Using analytics is very helpful for our game, but we are seeing a trend with hitters trying to work the count. This results in them not being ready to hit the ball no matter what the count. They are missing some great pitches to hit. Support the show
Sometimes we form an opinion of a player and keep it over time. Players develop and change as well as their mental game. The game changes, it keeps getting faster. Therefore we need to evaluate all players and what they are contributing on a continuing basis. They may not be performing at the level of our opinion or they would help the team in a different position. Support the show
This week's lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter is on a successful team with several pitchers. She is at recruiting age, should she change teams so that she gets more pitching time? (@12:34) 3 Costs of Leadership by Kirby Smart, Georgia's football coach (@19:18) Trend in college coaches leaving the sport (@27:38) Recruiting tip about behavior (@37:14) Support the show...
We discuss the possibility that a player who really wants to quit softball, might enter the portal as a way of stop playing without having to say I quit. Support the show
This week's lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: Family asks for suggestion of where to locate (@11:56) Paige's Power Play: Response to failure determines out success (@18:46) End of college season wrap up (@21:25) Keeping the fun in fundamentals (@42:52) Value of outfielders (@48:30) Support the show
We have all seen it, an error is made fielding a ball or a throw is bad and the fielders become spectators. We have to teach and practice with our players that if something goes wrong their responsibilities change. They need to see what is happening and realize that the initial play is over and that a play is going to be made at a different base and their coverage or backup duties have changed and get in position. Support the show...
This week's lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: Follow up to last week's question about entering the transfer portal (@13:09) Paige's Power Play: Failure Recovery Document (@18:21) Respect the fields you play on (@20:54) Why are team always looking for players? (@35:16) Action Coach Tip: Optimism (@40:25) Support the show
We have to start at the younger ages to teach players the strategic importance of swapping runs for an out. The coaches use a game from the super regionals to show the importance. They stress that we have to train the players so when it becomes important they are prepared. Support the show
This week's lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: Can you give me some advice on my daughter entering the transfer portal? (@11:42) Interview with Marty McDaniel, long time college coach (Part 1) (@16:57) Marty McDaniel has started softball at a college, coached at the highest level and will be coaching a professional team. Interview with Marty McDaniel, long time college coach (Part 2) (@42:40) Support the show...
Coach Tory gives his predictions and analysis of the WCWS games. Support the show
It is summer time or close to it. Your player's and parent's lives are going to change. School won't be dictating a schedule and your players will be involved in additional activities. The family dynamics will change. You may have player's school years ending at different times, What has been the status quo is gone. It is up to you to adapt and embrace what you have and not be frustrated with what you don't have. Support the show...
This week's lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: Is it okay to use a bat weight in the on-deck circle? (@10:29) Paige's Power Play: Successful athletes and failure (@13:27) If you celebrate everything, how do you celebrate something special (@15:46) Instant Replay is out of control (@23:30) Practice coaching 3rd base (@30:32) Support the show
This week the coaches discuss the need to teach players not to react to an umpires call and forget about what is going on in the game. We have seen it at the highest level, where a player starts protesting what they think is a bad call and the other runners keep on going. Support the show
This week's lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: Players are skipping high school ball, is this a thing? (@15:13) Paige's Power Play: Stats about confidence in girls (@24:34) Best time of the year to watch softball (@28:07) Summer camp season. How to pick the best option. (@35:18) Action Coach Tip: Game plans are important in games and business (@40:16) Support the show...
Coach Tory Acheson gives his review of the Division 1 NCAA Tournament Regionals. He breaks down each Region and predicts the winners. He also gives insight of the unseeded teams and which ones to watch out for. Support the show
The coaches discuss situational coaching when we have a lead and just need outs. Coach Tory is watching a lot of softball while he is recuperating and he sees things that he just doesn't understand. Support the show
This week's Lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: Daughter moved up to a stronger team, but now wants to quit. Any advice? (@11:42) Paige's Power Play: Stop hoping for a bounce back from a mistake, take action (@17:23) A lot of player's are ending their careers and we can learn from them and put things in perspective (@20:45) Pro Fastpitch is in trouble, how can we help? (@28:57) Action Coach Tip: Noisy workplaces(@32:33) Support the show...
The coaches discuss the need for better base running decisions. Even at the collegiate level there are too many mistakes being made. We have to drill the players until they understand the game situation and the do's and don't's. Support the show
This week's lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: How to build hitting lineup? (@9:25) Paige's Power Play (@13:58) Interview about the importance of CPR and first aid. (@16:40) How a quote from Geno Auriemma applies to softball (@36:03) Action Coach Tip (@43:03) Support the show
When learning/practicing skills there needs to be a reflection pause between reps for the athlete to evaluate what was right and what was wrong. If we just speed through reps, improving the skill takes more time. Support the show
This week's lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Why are fields that school ball and travel ball use in such bad condition? (@11:15) Paige's Power Play: Failure Recovery (@18:19) In some areas the school ball teams have a no-cut policy and the roster size is too large. What do we think? (@20:43) Traveling long distances to play when there isn't high level options available locally. (@28:09) Communication and clear directions (@34:12) Support the show...
Coaches, Instructors and Parents need to be consistent in the message they are sending to the players. A confused player is an inconsistent player. For the benefit of the player, everybody has to work together. The coaches discuss the relationship between players and coaches and instructors and parents. Support the show
This week's Lineup Catchers must back up first base (@0:39) More games are lost than won (@13:49) Quit saying "My Bad" (@26:39) Support the show
Players need to advance their skills by practicing skills that are out of their comfort zone but not into their panic zone. In this episode we discuss the three zones that people fall into when performing tasks. The comfort zone where we are totally comfortable. The stretch zone where we are being pushed beyond what we are comfortable with. And finally the panic zone where we are asked to perform a task that we are incapable of performing. The coaches give you advice on how to use this knowledge...
A listener asks for some advice for bullying on a team whether this be physical, mental or isolating some players. This is a topic that all coaches should be on the watch for, Training hitters for fast pitchers. Hitting is reaction time and there are some drills that we can do to help them. Support the show
Hitting through the ball is a concept that a lot of players have trouble grasping. The coaches discuss what it means and some tips on how to improve your players hitting. Support the show
This weeks lineup: Coaches who yell. Some advice to coaches and parents who scream and yell during games and practices. Too many travel teams. There are more players than ever and that is great, but we don't have enough pitchers to support the number of teams. Changes need to be made and the people putting these teams together need to be more realistic of how far up the food chain they can go. Look Good, Play Good Support the show...
This week we help coaches whose primary experience is in the baseball world understand the difference between communication required in softball as opposed to baseball. Support the show
This week's lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Strengths of batting the entire lineup or nine hitters (@12:09) Paige's Power Play: Mental work helps confidence (@22:36) Moving players around at a young age (@25:28) College Softball observations (@33:17) Slumps (@44:54) Support the show
We have all seen it, players cannot execute the very basics of playing catch but they are practicing run downs, relays, etc. No matter what level you coach at, but especially those with inexperienced players, you have to be able to throw and catch. It may be boring, you might have to divide your players into groups but you have to work on throwing and catching until the players are competent, before moving onto anything else involving throwing and catching. Support the show...
