Pick-off plays. How valuable they are and how to take advantage of them.
A discussion of pick-off plays. When are you ready to add them to your toolbox and what you have to understand to use them. Support the show
May 21, 2021•17 min
Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast
Everything Fastpitch is a podcast hosted by Coach Tory Acheson and Coach Don McKinlay. Tory and Don are former college coaches that are now full time instructors and travel ball coaches. Since retiring form active collegiate coaching they have committed themselves to providing educational materials to the fastpitch community. This podcast is one of the resources they are providing. Their website has 500+ blog posts and they have a YouTube channel. All of these cover fastpitch softball from coaching and training beginner athletes up through college athletes. It is a great resource for players, parents and coaches. Whether it be training tips, mental aspects, coaching methods, recruiting etc. it is all covered, hence the name Everything Fastpitch.
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episodes
Interview with Tristan Hildebrandt of Anderson Bat / Pitcher Only - good or bad / DP Flex
This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter pitches behind often but still gets strikeouts. Is this a problem? (@8:51) Paige's Power Play (@12:50) Part 1 of an interview with Tristan Hildebrandt of the Anderson Bat Company. A great discussion on the bat manufacturing business. (@14:56) Listener question discussion. What do we think about a player being a pitcher only especially at the younger ages? (@38:12 Discussion of the DP Flex rule (@48:02) Support the show...
May 19, 2021•54 min
Vacation Softball
Coach Tory discusses his experiences with coaching in a softball tournament at a vacation destination. There are pros and cons. The family gets to combine a vacation with going to the tournament. The hosts market the tournament as a destination location because of the attractions. But for softball those attractions are really distractions. They can be detrimental to play. Just make sure everyone is on the same page as to what the number 1 objective is. Support the show...
May 14, 2021•15 min
Pitcher - Catcher relationships / Regular recruiting calendar is back / Playing time
This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: I live too far for access to instructors. What are some alternative options? (@10:00) Paige's Power Play (@15:02) Pitcher - Catcher relationships. The catcher can be valuable in getting better pitching performance. (@19:53) The D1 recruiting calendar is back on and players need to be prepared for returning to somewhat normal. (@33:22) The million dollar question. How does a coach determine playing time. They have to have a method and be transp...
May 12, 2021•55 min
This could be the one - Keeping that every pitch focus
In this episode we discuss the need for emphasizing the need to have an every pitch focus. Players need to understand each pitch could be the one that they need to react to. It's easy to lose focus, but we have to dial back in at pitch time. Support the show
May 07, 2021•14 min
Part 2 of Interview with Jerrad Hardin / College Softball News / Unusual skill for better practices
This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Pickup Players playing instead of team members (@15:30) Paige's Power Play (@21:15) Part 2 of Interview with Jerrad Hardin (@30:46) College Softball News (@45:03) Unusual skill for better practices (@51:36) Support the show
May 05, 2021•1 hr
Keeping emotions within the boundaries of top performance.
All sports have an optimum arousal level. When our emotions are below that level or above that level we don't perform as well. This week we discuss the need to monitor that level and make sure our players are not trying to execute while their emotions are out of bounds. Support the show
Apr 30, 2021•18 min
Interview with Jerrad Hardin / College Highlights / Greatest weakness in Softball
This weeks line:up Warmup Segment Listener Question: How to handle different coaching styles. (@10:20) Paige's Power Play (@16:46) Interview with Jerrad Hardin. Coach, instructor, camps and author. (19:02) Highlights in the world of college softball (@49:26) An error can open the flood gates. Work on pitcher's fielding. (@01:02:24) Support the show
Apr 28, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Don't waste a minute. We can give our team more innings.
Most of us have to adjust to time limit games because of the number of games that are scheduled on a field. It is the environment we live in. Because of that, it is mandatory that managing the clock has to have a high priority. In this episode we discuss how much playing time is lost to wasted minutes. Each minute lost waiting on someone, changing sides, discussing calls, etc. is a measurable percentage of our playing time. Let's give our players more innings. Support the show...
