Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

This weeks lineup:Warmup Segment:Listener Question: How quickly should a player be able the change a bad habit? (@12:11)Paige's Power Play (@18:23)We had some good responses to our topic on loyalty. There are some more things to consider. (@24:03)How do we make the pro-leagues work? (@36:54)We have to teach sliding better. Let's eliminate the collisions. (@50:55)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. The middle ground is the stretch zone. Learn to push them, but not to far.Support the show

This week's lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: Can you give me some ideas on how to make practice fun for younger players? (@14:24)Paige's Power Play (@26:16)Is there any loyalty in our game and how do we deal with it? (@28:59)A lot of the country is experiencing a heat wave. How do we deal with the heat and make the call that it is too hot? (@48:08)Get our players onboard to make practices more efficient. (@54:04)Support the show

Today we discuss enthusiasm. There is a line that you can cross where enthusiasm becomes obnoxious. It is our job as coaches to keep our team on the right side of that line.Support the show

This Weeks Lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: My daughter is a pitcher and a shortstop. How can she be ready if going straight from shortstop to pitching? (@10:21)Paige's Power Play (@17:24)Interview with the ROWVA/Williamsfield Varsity Cougar softball team. A smaller school in Illinois. The players decided to do something to raise awareness of mental health and suicide this year. Listen to the interview to hear the things that they are involved in. @21:41)Is having a dominant team in college softball a good thing or a bad thing? (@37:56)Sometimes when we do the right thing it doesn't always turn out good. Keep playing the right way and don't be afraid of the time in can go wrong. (@51:36)Support the show

You are going to a big out of town tournament. It's costing the parents and players a lot of money. When you factor in travel, living expenses and missed work the investment is significant. Don't let "we have to get our money's worth" alter your coaching style. Your team will play better if you stay consistent. If you display a lot more pressure, it will carry over to the team. Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup Segment:Listener Question: I keep score for out team. What determines if it is a wild pitch or a passed ball? (@10:24)Paige's Power Play (@17:28)How many pitchers and additional players should a team have? (@21:03)Tips for trying out for a team. (@32:35)If practiced, bunting can be an additional weapon for your team. (@40:49)Support the show

It invariably happens in a critical situation. The ball gets hit into the Bermuda Triangle of the field where infielders and outfielders are racing as hard as they can go to get to the ball. Communication breaks down and the ball doesn't get caught or we have a train wreck and somebody gets hurt. It happens rarely, but we need to practice it often.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup Segment:Listener Question:  My daughter plays high level softball and soccer. Her softball coach is putting pressure on her to focus on softball and drop soccer. What do you think? (@12:16)Paige's Power Play: (@19:38)College Season Wrap up (@23:51)Softball community support in times of tragedy  (@41:23)No cookie cutter approach to coaching! (@43:47)Support the show

Coach Tory discusses the need to know what you are going to do when you make a mound visit. Don't just wander out there and figure out what you are going to say when you get there.  If things aren't going well don't add to the frustration with your visit. Go out there with a plan to make things better. Every coach should listen to this.Support the show

This weeks Lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: Can a position player wear a catcher's mitt? (@7:37)Paige's Power Play (@8:48)The end of the college regular season and a lot of good stuff happened this year. Coach Tory gives some highlights. (@12:16)Things that need to be fixed in college softball. (@19:00)Coaching your own daughter on a team. (@37:00)Support the show

Tournaments can turn into a marathon with many games on the same day. The coaches discuss the need to have a plan well in advance on how to manage the day. Make sure you have a strategy and everyone knows it. You don't want any surprises. Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question:  The level and quality of broadcasts of college softball varies a lot. What do we think? (@10:21)Paige's Power Play (@15:47)Accountability. Before we blame the umpire, did we put ourselves in the position of letting the umpire make the final decision. (@19:55)Safety Equipment. Use IT!(@32:24)Coaches need to practice their skills just like the players. (@44:48)Support the show

Patrick Winston, a former professor and computer scientist at MIT, used a formula in one of his talks about things that go into the quality of a performance. Obviously he wasn't talking about softball, but it really applies developing players. The formula was Quality is a function of Knowledge, Practice and Talent with the importance in that order. The coaches break this down and apply it to softball.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: My daughter is a pitcher and the coaches forfeited a game because the field was in such bad shape and unsafe. Did he do the right thing? (@12:03)Paige's Power Play  (@22:12)Keeping the game fun (@26:55)Recruiting questions (@38:21)Proper mental approach for hitters (@47:17)Support the show

There is information out there that tells us what we need to work on in practice. When we make mistakes they go on the practice list. Look at that scorebook and identify things that need practice that are not there.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: Daughter is on a good team. A former college player has been brought in to coach the team. What are our thoughts on a former player coaching a team? (@13:08)Paige's Power Play (@21:21)The catching position. Responding to questions relative about the catching position. Are they being neglected in practice? (@25:05)Mental Health and tragic events in the athletic world. What are some of the issues? (@45:15)Covering bases. Who and circumstances that dictate the coverage. (@01:00:11)Support the show

The coaches discuss that a visual cue can be a more effective method of communicating something to a player than verbally shouting it out. It is more subtle and is between you and the player and just a quick reminder of something you have been working on.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question:  Pretty strong team. Comments on number of tournaments played vs amount of practice time.  (@11:52)Paige's Power Play (@20:34)The Good this week: Softball is in a  place where it has never been before. (24:58)Pressure that is on kids playing the game. (@35:46)Compassion and empathy vs competitive edge (@47:56)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