Just when you thought softball strategy was complicated you run into the mysteries of coaching female athletes. If you're interested in finding ways to break the code then check out 5 Keys that will help!

Have you ever disciplined a player only to have 3 other players mad at you for a week? Or had one of your best athletes not really trying her hardest no matter what you do to convince her otherwise? If so then you really need to know 5 Keys for Understanding the Female Athlete.

Female athletes are not less competitive then male. We aren't less skilled or less motivated, less intelligent or less driven. But there are a few things we are, and it's these things that are crucial for coaches to know if you ever want to get the best out of us.

Coaching the female athlete doesn't require a degree in psychology and to us, women really aren't so mysterious. We know how we are so when all the little mysteries and issues start happening within a team, we know just what's going on. But then, so many of our teams are coached by men and that's where everything starts to get complicated.

While I already mentioned some of the things that women athletes are not, let's take a look at a list that's a little more helpful, and that's a list of what we are. Women athletes tend to:

Voice and Body Language Matter - That's why you might not be yelling at me but I think you're mad at me because you've raised your voice. I can't really separate your tone from your message, so if you're trying to reach me as a coach you need to do the separating. I know it might be harder but the result is worth it. Also, all those times you stand in the 3rd base coaching box with your hands on your hips and your head down thinking, I think you're mad at me and don't believe in me as a hitter. Since that's what those behaviors mean to me. I don't know you're thinking, I assume you're mad or disgusted at me. So, try thinking with your head up and your hands clapping or else at your side.

We're Social Creatures - Most girls tend to join teams when they're young for the social interaction. That part is important and it's one reason we talk more during warm-ups than the guys do on the other field. It doesn't mean we don't care about playing softball, it just means we care about each other and what's going on as well. Give us some time to be social and do things like cheer and support our teammates. It's what makes female team sports so fantastic - we LOVE our team, but remember that sometimes I need to focus on my own contribution to the team just as much as I focus on the team. So help me do this by improving my own skills and let me support my teammates with my conversations and my cheers.

We Don't Like to Separate Ourselves - Maybe it's how girls are raised in general, but we tend to not want to do things to separate ourselves from our group. It's not that we don't want to, it's more that the group doesn't want us to. It's why you're best player is probably not playing her best. If she does then she will separate herself from her friends who will then make her life tough. I know it's crazy, but it's more common than you think. If you know a young girl with lots of talent that's afraid to play as hard as she can for fear of separating herself from her team, then she's at the point where she needs to start looking for another team with more talented players. She can keep her old group of friends but simply find a new group of like-minded teammates.

We're Self-Critical - We tend to be harder on ourselves than anyone else could ever be. That's why you need to help us be good to ourselves, to point out the good that we're doing. We're masters at noticing the bad, even if it really isn't bad, we'll make it that way. Encourage your players to first find the GOOD that they did before they start criticizing themselves. It's the only way to help some of your more critical players start building their confidence and feeling good about themselves. You lead the way by being a "Good Finder" and not always pointing out the obvious mistakes but instead, start with the good and then find a solution!

We're Awesome Teammates - girls and women are great team sport participants. We are all about supporting the group and our team so help us know it's OK for us to also improve our own individual skills. The stronger the individual players the stronger the team. Help us improve our personal softball skills so we can improve our team. Be sure to tell me exactly how I fit in this team and how you will use me as the coach, and what I can do to change my role or playing time if I don't like it. Take time to build our "team" and you will find our strength as female athletes!