Apr 23, 2021•18 min
D1 Recruiting Changes / Regional Playoff Sites / College Softball is really good/ Slap Defense
This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment: Listener Question: What are our thoughts on walk-up music (@13:50) Paige's Power Play (@20:15) College D1 Recruiting Changes (@27:45) D1 pre-selecting Regional Playoff Host Sites (@32:18) College Softball is Really Really Good (@38:05) Slap Defense 2nd baseman up close (@49:37) Support the show
Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 4 min
A Strikeout is just an out
We have had a lively Facebook discussion of our blog post on "a strikeout is just an out". The coaches discuss the concept that it is very difficult to have multiple swing mechanics. At the next game you attend watch the reaction of players, fans and coaches between going back to the dugout after striking out and after just poking the ball to the infield. Often we see shame in striking out even if it was a good at bat versus "good try" on a dribbler to the infield. Listen and get their opinions ...
Apr 16, 2021•17 min•Ep. 83
Umpire shortage and challenges umpires face / Safety Bases / Preparing to play in bad weather
This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Disappointment over not being team captain. (@16:27) Paige's Power Play: (@19:31) Interview with a Texas umpire on the shortage of umpires and the challenges facing umpires today: (@23:08) Safety Bases should be used at all levels: (@49:44) Preparing your team to play in bad weather: (@58:39) Support the show...
Apr 14, 2021•1 hr 9 min
Baserunning - practice judging balls
The coaches discuss how to set up practice to make our baserunners better. The quickest way for a runner to advance is for them to be able to judge the ball and determine if it should get caught, might get caught or won't get caught. By the time a coach makes the determination and telephones it to the runner we probably have lost a base. But how much time do we practice this? Listen as they tell you how to set up practices to train them. Support the show...
Apr 09, 2021•17 min
Why are parents unhappy / Crazy endings and what we can learn / Stacking buckets
This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Are parents just unhappy and what is the root cause. Do we really have that many bad coaches or are people just generally unhappy. Let's find the middle ground. (@19:56) The coaches talk about some strange endings to games and what we can learn. If high level teams can get confused, so can our teams. (@32:47) When you coach long enough you have a stack of buckets. How many times have you seen adults at the field trying to get a stack of buckets unstuck. (@46:37)...
Apr 07, 2021•52 min
Pitching staffs and how to manage their innings
Managing pitching staffs and allocating innings to the different pitchers is a difficult task. It takes a plan. You need to blend the objectives of the team and the development of the pitchers. One thing is for certain, to develop pitchers you have to play more games. To play more games you have to win more so that you go deeper into the tournaments. The coaches discuss different concepts that will help you come up with a plan for your staff. Support the show...
Apr 02, 2021•14 min
Softball is now 4th ranked sport / State of umpiring crews / Work on weaknesses
This Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter struggled during her first big tournament, should I panic? (@9:50) Paige's Power Play (@14:53) Softball has moved up to the 4th ranked sport in college athletics. (@20:19) State of the umpiring crews. We have a serious shortage of umpires and coaches, tournament directors and parents have to get onboard with helping improve the situation. (@31:03) Coaches we have to do a better job on identifying our player's weaknesses and let the...
Mar 31, 2021•52 min
Coach Prep - So you want to be a college coach
A listener asks the question of how to become a college coach. Tory and Don give their experiences and discuss what you need to do and how to go about it. If you have ever given it a thought, you need to listen to this episode. Support the show
Mar 26, 2021•17 min
Part 2 Justin McLeod Interview / 1 Knee Down Catching / Defensive Positioning
This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: What are our thoughts on putting together a schedule. (@9:38) Paige's Power Play (@16:00) Part 2 of interview with Justin McLeod of Justin's World of Softball. (@22:22) What do we think about the 1 knee down catching technique? (@49:56) Setting your defense. (@1:02:11) Purchase Square Cuts Training Discs fastpitchprep.com Support the show...
