ESS 102s Sports Fitness: Fundamentals of Softball

                                                                                   
Course Description:
This is a semester-long course designed to improve power, speed, agility and flexibility through the team sport of softball, and to give students an appreciation of the role regular physical activity plays in the quality of life.  Students will learn basic skills necessary to play softball, including scorekeeping, hitting, pitching, catching, throwing, base-running and fielding.  Course topics also include injury prevention specific to softball.  Physical fitness levels will be measured at the beginning and end of the course, allowing students to notice the improvements regular exercise produces. 

A. PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLOs)

The student will be able to:
1.  Determine healthy lifestyles by describing the value of physical activity to a healthful lifestyle and participating in regular physical activity for at least one semester.
2.  Demonstrate professionalism, interpersonal skills, teamwork, leadership and          decision making skills.

B.        STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs) - GENERAL
The student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the basic knowledge in softball including the origin of the sport, equipments and materials, rules of the game, and basic coaching and officiating.
2. Demonstrate the fundamental skills in softball and identify strengths and weaknesses in fitness level.
3.  Acquire the principles of training that help them to prevent injuries and improve performance through active participation in the activities.
4. Exhibit the values of sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie and demonstrate the basic knowledge in coaching / officiating  and administration in sports activities or mini-tournament. (Oceania Sports Education Program - OSEP)

SLO	PLO 1	PLO 2
1	ID	ID
2	IDM	ID
3	IDM	ID
4	D	DM

C.        STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOS):  SPECIFIC

            The student will be able to: 

General SLO 1.  Demonstrate the basic knowledge in softball including the origin of the sport, equipments and materials, rules of the game, and basic coaching and officiating.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
1.1. Explain the history and origin of the sport softball.	Quiz, recitation
1.2. List and give the characteristics of the equipment and materials used in softball.	Quiz, recitation
1.3. Illustrate and give the measurements of the playing court.	Written output
1.4. Explain and interpret correctly the basic rules of the game as applied in coaching and officiating.	Quiz, Actual officiating with rubric

 

General SLO 2.  Demonstrate the fundamental skills in softball and identify strengths and weaknesses in fitness level.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
2.1. Enumerate and demonstrate the different skills for softball; Participate actively in softball drills/activities for 30 – 40 minutes.	Practicum with rubric
2.2. Execute the proper mechanics and body motions in playing softball;	Practicum with rubric
2.3. Correctly perform an overhand throw, sidearm release throw, and an underhand toss.	Practicum with rubric
2.4. Perform the basic skills of a pitcher in a game-like situation (fastball, change-up, curve-ball or drop-ball; picking of base-runners, etc.).	Practicum with rubric
2.5. Identify their strengths and weaknesses for sports related fitness through testing of agility & speed (via T-test), cardio-respiratory           endurance (via Rockport test), flexibility (via sit and reach test), and   power (via Vertical jump test).	Pre-post physical fitness testing Separate manual for performance target as rubrics
2.6. Identify and correctly name the nine player positions on the softball field; Perform the basic skills of a catcher in a game-like situation (squatting, blocking, signaling intentional walks, fielding, etc.).	Written and oral test

 

General SLO 3. Acquire the principles of training that help them to prevent injuries and improve performance through active participation in the activities.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
3.1.Identify the common exercises and training program applied for softball	Practicum-tournament competition
3.2.Perform lead up games to improve the skills in softball	Practicum-tournament competition
3.3. Explain and demonstrate correctly the basic training to improve the performance during actual games.	Practicum-tournament competition Written test
3.4.Use a softball glove and bare hands to field ground balls, by diving, kneeling, and sliding.	Practicum with rubric

               
General SLO 4. Exhibit the values of sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie and demonstrate the basic knowledge in coaching / officiating  and administration in sports activities or mini-tournament. (OSEP)

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment Strategies
4.1.Exhibit the values of sportsmanship and apply the rules of the game in coaching and officiating a mini-tournament competition.	Practicum with rubric
4.2.Participate actively in a mini-tournament by administering sport tournament draws as learning experience.	Practicum with rubric
4.3.Demonstrate proper techniques in coaching and make accurate judgment as a referee/umpire during the game.	Practicum with rubric
4.4. Correctly keep score during a game.	Practicum with rubric
4.5.Explain the basic concepts of offense and defense in softball.	Actual coaching the team

