can use it as a teaching tool ... I have let righties hit lefty ... gals who aren't slappers attempt to slap etc.... but I have seen DD's HS team on the receiving end and opposing Coaches handle it different ways ... one Coach continues to steal ( home in one game that was 27-0 in the 3rd ) ... bunt and take the extra base ... and other Coaches who tell their team to lay down ... after one such thrashing DD told me how embarrassing it was that the other team wasn't even trying ...

[Sam]

L F

[DD's Dad]

I think Ace is right. Get to the run rule number and get out of the sun. Even in meaningless tournaments. In friendlies, ask the opposing coach if you can switch to situational play (i.e. runner on 1st and 3rd, two outs, etc.) Remembering that the lessons we want our DD's to learn are not just about softball, but life lessons, as well, helps to keep the game in perspective. It is never ok to humiliate another team. What a coach does in this situation tells me a lot about what kind of person he/she is, and which coaches I would like my DD to play for. The final score doesn't always reflect who won the game.

[Under the Radar]

I think Ace is right. Get to the run rule number and get out of the sun. Even in meaningless tournaments. In friendlies, ask the opposing coach if you can switch to situational play (i.e. runner on 1st and 3rd, two outs, etc.) Remembering that the lessons we want our DD's to learn are not just about softball, but life lessons, as well, helps to keep the game in perspective. It is never ok to humiliate another team. What a coach does in this situation tells me a lot about what kind of person he/she is, and which coaches I would like my DD to play for. The final score doesn't always reflect who won the game.

it is a slippery slope with this even in friendlies. We have made suggestions to teams we have hammered, we have even asked to let our team stay on defense and they can just continue to hit. In almost every incident of this, the other coaches and thier parents think we are coming off as cocky and that we think we are better then them, & they almost always get attitude about it. So now we just mix positions and try things we do not normally try.

[Sam]

Funny how everyone is always on the the team that needs to call off the dogs...nobody is ever comments about the dogs being or not being called off of them...