Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

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

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener 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 transparent about why they are making the decisions they are making.(@43:26)Support the show

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

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener 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

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

This weeks line:upWarmup SegmentListener 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

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

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

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 on " a strikeout is just an out".Support the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener 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

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

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentAre 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)Purchase Square Cuts Training Discsfastpitchprep.comSupport the show

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

This Weeks Lineup:Warmup SegmentListener 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 them know specifically what they need to work on.  If you have ever said that we can't hit slow pitchers, then you need to listen to this. (@42:54)Purchase Square Cuts Training Discsfastpitchprep.comSupport the show

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

This weeks lineup:Warmup SegmentListener 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 Discsfastpitchprep.comSupport the show

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

This weeks lineup:Warmup segmentListener 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 Discsfastpitchprep.comSupport the show

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 DiscsSupport the show

This weeks lineup:Warmup segmentListener 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 Discsfastpitchprep.comSupport the show