In this weeks episode, we talk about what is appropriate practice based upon where the team is in their season. Practices from pre-season to the beginning are intense and a lot is covered. As the season progresses, practice needs to change based on how much the team is playing, how long they have been playing, physical condition, etc. Listen to get the coaches opinion on how to manage practice time. Support the show
This Weeks Lineup: Shoutout Segment (@ 3:10) Listener Question: What is you opinion of one handed hitting drills? (@ 9:13) Paige's Power Play (@ 13:24) Hitting coach has to be a psychologist, therapist and counselor. (@ 19:25) 10 things that can kill team culture. (@ 34:14) The same level of accountability has to be applied to everyone connected with the team. (@ 59:00) Support the show...
Discussion of how the relationship between umpires and coaches and players and umpires. Support the show
This weeks episode: Shoutout Segment Listener Question - The worst things that a prospective athlete can do that can derail recruiting. (@ 8:07) Paige's Power Play (@ 13:25) Lists and rankings. Making sense of them. ( 20:13) Where should I take my team for a end of season tournament? (@ 37:47) How coaches should handle criticism. (@ 47:55) Support the show...
Every player deserves to have a consistent dialog with their coach as to their strengths and weaknesses. They need to have a clear understanding of what they specifically need to work on to become the best that they can become. As we are heading into the off-season, a conversation with each player should be mandatory to give them goals and objectives to work on. Support the show
This weeks lineup: Shoutout Paige's Power Play (@ 9:00) Discussion of the difference between a "ball player" and someone who just wants to play ball. (@ 17:45) A listener asks - What am I paying for when I pay my travel ball dues/payments? We discuss the basics and the types of things that could be in the costs. (@ 35:03) Another listener question - I have coached 3 sons through their baseball careers and now going to coach my daughter's softball team. What differences can I expect? (@ 51:50) Su...
Catching is a very important position. What are you doing in practice to make your catchers better? What drills are you giving them? How much of practice time is designed to make them better? We often see catchers spend most of their time catching balls thrown in and then tossing them to the coach to hit another one to the infield. Your catcher will handle many more balls in a game than the infielder, they need practice as much as the infielders. Coach them UP! Support the show...
This weeks lineup: Shoutout Segment Paige's Power Play How long should pitcher's warm-up? Discussion of coaching styles Coachable and un-coachable players Why do teams play better behind some pitchers? Support the show
All players are not the same athletically and as they grow and get older their bodies are continuously changing. Your practices shouldn't be a one size fits all, but drills and stations need to be individualized to the capabilities of each player. Your goal is for each one of them to become the best that they can become. Support the show
This weeks lineup: Shoutout segment Paige's Power Play Listener Question: Why does my daughter hit so much better in practice than in a game? Interview with Danielle Rubin a pitching instructor that not only does in person lessons but has mastered giving instruction online. Discussion on why players should consider junior colleges. Coaches set the tone for the team. As the coach goes so does the team. Support the show...
Most games are lost because we do little things poorly. What are little things? Listen as the coaches talk about just a fraction of the little things and you realize there is no end to the little things that a player can do to improve the odds of winning. Support the show
This weeks lineup: The shoutout segment Paige's Power Play Listener question - the pros and cons of knee savers How to handle discontent on a team and a mutiny is not the way to go. Know the differences between cut-offs and relays. Support the show
Coaches, in a game, we get in the habit of watching the ball instead of watching the whole field. It is like watching the game on TV. The camera follows the ball. In the game, every player has a role on every play and pitch. If we are surprised that a player did not back up a certain play, do you know if that was just one incident or have they not been moving all game. If you can't answer that question, you have probably been following the ball instead of watching the entire field and the moveme...
This weeks lineup: Listener Question: Is it okay to let my catcher practice with a pitching machine? More games are lost than won. Be the team that wins by paying attention to the little things. Pitchers: Attack the Zone Don't let the inequities of who does the work to support the team cause friction on the team. Think of all of the tasks that have to be done like cleaning up the dugout, carrying equipment to the warm-up area, etc. Assign duties and spread the work out over the whole team. Suppo...
Playing softball successfully requires mastering certain skills. It is a game of skills. An athletic player can be successful by relying on their athleticism up to a certain point. Sooner or later the speed of the game catches up with their athleticism. Each player has a ceiling as to what they can achieve and we should be requiring all of them to acquire the skills to take them as far as possible. It is possible for a less athletic player to surpass an athletic player if they work on their skil...
This weeks lineup: Shout our segment. Discussion of catchers backing up first base. This is prompted by comments from a post on the same topic. The coaches are pretty adamant that a catcher's job is to back up first. 15 skills that are learned by playing on a team that are important and are carried over to real life. Unwritten rules that are being carried over from baseball to softball. There are not good reasons for some of these and we shouldn't feel bad by doing what's best for the team and p...
