Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

All teams have players at different skill levels. Could the difference between winning at the end of the season be how much you players with the lessor skills have advanced? You have weaker hitters and fielders with weaker skills. If your practice plans push those players as well as your top players they will close the gap. Often starters or the best players receive the most reps because we view t...

This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Getting a pitcher in better shape (@10:51) Paige's Power Play (@16:33) Coaching staff and how to use them more effectively (@26:21) Getting players ready for college ball (@49:43) Quality outfield practice (@54:32) Support the show

We have all seen it. You have an athlete that doesn't think they have to abide by the same standards as the other players. Many times it is a very talented player who thinks they are better than other players and should have special privileges. Sometimes this is a home problem and sometimes it is a coaching problem. We have seen where an athlete was a difference maker on a team and the parent...

This weeks lineup: Warm-up Segment Listener Question: Is it okay for players to miss practice to pick up with other teams? (@12:04) Paige's Power Play (@17:39) When a hitter struggles we see something and immediately think that is the problem. Often that is a symptom caused by the real problem.  @(25:20)  College Softball is on the horizon. (@39:22) Speed and Agility: good investment of our t...

In this episode we discuss the importance of coaches knowing the rules and teaching them to your players. Your credibility is at stake if during a game it becomes obvious that you don't know a rule.  We have all witnessed a train wreck when a situation happens and everyone is confused. Also it is imperative that when you go to a tournament that you know any specific rules that are different f...

This weeks lineup: Warm-Up Segment Listener Question: Will we be able to see games in person this year? (@8:34) Paige's Power Play (@11:45) Part 2 of Rachel Coleman Interview on recruiting (@21:03) Hank Aaron's attitude about hitting.  Keep Swinging (@52:15) Your players are working hard for you. Are you working hard for them (@55:04) Support the show

The discussion is about adding new players to your team and how to transition them from new players to just players. When we add new players, there is a learning curve for them that can impact your practices and games until they are fully transitioned into the teams way of doing things. For instance, at practice you tell the team to go do "x" drill. The new players don't know what &...

This weeks lineup: Warm-up Segment Paige's Power Play (@11:43) First part of an interview with Rachel Coleman a former D1 Coach breaking down the softball recruiting process. (@18:31) Managing traveling by airplane to a tournament. (@53:49) Early season practices. (@58:13) Support the show

Eventually, letting a pitch hit you is going to be expected. The coaches discuss this practice and when players are old enough to understand and not let it affect them in the batter's box. You have to understand the safety aspects as well as the psychological impact.  Support the show

This weeks lineup: Shoutout Segment Listener Question: Which dugout would we chose and why? (@9:10) Paige's Power Play (@12:53) How much do catchers throw and is it too much (@22:26) Discussion of Bruce Lee quote - Don't speak negatively about yourself, even as a joke, your body doesn't know the difference. Words are energy change the way you speak about yourself and you can change...

The coaches discuss the absolute need for practice plans and being prepared. You should go to every practice with a legitimate plan. We lose kids when we bore them, we lose kids when we are disorganized and we lose everybody if they think we are wasting their time. Invest in a plan and adhere to it. This is a must listen for every coach. Support the show

This weeks lineup: Shoutout segment Listener Question: Advice on how to protect myself catching my daughter as she gets faster. (@10:34) Paige's Power Play (@18:49) What to do when you see someone obviously  teaching a player incorrectly. (@22:50) How appropriate is it for a parent to ask for an accounting of where the team money is going. (@34:37) What to look for when we are looking for pit...

Discussion based upon a study that was made as to what female athletes like, what motivates them and why they continue to play. The study covers a lot of ground and helps us understand what creates the best environment for them. Support the show

This weeks Lineup: Shoutout segment Listener Question: Is it worth it to attend college camps? (@ 9:51) Paige's Power Play (@ 15:23) Discussion from NFCA convention that Travel Ball players need to compete for positions. (@ 18:44) Corona update on college softball (@ 33:33) Coaches we have to get in shape (@ 45:30) Support the show

In this episode we discuss things that we say that confuse the player. And when you really think about what we are saying, they don't make any sense. For the new year we need to add this to our list of things to stop doing to get the best performance out of our players. Support the show

This weeks lineup: Shoutout segment  Listener Question: Daughter is struggling to hit the ball hard. (@ 9:04) Paige's Power Play (@ 14:14) Talent is increasing but passion is lagging (@ 19:09) Covering bases on steals (@ 40:00) A quality at-bat is not always a hit. (@ 48:58) Support the show

This weeks episode discusses how to utilize assistant coaches.  As head coach you need to delegate to your assistants certain responsibilities and let them coach. You also need to make sure that all of you are on the same page and avoid anything that undermines the players confidence in you or the assistants. Support the show

This weeks lineup: Shoutout Segment  Listener question: Daughter struggles off pitching machine, okay in game (@ 8:01) Paige's Power Play (@ 14:01) Off-Season conditioning and training (@ 17:53) 5 rules to becoming a great sports parent (@ 30:23) Sarcasm is not a good coaching philosophy (@ 44:30) Support the show

There are situations in a game where getting an out over giving up a run puts your team in a better situation. Last inning and you are up by multiple runs with runner(s) on base. We can give up the run to make sure of an out. The objective is to keep the other team from getting a rally going. Listen as we discuss the different situations. Support the show

This weeks lineup: Shoutout segment Listener Question: The school administration may build us a softball facility. What advice do you have? (@8:17) Paige's Power Play (@18:00) Impact of being the younger sibling.  (@22:55) Body Language (@46:02) Trap of coaching every player the same. (@54:13) Support the show

In this weeks episode we discuss the issue of dad coaches being too hard on their own daughters. First of all we acknowledge that softball would not be as big a sport without dad coaches. For a large part dad coaches are unfairly criticized for playing daddy ball. But we have the flip side where dad coaches are unfair to their own daughters trying to prove that they are not playing daddy ball. Lis...

This weeks lineup: Shoutout Segment Listener question: How to make a pitching mat (@13:14) Paige's Power Play (@17:46) 2021 College Softball Update (@21:59) Home to First Time (@35:27) Celebrating small victories (@46:07) Support the show

This episode is based on a listener question of how should a player position their glove in the ready position. We discuss what a player needs to be ready for and the optimal position to have the best chance on all types of hit balls. Support the show

This weeks lineup: Shoutout Segment Listener Question: What to do about inappropriate walk-up music? (@8:54) Paige's Power Play (@15:42) Peaks and Valleys of the softball calendar (@21:14) Percentages of High School players that play in college. (@39:18) Teach our players to backup. (@51:49) Support the show

This weeks episode is prompted by a listener question regarding looking for a pitching instructor. There are buzz words that describe an instructors method. We break that down and suggest to not be concerned with what the method is called but does it make sense for the body to perform the repetitions required of a pitcher. Support the show