Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: How can I fill in the gaps for my daughters training because I can't afford a lot of lessons and camps? (@9:56)Paige's Power Play (@18:52)Coaches who yell. Some advice to coaches and parents who scream and yell during games and practices.  (@21:12)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. (@36:44)Look Good, Play Good (@:58:35)Support the show

Coaches have to take the players they have and build the best team. That doesn't always equate to players playing their best individual position. For example, the best shortstop may make the team better by playing center field and someone else playing shortstop. And some players think that they can only play one position and if they don't play that position they want to move on. The object of defense is not to make great plays at one position and have major issues at other positions. The object is to limit the runs the other team scores. Coaches don't build your team by saying this is the best shortstop, this player plays the best second base, etc. Move them around until you are allowing the fewest runs.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: Is there a Softball Hall of Fame? (@10:51)Paige's Power Play (@15:25)Division 1 Top 25 Recap (@20:28)USSSA has changed the rules for pitchers. (@38:34)How to increase arm strength. (@48:00)Support the show

This week the coaches discuss merging new players into a team. You can't just let it happen and hope things work out. There are always questions when a new player joins a team. When you post that you are looking for players, the questions begin. There is apprehension on each side. So, coaches face it head on and have a plan to seamlessly mold a team with old and new players.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question:  New to coaching and putting together a team. How much value should I place with effort and attitude over talent? (@12:36)Paige's Power Play (@17:04)Part 1 of interview with Justin McLeod of Extra Innings Softball and Justin's World of Softball. Interview is an interesting discussion of the upcoming college season. (@22:11)Part 2 of interview with Justin McLeod (@46:38)Using assistant coaches.  Get the assistant coaches up to speed and give them some specific responsibilities. (@1:02:31)Support the show

In this week's episode the coaches discuss how using intra-squad scrimmages and scrimmages with other teams to make your team better prepared to play real games. Don't schedule practice games with other teams without a plan. Just playing another team is not a scrimmage.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question; My 10 year old daughter hits the ball consistently, but with no power. What can I do? (@10:44)Does not playing high school ball impact recruitability? (@13:58)Incorporate some vision training in your schedule. (@20:06)Building player's confidence.  (@25:01)Support the show

Coaches and players are excited about getting back to practice and getting ready for the new spring season. Everyone needs to understand on how much work is reasonable and we are not doing more harm than good. We have to have a progression plan for getting the players ready. Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: Should I get my glove steamed? (@14:56)Paige's Power Play (@22:51)Catchers need instruction and practice. During normal team practices, catchers don't get really dedicated practice especially at game speed. Most catchers need outside training. (@25:28)College Softball is just around the corner. Hopefully COVID will not have an impact on softball. The coaches discuss the state of college athletics and the impact of the changes that have been made this year.(@37:08)How do we make training more game like. (@58:18)Support the show

Sometimes coaches get frustrated when players attempt a play that is impossible. For instance, a throw to home from the outfield when the runner is 20 feet from home plate. Understanding what is possible is a skill that has to be taught just like fielding, throwing, etc. In the case above, the outfielders have to learn to judge the distance they have to throw the ball against the speed of the runner. They will learn quicker by practicing than by failures in a game.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Catchers, back up first base (@2:26)More games are lost than won. (@16:36)What is a "ball player" (@30:24)I hate "my bad" (@47:26)Support the show

In this week's edition of the show Coach Tory and Coach Don talk strategies for becoming a more effective coach, which doesn't always mean explaining what you want from your players.Support the show

This Weeks Lineup:Catcher's mask - On or Off (@2:10)Strike out is just an out.(@8:45)Yoda Logic - You must unlearn what you have learned. (@20:56)Create Versatility  (@33:05)Support the show

Coaches have to be prepared for many different situations that come up over the course of their careers. They need to have a repair/emergency kit to handle these situations. In this episode we talk about some of the items that can save the day.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: My daughter has been hit by several pitches this season. Now she is scared to get in the batter's box. What do I do? (@9:22)Paige's Power Play (@14:16)What is a quality at bat? Keeping track of your success by using batting average is a trap that doesn't really reflect how a player is contributing to the team. Putting pressure on a player because of batting average can be very detrimental. (@16:43)Putting together a brand new team is a journey. Coaches, parents and players have to commit to the journey and start the journey with reasonable expectations. And commit to the long haul. (@27:42)Players at different ages have different attention spans. Practice plans have to take this into account to develop the players. (@37:17)Support the show

Good coaches never stop learning. There are many opportunities for coaches for to acquire more knowledge of the game, managing games and players. Nobody knows all there is to know. If you are not getting better, you are getting worse.Support the show

This Weeks Lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question: My daughter wants to take time off over the holidays, but right after the first of the year she is going to college camps. How do we find the balance between taking time off and being prepared for the camps? (@9:07)Paige's Power Play (@13:39)5 ways to judge whether a player and/or family is really committed to softball. (@16:59)When a great player is no longer with a team the statement a lot of times is "Well we will see if the coach is really that good."  (@37:55)Coaches when we give them homework we need to be specific about what they are suppose to do. (@47:58)Support the show

The coaches discuss the fact that you have a platform to teach some life lessons that are not related to softball. Your players are used to you teaching and helping them. Coaches often connect with players better than parents at certain ages. Our suggestion is to allocate a short segment of your practice to discuss different topics related to things that might happen to them or they should be aware of. Support the show

This Weeks Lineup:Warmup SegmentListener Question:  Should you play your way out of problems or coach and practice your way out of problems? (@11:17)Paige's Power Play (@21:12) An Interview about Pinnacle Power Butter. A nutrient dense health food that provides sustained energy and lasting performance. (@24:50)Hitting Doesn't Get Easier. Pitchers gets better. Defense gets better. So it gets harder for the player to get hits and they have to keep working. (@38:50)Coaches keeping their composure. Coaches should be the role model for the players. We teach them to control their emotions, so coaches should do likewise. (@49:50)Support the show

You have moved indoors for practice because of the cold weather, but you have a trip planned to a warm weather destination to play some games. Whether it be the start of the spring season or you have not played a game in few weeks but are going to go to a tournament somewhere warm. The coaches discuss what you can do to keep the team prepared as best as possible to hit the field at a competitive level.Support the show