Some players have the opportunity to play for a team, such as a school team, that has lessor skilled players than their travel ball team and is not near as competitive. This is especially true with middle school teams. We hear complaints all the time about I can't hit slow pitching, they make more mistakes, etc. This is not something to complain about, but a great opportunity to grow as a player. Support the show
This weeks lineup: Listener question on developing competitiveness in a team. A team should always be performing at their best no matter what the score or circumstances. Interview with InnerPro Sports. They offer an app that allows an athlete to train wherever they are. It generates an individualized program for strength and conditioning, mental performance and nutrition. Fall recruiting in these strange times. Signals and offensive strategy. For instance, you call a steal. What do you expect th...
Everyone does not learn the same way and most learn better with a mix of methods. When you are coaching a team there is going to be a mixture of learning types. You can't go out there and teach just one way and impact all of your players. You have to understand how they learn and how to teach so that they all understand. In this podcast we discuss how people learn and how to apply that to teaching softball skills. Support the show...
This weeks lineup: Shout out segment Listener question: Moving up in bat size? Length and weight, length only or weight only. Many COVID changes this week in the college world. Any player that is looking at being recruited needs to understand that the recruiting process has changed. They and their parents have to adapt and they will have to do more to advance their chances. Listener question: What type of shoes? We discuss the pros and cons of Turf Shoes, Molded Cleats and Spikes. Support the sh...
These week we discuss that there has to be some fun built into practices, especially for the younger ages. We want our players to want to come to practice not have to . We can make it fun and enjoyable and accomplish what we are trying to achieve by adding some new twists to our drills. It takes working on your practice plan and modifying it to add competitiveness and enjoyable aspects. Listen for some ideas. Support the show...
This weeks lineup: Usual Shout Out topics. Listener question about punishment for mistakes. Mistakes need to be categorized between lack of a skill and effort. If some sort of punishment needs to be handed out we don't believe in running as a punishment. A complete athlete is well conditioned, so any form of conditioning should not be viewed as punishment. It's Tryout Season. We discuss how a player and her parents should approach the tryouts for a new team. It is almost like getting recruited f...
As schools start back, a lot of schools are going to be using virtual learning but with more structure than when it had to be implemented instantly back in the spring. If you are virtual learning, we discuss how to use your class breaks to become a better softball player. Support the show
This weeks lineup: Shout out section Paige's Power Play Listener question on needing help in finding dedicated players for her team. The merger of Perfect Game (PG) and Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF). Will this be good for the fastpitch community? The conversation also moves into the cost of travel ball and limits on how much you should spend for tournaments and showcases. High School softball has started up in some of the states that play in the fall. There will be restrictions and yes, you must...
Throwing has to be practiced over and over to make the exceptional plays.There are many types of throws and each one should be practiced at every workout and at home. We go over many types of throws that you can build into your throwing program. Practice throwing, throwing and more throwing. Support the show
This weeks podcast was distributed with the wrong date. To avoid any confusion we are uploading it again with today's date. This weeks line up. Shout out section - Player of the week, Equipment tip, Did You Know, Listener question about foul tips and stealing Paige's Power Play Interview with Steven Locke head coach of the AP Gold 16U team just off winning the Triple Crown Southeast Nationals. Listen as he explains how this team was built and their coaching philosophy. What has become a weekly u...
This weeks line up. Shout out section - Player of the week, Equipment tip, Did You Know, Listener question about foul tips and stealing Paige's Power Play Interview with Steven Locke head coach of the AP Gold 16U team just off winning the Triple Crown Southeast Nationals. Listen as he explains how this team was built and their coaching philosophy. What has become a weekly update of the affects of COVID 19 to sports. Everyone is following college sports because what they do will have an impact on...
A bat is a major expense for the fastpitch player and family. Understanding what you are buying and how to make this decision is discussed in detail. Follow us on facebook for the latest softball information: https://www.facebook.com/fastpitchpreponline/ Support the show
Listen as we discuss different topics concerning the softball community. Shout out segment - Player of the week - City of the week Listener question - Should catchers remove their mask on fielding plays or leave it on? Segment 1 - Discussions are under way to change recruiting dates in an effort to clean up the mess caused by the Corona shutdowns. These decisions not only affect current players but ripple down through travel ball teams for several years. Segment 2 - The continuing changing Coron...
This week we emphasis how important it is for coaches and parents to instill an "I can do it attitude". In all parts of life, not just softball, the confidence and attitude that I can do anything leads to great success. Not all people naturally have that attitude. But, we as adults can lead our players and children down that path. You don't start out by placing them in the most stressful situation they will see then try to convince them that everything is okay. Listen as the coaches discuss work...
