Softball can be an enjoyable game in after-work recreational leagues or at family picnics. It can also be a high-level competitive game played at the high school, college, professional and international levels. However, playing softball might not be advantageous for all players who are looking for athletic competition.
Softball Injuries
Injuries can occur at any point in a softball game. However, pitchers have to overcome shoulder tendinitis and inflammation, back and neck pain along with elbow, wrist and forearm tendinitis. Catchers often have back and knee problems while other players commonly have shoulder and elbow problems, according to the website Stop Sports Injuries.
Poor Habits
Playing softball on a competitive team can lead to poor fundamentals if coaches or captains give the team unsound practice drills. Any drill that asks the player to use a locked elbow or a stiff shoulder can lead to bad habits and poor execution in games. When players lock their feet in place and throw back and forth with each other by merely rotating their shoulders they are not throwing correctly. According to Ken Krause of Softball Performance.com, this leads to poor throwing by players in games.
Need For Exercise
Some people who participate in recreational softball leagues do so with the idea of getting some exercise. However, the game itself does not usually provide significant exercise and those who want to get a workout need to do outside exercises to get in better shape. According to Carrie Schiller of the Kesler Institute for Research in New Jersey, softball players should do stretching and warmup exercises for at least 15 minutes prior to games, and those stretches should include the arms, hips, legs and back.
Fast-pitch Softball
The game is often dominated by pitching. When pitchers who can throw the ball at speeds exceeding 70 mph get on the mound, hits and runs come at a premium. Games are often decided by one or two late runs. This creates a high-pressure environment and a mistake or two by a player can ruin the experience and turn what should be a fine experience into a nightmarish experience. Making a game-deciding error in the late innings can leave a player with a lifetime of regret.
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