SOFTBALL: HIT AND RUN FOR GRADES 8/9 1

Softball: Hit and Run for Grades 8/9

Katy Kohli

University of Regina
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Topic: Softball

Concept Focus:

The focus on this lesson is to teach the students how to do a hit and run in the game of

softball. And to create an understanding of why and when this would be used in a game

situation.

Skill Focus:

Tactical: How to use a hit and run play in a game in order to advance the runner on base.

To understand and learn what needs to be done by all players in order for this to happen.

Technical: Learning the proper techniques and BMPs to making contact with the ball and

running bases.

Cross-Curricular Competencies:

- Developing Thinking

- Developing Identity and Interdependence

- Developing Social Responsibility

Common Essential Learnings:

- Communication—Students will learn how to communicate with team mates and

coaches to decide when to execute a hit and run.

- Critical and Creative Thinking—Students will develop the skills to think and make

decisions based on what will best achieve their goals.

- Independent Learning—Students will need to figure out how to make contact with the

ball so they play can be executed.

Objectives:

The objective of this lesson is to give students an understanding about the strategy, hit and

run. Also, to provide the opportunity for students to achieve the skills needed to execute this
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play. The students will be able to develop cognitively and physically while achieving both the

technical and tactical skills of this lesson.

Materials:

-bases

-softballs

-bats

-helmets

-tees

-wiffle balls

Set:

The lesson will begin with a quick explanation of the first game. The teacher will also

introduce students to the tactical and technical focuses of this lesson. This way students are able

to see and understand the general ideas of the lesson before they are taught specifically about it.

Development:

Lead-up Game:

This game is called Thunder Ball. It is played with 2 teams. One team is at bat with a tee,

the other team has one fielder on third base and one on first base. The batter hits the ball off the

tee as hard as she can and runs as many bases as she can until both fielders have touched the ball.

The teacher can keep score by counting bases reached before the ball is touched. After all batters

have batted, switch sides.

This game introduces students to the concept of making contact with the ball every time.

It also allows them to practice their fast base running as they are trying to reach as many bases in

as short of time possible. This is a perfect introduction example of a hit and run play executed in

a game. After the game is complete, the teacher will guide the students in a discussion to talk
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about what they just did and link it to the game of softball. The teacher will ask questions like,

what did you guys just do, what skills did you use, why did you have to make contact with the

ball, etc.

Practice:

Next the teacher will describe the practice to the students. She will relate it to the game

just played and the concepts that go along with it to achieve the tactical and technical focuses.

Students would divide into groups of four, a pitcher, two fielders and a batter. The pitcher would

toss a wiffle ball to the batter who would then focus on making contact with the ball at every

pitch. The fielders would field the balls then give them back to the pitcher. Each batter would

get about ten pitches, and then the students would rotate.

Since the students aren’t professional pitchers, the pitches will be all over the place,

allowing students to learn to make contact at all points of the batting zone. Making contact is

crucial in a hit and run, so it’s important for students to practice this.

After each student got a chance to bat, the class would have a small discussion about what

worked for them and what didn’t. The teacher would ask questions like, what worked best for

you, what could you do to improve making contact, etc. The teacher would guide the class to

review how to use a hit and run to advance the runner, making sure the students had a good

understanding on the play and why they were doing it. She would also review the game of

baseball/softball to get the students ready for the final game.

Game:

This game will be just a basic game of softball/baseball. It will give students the

opportunity to perform their skills to achieve the goals and strategies of the game from what they

have learned in the lesson. They will be able to use the different strategies learned throughout the

week to advance the runner. Hopefully, focusing on a hit and run for today’s lesson. It also
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allows the students to practice other skills in the game and get an all around experience of how

the tactical focus works.

The class will be divided into two teams. One team will bat and the other will field. The

fielders will line up like any other softball game with the positions and will pitch the ball to the

batter. The batter will hit and use the skills they have learned to score their team runs. When the

students execute a play using a tactical problem they have learned to advance the runner, the

teacher will stop the game and the class will discuss what just happened to better understand how

the strategy works. This way, students will be able to put everything together to really

understand how it all works.

Closure:

At the end of the lesson, the students will provide feedback about the lesson to the

teacher. They will discuss what they have learned, what they liked/disliked, how they can

improve, etc. The teacher will use questions to help guide this discussion, as well as asking

questions to make sure the students understand the tactical focus of this lesson. She would ask

questions such as, why would you want to be sure to make contact, why is it important to move

quickly, why is it important to communicate with team mates, etc.

This can lead into a final lesson of playing softball and executing all strategies that the

students have learned. If the students want to learn more strategies, they can be taught as well to

be put together in the game.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Today’s lesson evaluation will be based on the standard model of assessment. The

students will be marked based on a couple of criteria:

-did the students participate in all activities to their best ability?

-did they try to achieve the skill being taught?

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-were they able to make contact with the ball?

-did they practice the different strategies in the final game?

These and a few more can be questions considered when compiling this student’s grade.

Safety Considerations:

It is important to make sure that students are dressed and equipped properly for these

activities. Proper gear is important for students’ safety. Making sure students are following the

rules and looking out for fellow classmates so no one experiences a collision. Also, making sure

students are spread out properly will prevent students from getting hurt. And using wiffle balls

rather than real softballs to prevent getting hurt.

Adaptive Component:

Physically challenged students can still focus on the same tactical aspects of this lesson;

just the technical will be changed a little bit. There are different ways to achieve certain skills

based on any sort of challenge one may have. The students could still focus on making contact,

and getting to places quickly.