Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

It is not uncommon for players to show frustration while playing. It can be unrelated to playing, but it has an impact. The coaches discuss how to help your players manage their frustration.

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This weeks lineup:

• Warmup Segment
• Listener Question: What can we do when a hitter is lunging at the plate? (@13:11)
• Paige's Power Play (@23:58)
• September 1st is an important date in recruiting.  But it doesn't mean that if you don't get a call on that date you don't have a chance.(@27:40)
• A listener want to know how to effectively communicate with a college coach. (@39:25)
• Another drill from a listener that add pressure during practice. (@46:35)

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When we first start teaching players the fundamentals, we have to begin with the simple plays. Ball hit to infield, throw to first. Hit to outfield throw to second. As players advance the need to be able to recognize secondary plays. Sometimes known as the "what if" play. The key word here is recognize. They can't think through the process, but they have to recognize that there is another play. Might be in addition to the basic play or it might be instead of the basic play.

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This weeks lineup:

• Warmup Segment
• Listener Question: Do you have suggestions for a fitness test for my team? (@16:07)
• Paige's Power Play (@22:33)
• Softball is not in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Why it is important that it should be. (@25:38)
• Twist on team joining big organizations. Tale of a coach's experience. (@32:50)
• Adding Players to your roster. Some suggestions that coaches need to think about. (@41:41)

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Outfield is not a position! There is Left Field, Center Field and Right Field. Don't categorize all of the outfield positions as playing outfield. The responsibilities and reading the ball is different in each of the positions. Teach your players how to play one position and then move them and teach them the next outfield position. 

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This weeks lineup:

• Warmup Segment
• Listener Question: Setting up cutoffs and relays. Do I use the Short Stop and Second baseman? (@13:10)
• Paige's Power Play (@21:54)
• Speed of the Game. Use some math to help your players understand how fast the game really is. For every mile an hour, the ball travels 1.47 feet. Round that up to 1.5 feet per second to make the math easy and have them see how quick they need to be. (@26:10)
• Players are heading off to college. Some for the first time. Here are some tips. (@39:46)
• Create some pressure in practice, especially for younger players. Teach them not to be distracted in games. (@50:14)

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Coaches state all the time that the best players will get to play. Almost every coach has a different definition of "best". Make sure that everyone that you use that term with knows exactly how you define "best".

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This weeks lineup:

• Warmup Segment:
• Listener Response: Umpires perspective of longer games (@16:37)
• Paige's Power Play (@21:41)
• Tory has added a 15th commandment to his 14 Commandments of Recruiting (@25:36)
• Coaches setting  high standards. Usually the winners will love it, but the other players will quit. Sometimes we have to build up to the high standards. (@50:17)
• Every player should have a secondary position that they are totally comfortable playing. (@57:03)

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At the end of a season or year we usually give our players an exit interview to let them know what things they need to work on. Give yourself a review and see what things went well and things that need improvement. This lets you know what you need to do to improve your skills.

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This weeks lineup:

• Warmup Segment
• Listener Question: My daughter's coach says my daughter is a singles hitter. She leads the team in batting average, but is pulled out in critical situations for what he says are power hitters. What do you think? (@9:16)
• Paige's Power Play (@14:35)
• It is becoming obvious that we need more catchers. The coaches discuss how we can start developing them. (@19:02)
• Small rosters have reduced competition for positions. Competing for positions is a good thing and helps develop better players and prepares them for playing at a higher level. (@30:23)
• Some coaches have a pressure cooker style of coaching.  Repeatedly stressing things like the best hitter gets to play. Younger players don't process this information correctly and put pressure on themselves which results in them not performing well. (@41:38)

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