One thing I am always impressed with when I watch NCAA Div I post season play is the speed of some players. One thing I noticed this year is how many players credited things they learned from running track to really helping them up their speed for softball too. Running track is an excellent way to get faster. Not only because you simply practice running fast so much, but because most track coaches will also work on running technique every single day.
Learning HOW TO run more efficiently and more effectively WILL help you run faster! It's just like throwing or hitting - the better your technique, the better you can perform the skill. Sprinting is no different. Improve your running technique and you'll improve your softball running speed.
Here are some common things softball players do incorrectly when they run:
? Poor Knee Lift - knees get nowhere near hip level during a sprint results in shorter strides which means a player is covering less ground with each turnover of the leg
? Heels First - when you sprint your heels are not even supposed to touch the ground! And yet many players will run heel-toe when sprinting around the bases or sprinting to fly balls.
? Side-to-Side Arm Action - arms swinging more east and west rather than north and south. You are trying move forward as fast as possible and yet your arms are moving in a completely different direction! This does not help you. Get your arms moving more north and south. Keep your elbows closer to your body and run "cheek to cheek" (hand positioning at the ends of your arm swing - face cheek to butt cheek and back).
Correcting these issues will help you run faster with less effort and get safe more often!