Fastpitch Interview
Howard Kobata
Presenting Mr. Howard Kobata...
of SoftballSkills.com. Howard is knows for his teachings in defense. Here's what Howard had to share with us during his interview.
Can you tell us a little about your history in Sports?
I grew up in Hilo, Hawaii and graduated from Hilo High School where I played baseball and football. I moved to California after high school and played baseball, fastpitch softball and slow-pitch softball. I remained in softball as an instructor and have done clinics from the west coast to the east coast and Canada.
How did you get involved with the sport of fastpitch softball?
My first experience with the softball was when I moved to California from Hawaii after graduation and played in the Hawaiian Fastpitch league. It was a great way to keep in contact with other local people and have some fun.
What is your current involvement in the game?
I spend all of my spare time doing Softball clinics across the states and in Canada. I also have 80 to 90 students per week that attend my training sessions in So Cal.
Are you still doing clinics? If so, where can someone attend a clinic/camp?
Yes, I do clinics, however, they are usually clinics for teams that contract me to work with them. My training sessions are held in So. Cal on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. If anyone is interested in attending a session contact me via my website and I will gladly let your daughter attend one. I am now spending more time (especially during the winter months) in the midwest, eastern states and Canada. I am planning a couple of trips to Hawaii, and will put on a clinic for you if there is enough interest.
Is there one skill/player characteristic that you feel is essential on defense.
More than anything else, correct footwork must be learned to be able to reach your potential. Footwork allows an average player to often excel over a more athletic player that has no fundamental techniques.
Would you recommend working on Fundamentals/mechanics in every practice?
Definitely! Some techniques would be practiced more often than others, but there is enough situations to keep the players interested with a variety of drills.
How does a coach teach "aggressiveness" on defense?
I have introduced the double ball drills, which creates competition between players and challenges them to make certain plays or perform specific techniques. This is one of the best ways of forcing a player to be more aggressive. My double ball drills are now being used by more coaches as they see the results.
What do you mean by "Logic of Defense?"
The Logic of Defense is teaching players techniques that make sense and in the end helps them to make plays quicker and easier. Hopefully the logic of each catching, throwing and fielding techniques that is taught will give players a better understanding of what has to be done and why it is done that way.
I watched the clip of the “Catching and Throwing” video – you address glove position there. I think many coaches overlook teaching that to players that are just learning. Since you cover it on the video, I’m sure you feel it is important. What can go wrong if you don’t go over this with players that are just learning to play?
The glove position while making a catch or fielding a ball can be very critical in setting up for the next play, having a quick release or simply making the play. For example, if the glove is straight up and down while fielding a ball (the glove is too close or under the body), the play will not be as quick as with the glove at an angle. If you are making a catch and the glove is too close to the body, you have less time to find the ball, and many times it will slow you down as you make a pivot.
Everyone says, “Offense wins games, Defense wins championships” – Do you agree?
In many good games, the score is usually low and defensive mistakes will many times lose the game. Quickness will help make those outs that are commonly lost by a step or two. The ability to handle the backhands, fade-away, glove and hand flips, playing the short-hop and other important and sometimes unusual plays, can be easily done with practice. Everyone makes errors, but by working on defensive techniques, players can have more confidence by knowing how to make plays in any situation.
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