Aggressive Defensive Strategies

with Patty Gasso,
University of Oklahoma Head Softball Coach;
8x Women's College World Series (WCWS) NCAA Champions;
first team in college softball history to win 4 National Championships in a row;
tied for most WCWS wins in D-I softball history (with Mike Candrea);
2025 SEC Coach of the Year;
2012 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame;
7x NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year;
2017 C. Vivian Stringer Coaching Award;
5x NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year;
In 2013 coached the first ever WCWS champion to lead the nation in scoring and ERA;
2012 National Fastpitch Coaches Hall of Fame;
15x Big XII Coach of the Year;
Most Big XII wins by a coach in league History (428);
1550+ wins with a .812 winning percentage;
Long Beach City College Head Coach from 1990 to 1994;
played college softball for El Camino & Long Beach State

As Patty Gasso says and many coaches would agree, defense wins championships. In this video, Coach Gasso explores the aggressive defensive mindset, strategies, and drills that have helped her Oklahoma Sooners win eight NCAA National Championships. She begins with bunt and slap defense, moves on to defending the steal, covers first and third situations, and touches on relays.

Bunt and slap defense
The defense can better prepare itself if it knows what to expect from the offense. Coach Gasso begins her presentation by explaining the different defensive approaches she uses with a runner at first base, a common bunting scenario. Coach Gasso explains how her team handles bunt defense, and has her defense demonstrate coverage. She also delves into defending against slappers and bunt coverage with multiple runners on base, situations that place pressure on the defense to execute.

Steal
With one or more runners on base, many offenses will choose to challenge the catcher by stealing to advance runners, rather than give the defense an out with a bunt. Coach Gasso shows how to neutralize the steal, using good communication between the fielders and different steal coverage. A steal attempt requires the defense to be quick and accurate, so knowing how to anticipate steals and position the defense accordingly is critical.

Double plays
Coach Gasso believes in an aggressive style of defense with fielders playing to get the lead out when runners are on base. This opens up the door for double plays. Coach Gasso and her team demonstrate turning double plays from all positions on the field. A defense that can convert a double play when there are runners on base has a better chance at getting out of the situation without giving up a run.

First and third situations
First and third situations put pressure on a defense to execute as players must make quick decisions and accurate throws. Even though first and third situations don't happen very often, Coach Gasso places special emphasis on them. If these situations aren't handled correctly, the offense can score without the batter ever touching the ball. She has six options for defensive plays that she runs against a first and third situation. Gasso has her defense demonstrate the plays, and offers advice on when to use each option.

Relays
A good relay will get the ball from the outfield to the infield quickly, preventing an offense from advancing and scoring. Coach Gasso's team demonstrates different ways to handle relays depending on where the ball is hit, and offers advice on how to set up the cut-offs.

Although offense is becoming a focal point of the game of softball, a good defense can help neutralize an opponent's powerful offense. If an opponent can't score on your team, they can't beat you. Coach Gasso shows you how to keep an opponent's offense at bay by creating an airtight defense. The results will show in the win column.

54 minutes. 2014.