Mar 24, 2021•1 hr 9 min
Coach Prep - Coaching the bases is a full time job
Coaching the bases is a full time job. It is the coaches responsibility to be totally focused on the base runners and continuously remind them of the situations. Just as players strive to be great, coaches need to strive to be great base coaches. Players need to practice to get better, coaches need to practice with them to get better. Support the show
Mar 19, 2021•15 min
Justin McLeod Interview / Field Conditions / Play the sun fields
This weeks lineup: Warmup segment Listener Question: Should I get a catcher's glove? (@9:38) Paige's Power Play (@12:24) Interview with Justin McLeod of Justins World of Softball (justinsworldsb.com) (@17:30) Field Conditions and the situations we experience in tournaments. (@46:45) Playing the sun fields on defense. (@56:45) Purchase Square Cuts Training Discs fastpitchprep.com Support the show...
Mar 17, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Coach Prep - Strategies to use when your team is not having success
We have all seen it. Team is struggling and the coach is not changing anything. The bench players and their parents are not happy because they are not getting a chance to see if they are better. The coaches discuss this problem and give our coaching friends some strategies to use in this situation. In fact, some of these strategies should be put to use even if you have a winning team. Purchase Square Cuts Training Discs Support the show...
Mar 12, 2021•13 min
Sportsmanship - what coaches should do / Grab bag of questions / Signals - Don't overdo it
This weeks lineup: Warmup segment Listener question: My daughter says she wants to play high level college ball but doesn't realize the work ethic needed. (@11:24) Paige's Power Play (@16:16) How do you handle Sportsmanship questions when you run rule a team. (@23:40) Grab bag of questions (@33:38) Signals - Don't overdo it (@44:12) Purchase Square Cuts Training Discs fastpitchprep.com Support the show...
Mar 10, 2021•50 min
Coach Prep - We need to teach our players the difference between TRY and DO
The verb "Try" means to attempt something. The verb "Do" means to achieve or complete something. Try has a built in level of failure. If we attempt to do something and don't make it we can always say we tried. It makes it too easy to quit. If we attempt to do something with the attitude that we will "do it", we will keep trying until we achieve it. Trying is just one of the steps to doing something, not the goal. Simple things like this can alter our player's mindset and help them perform at a h...
Mar 05, 2021•10 min
Amazing Plays are practiced / Team Chemistry / Coaches being prepared for stuff going wrong
This weeks lineup: Warm up Segment Listener Question: My daughter is a super freshman and her coach never gives her a chance to play. During the recruiting process she was told she would be a starter. Do you have any advice? And should she transfer? (@12:20) Here is a link to an article describing what the coaches were talking about. Some Quotes from the article: “Coming in I knew I had to compete,” Brito said. “We’re at a collegiate level now that everybody is good. Coming in I didn’t really ha...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Coach Prep - Weather is bad, but indoor practices can be effective with the right attitude.
It is still winter although we want to treat softball practice like its spring. Indoor practices are the only option for a lot of the country due to weather conditions. With the right attitude indoor practices can be very beneficial and can give us the opportunity to work on things from a different perspective. And sometimes these can make improvements better than out on a field. Support the show
Feb 26, 2021•17 min
Recap College Softball / College Camps Phenomenon / Throwing and Catching
This weeks lineup: Lead off segment Listener Question: Coach is putting together his summer schedule. A lot of doubts about what will happen. Wants coaches opinion of what they think about how to put the schedule together. (@12:10) Paige's Power Play (@17:51) Recap of College Softball Kickoff (@25:50) Phenomenon of college coaches coaching teams at recruiting camps (@40:38) Throwing and Catching: Fundamental skills that players are not doing on their own. (@52:03) Support the show...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Coach Prep - A key to winning is closing the gap between the best players and the weaker players.
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 them as the key to winning. We want you to think about if my weaker players can contribute more how m...
Feb 19, 2021•18 min
Utilizing coaching staff / Getting players ready for college ball / Quality outfield practice
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
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Coach Prep - Dealing with the spoiled/pampered athlete and coaches don't create them.
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 parents exploit that for special privileges. And sometimes the coaches create the problem because they fear los...
Feb 12, 2021•19 min
Hitter's struggles are not always mechanical / College Softball is on the horizon / Speed and Agility: Good investment of our time?
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 time? (@54:40) Support the show...
Feb 10, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Hosted on Buzzsprout
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android