 

D.        COURSE CONTENT

            I. Introduction to Fundamentals of Softball

            II. Base running & Hitting

1. Rules of game
2. Making contact
3. Leading off
4. Tagging up
5. Rounding the bases
6. Injury prevention: warm-up, flexibility
7. Review previous concepts

            III. Catching & Throwing

1. Team defense (in-field)
2. Fielding Ground Balls
3. Throwing In-field Passes
4. Communication to teammates
5. Injury prevention: shoulder impingement syndrome
6. Review previous concepts

            IV. Catching & Throwing

1. Team defense (out-field)
2. Fielding Fly Balls
3. Throwing From Outfield
4. Hitting the “Cut-off” person
5. Double plays
6. Injury prevention: Sprains and Strains
7. Review previous concepts

              V. Pitching & Catching

                  a.  Importance of Pitcher & Catcher
b. Communication between Pitcher & Catcher
c. Squatting/blocking
d. Fielding pop-ups
e. Injury prevention: Importance of hydration
f. Review previous concepts

            VI. Pitching & Catching

1. Slow-pitch & Fast-pitch Softball
2. Drive through legs
3. Major Pitches: Fastball, Change Up, Curve ball
4. Review factors of physical fitness, skill factors
5. Injury prevention: prevention/treatment of heat exhaustion/stroke
6. Review previous concepts

              VII. Pitching & Hitting

1. Pitch placement/control
2. Bunting
3. Hitting Major Pitches: Fastball, Change Up, Curve ball
4. Review previous concepts

              VIII. Hitting

1. Team communication
2. Advancing runners: types of bunts, hits, sacrifice flyes
3. Injury: treating shoulder impingement, sprains & strains
4. Review previous concepts

            IX. Base running & Sliding

1. Team offense
2. Feet first slide
3. Injury prevention & treatment: abrasions
4. Review previous concepts

            X. Base running & Sliding

                  a.  Stealing a base
b. Headfirst slide
c. Running/sliding decision-making
d. Injury prevention & treatment: contusions
e. Review previous concepts

            XI. Game Strategy:

                  Offense

            XII. Game strategy:

                  Defense

            XIII. Safety

1. Common softball injuries
2. Cross-training for prevention of injuries
3. RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
4. Game drills
5. Review previous concepts

E. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
Demonstration, participation in mini-tournament, lecture, individual assignments, film showing.

 

F.  Required Text(s) and COURSE Materials
Briner, W., and Benjamin, H. “Volleyball injuries: managing acute and overuse disorders.”  The Physician and Sports Medicine
Fédération Internationale de Volleyball. “The Game: Volleyball, An Introduction.”  http://www.fivb.org/TheGame/index.htm
American Volleyball Coaches Association  http://www.avca.org/

G. REFERENCE MATERIALS
American College of Sports Medicine.  “ACSM Position stand on the recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, and flexibility in adults.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise,1998.

Nissan, Carl W., MD.  “Baseball and Softball Injuries.” Patient Information (University of Connecticut Health Center), March 16, 2006 http://uconnsportsmed.uchc.edu/patientinfo/articles/baseball_softball/index.html

Noren, Rick. Softball Fundamentals: A better way to learn the basics.  Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics 2005.

Sharkey, Brian J. Fitness & Health: 5th Edition.  Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics 2001. 

Verstegen, Mark, and Pete Williams.  The Core Performance: The Revolutionary Workout Program to Transform Your Body & Your Life.  USA: Joxy, LLC 2004.

Amateur Softball Association of America http://www.softball.org/default.asp 

American College of Sports Medicine http://www.acsm.org/index.asp

International Softball Federation http://www.internationalsoftball.com/ 

National Athletic Trainers’ Association Injury Information page http://www.nata.org/publications/otherpub/injuryinformation.htm#Baseball/Softball

Softball Australia http://www.softball.org.au/powered_by_Interfuse/

H. INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS:
None  

I. EVALUATION
None

J. CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
 None