Calling pitches is one of the most important and least taught skills in softball coaching. At the youth level, many coaches let the catcher or pitcher decide what to throw. As players develop and face better hitters, having a coach who understands pitch selection and sequencing makes a significant difference in game outcomes.
Know Your Pitcher
Before you can call effective pitches, you need to know exactly what your pitcher can throw with confidence. A pitch that looks great in warmups but misses the zone in games is not a reliable option. Your pitch calling is limited to what your pitcher can execute consistently.
For each pitcher, identify:
- Their best pitch (the one they can throw for a strike when they need to)
- Their out pitch (the one that generates swings and misses or weak contact)
- Pitches that are still developing and should be used sparingly in game situations
Basic Pitch Calling Strategy
At its simplest, pitch calling follows a few principles:
Get ahead in the count. The first pitch strike is the most important pitch of the at-bat. When ahead 0-1 or 0-2, you can expand the zone and throw pitches that are harder to hit. When behind 1-0 or 2-0, you need to come back with strikes.
Change speeds. The most effective pitch sequencing uses speed changes to disrupt timing. A changeup after two fastballs, or a fastball after two off-speed pitches, keeps the hitter guessing.
Move the ball around the zone. Do not throw to the same location twice in a row. Up and in followed by low and away. Inside followed by outside. Force the hitter to adjust their eye level and timing between pitches.
Situational Calling
The game situation affects what you call:
- Runner on third, less than two outs: avoid wild pitches. Call pitches your pitcher controls well, even if they are less dominant
- Two outs, nobody on: be more aggressive. This is where you can challenge hitters with your best stuff
- Bunt situations: call high pitches that are hard to bunt down, typically fastballs up in the zone
- Steal threats on base: quick pitches and pitchouts. Work with your catcher on timing
Reading the Hitter
Watch each hitter during their at-bat and in previous at-bats:
- Are they standing close to the plate or far away? Close means they can cover the inside corner. Far means they are vulnerable inside
- Do they swing at first pitches? If yes, start with a ball off the plate to get ahead
- Are they a pull hitter? Pitch them away to produce weak opposite-field contact
- Do they chase low pitches? Use that tendency with your drop ball or changeup
Communication Systems
Most pitch calling systems use a combination of hand signals from the dugout to the catcher. Keep the system simple enough that your catcher can receive and relay the sign quickly. Common setups include:
- Number system: each pitch type has a number, and the coach flashes the number with fingers
- Wristband card: the coach calls a number that corresponds to a pitch and location on a wristband card
- Touch signs: the coach touches different body parts to indicate pitch and location
Whichever system you use, practice it until it is second nature for everyone involved. Miscommunication between dugout, catcher, and pitcher leads to bad pitches and crossed signals at the worst moments.
Pitch calling improves with experience. Keep a mental or written log of what works against different hitters and teams. Over a season, you build a database of tendencies that makes your pitch calling sharper with every game.
