Clinic will be held Feb. 8 at KHS from 2-4 p.m.
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For the 17th year, members of the Kokomo High School softball program will host a free clinic, open to Kokomo students ages four and up to middle school. The clinic began as a way for young athletes to try out the game before committing to a full season of play or for returning players to use a springboard into the next season.
The clinic will be held Sat., Feb. 8, at KHS from 2-4 p.m.
“I think this is a really a great thing to continue in order to give people a taste of what this sport is about,” stated Candace Steve, Kokomo High School Head Softball Coach. “It’s also a great opportunity for our varsity girls to interact with the community and teach what they love to do.”
The clinic is set up to provide beginning instruction on fielding, hitting, baserunning, and an overview of the game. Steve said it is important to teach essentials such as proper throwing and catching techniques, which are cornerstones of the game. Therefore, it will be a focus for her to bring to the next generation of Wildkats.
Steve endeavors to place an emphasis on youth growing up with proper techniques that will keep them safe and healthy over their careers, all while keeping the culture of the game serious, but fun. She noted how she already has seen the next generation of Kats begin their softball journey, from camps to rec ball to watching the Lady Kats play ball in the spring.
“It brings the softball community together,” she said. “It’s fun to see how the sport is growing again. I think it’s important to start young and make sure this remains fun so that by the time they get to high school, they’re still having fun.”
In addition to throwing and catching, the clinic will host stations focused on form at the plate, running the bases, and proper leadoff techniques. Steve also wants to focus on growing the knowledge of the game.
“I don’t see a lot of teaching of the game itself occurring until the players get to their first game situation,” she said. “What are the bases? How many outs? How many innings, and things like that? We’re going to start to teach them some of the lingo they’ll hear out at the fields.”
Participants should wear gym or workout clothing and sneakers and bring water to drink. It is recommended that they bring a glove, a bat, and a fielding mask if they have one. Players do not have to have equipment to take part in the clinic as the community’s give-back initiative has equipment that has been donated for others to use. This initiative has helped Kokomo-area families cut costs while starting a new sport over the last several years.
“Equipment costs so much,” expressed Steve. “Families that would like to, can donate old equipment that has been laying around the house because there will be a lot of new players to the game but also players in need of bigger sizes. You don’t have to have everything brand new. We just want you to come out and play.”