Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question:  New to coaching and putting together a team. How much value should I place with effort and attitude over talent? (@12:36) Paige's Power Play (@17:04) Part 1 of interview with Justin McLeod of Extra Innings Softball and Justin's World of Softball. Interview is an interesting discussion of the upcoming college season. (@22:11) Part 2 of...

In this week's episode the coaches discuss how using intra-squad scrimmages and scrimmages with other teams to make your team better prepared to play real games. Don't schedule practice games with other teams without a plan. Just playing another team is not a scrimmage. Support the show

This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question; My 10 year old daughter hits the ball consistently, but with no power. What can I do? (@10:44) Does not playing high school ball impact recruitability? (@13:58) Incorporate some vision training in your schedule. (@20:06) Building player's confidence.  (@25:01) Support the show

Coaches and players are excited about getting back to practice and getting ready for the new spring season. Everyone needs to understand on how much work is reasonable and we are not doing more harm than good. We have to have a progression plan for getting the players ready.  Support the show

This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Should I get my glove steamed? (@14:56) Paige's Power Play (@22:51) Catchers need instruction and practice. During normal team practices, catchers don't get really dedicated practice especially at game speed. Most catchers need outside training. (@25:28) College Softball is just around the corner. Hopefully COVID will not have an impac...

Sometimes coaches get frustrated when players attempt a play that is impossible. For instance, a throw to home from the outfield when the runner is 20 feet from home plate. Understanding what is possible is a skill that has to be taught just like fielding, throwing, etc. In the case above, the outfielders have to learn to judge the distance they have to throw the ball against the speed of the runn...

This weeks lineup: Catchers, back up first base (@2:26) More games are lost than won. (@16:36) What is a "ball player" (@30:24) I hate "my bad" (@47:26) Support the show

In this week's edition of the show Coach Tory and Coach Don talk strategies for becoming a more effective coach, which doesn't always mean explaining what you want from your players. Support the show

This Weeks Lineup: Catcher's mask - On or Off (@2:10) Strike out is just an out.(@8:45) Yoda Logic - You must unlearn what you have learned. (@20:56) Create Versatility  (@33:05) Support the show

Coaches have to be prepared for many different situations that come up over the course of their careers. They need to have a repair/emergency kit to handle these situations. In this episode we talk about some of the items that can save the day. Support the show

This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter has been hit by several pitches this season. Now she is scared to get in the batter's box. What do I do? (@9:22) Paige's Power Play (@14:16) What is a quality at bat? Keeping track of your success by using batting average is a trap that doesn't really reflect how a player is contributing to the team. Putting pressure o...

Good coaches never stop learning. There are many opportunities for coaches for to acquire more knowledge of the game, managing games and players. Nobody knows all there is to know. If you are not getting better, you are getting worse. Support the show

This Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter wants to take time off over the holidays, but right after the first of the year she is going to college camps. How do we find the balance between taking time off and being prepared for the camps? (@9:07) Paige's Power Play (@13:39) 5 ways to judge whether a player and/or family is really committed to softball. (@16:59) When a gr...

The coaches discuss the fact that you have a platform to teach some life lessons that are not related to softball. Your players are used to you teaching and helping them. Coaches often connect with players better than parents at certain ages. Our suggestion is to allocate a short segment of your practice to discuss different topics related to things that might happen to them or they should be awar...

This Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question:  Should you play your way out of problems or coach and practice your way out of problems? (@11:17) Paige's Power Play (@21:12)  An Interview about Pinnacle Power Butter. A nutrient dense health food that provides sustained energy and lasting performance. (@24:50) Hitting Doesn't Get Easier. Pitchers gets better. Defense gets better. So...

You have moved indoors for practice because of the cold weather, but you have a trip planned to a warm weather destination to play some games. Whether it be the start of the spring season or you have not played a game in few weeks but are going to go to a tournament somewhere warm. The coaches discuss what you can do to keep the team prepared as best as possible to hit the field at a competitive l...

This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question:  Can you give me some advice on how to transition to metal spikes? (@11:15) Paige's Power Play (@16:08) Are dynasties good for sports? The coaches discuss the pros and cons of a team dominating a sport and the attitude of fans. (@21:06) When a ball is hit every player has someplace to be and it is never where they started. Teach the 3 B&apo...

It is important for coaches to match what they are teaching to the skill level of the players they are coaching. There is a natural progression of skills that the player has to learn. If we are doing drills that skips this progression the chances of the player succeeding goes down. If we are staying at a low level and not moving up the ladder then it will take longer for the players to progress. S...

This weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter's travel team doesn't spend much time warming up. How do I handle this? (@09:17) Paige's Power Play (@14:56) Interview with Erik Rico and Oscar Llarena of BatClubUSA.com. It is an interesting concept on bat ownership and worth giving a listen. (@17:46) Games have stacked up and you have a lot of games with little rest...

It is easy to put a very talented player on a pedestal and they develop a prima-donna personality. This isn't good for the team and certainly not good for the player. She may be on a pedestal at a younger age but middle of the pack at an older age. The coaches talk about handling this situation and give you some advice. Support the show

This Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter's coach wants to take over her recruiting. Is that a good idea? (9:30) Softball shopping list of things for a player. (@17:38) Fall Signing Period (@29:06) WTH Moment (@36:47) Support the show

The coaches discuss the different issues when it is time to move up an age group. There are things to consider as we move up especially in the younger age groups. Player are maturing, the rules are changing, equipment is changing and many things that have to be taken into consideration in our training and preparing. Support the show

This Week's Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Getting prepared for next season in a cold weather environment. (@09:48) Paige's Power Play (@16:56) Interview with Justin McLeod - Status of the College Game (@19:50) Phenomenon of Pickup Players (@47:07) Hitting with a purpose (@58:03) Support the show

Most of the country is now facing games being played in cold weather. When we first encounter cold weather it affects us more than if we are used to it. In this episode the coaches offer some guidelines that teams can do to make it easier on the players. Cold and stiff players do not play well. Support the show

This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: How do you pick the best national tournament for your team? (@11:10) Paige's Power Play (@17:58) How is the NIL changing college athletics and is it working? (@23:58) Game day preparations. Pregame warmups and practices. Pregame pep talks. Effective game communication. (@34:55) Looking for players to finish out roster. Be cautious, talent i...