Facing a talented rise ball pitcher is a very difficult task. Jess and Heather discuss how and why hitting the rise ball is different and more difficult than any other pitch. The conversation covers some things you can do as a hitter to give yourself a better chance at success. We close our discussion with a few drills to work on a higher contact point and to simulate a rising pitch.

#FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #RiseBall #Hitting #Patterns

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27 : Timing & Adjustments

47 : Strike Zone Early vs Late in an at Bat

55 : Five Parts of the Swing

61 : Wanting to Hit vs Hoping to Walk

If you’ve invested the time and effort to create a strong, positive team culture you probably want to protect that culture. We talk about some culture killers and some things coaches can do to avoid having their team infected by culture killers. What if, as a player, you’ve found yourself on a team with a culture that wasn’t advertised or that you don’t agree with? We close the conversations with some thoughts on how to handle that situation.

#FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Culture #CultureKiller #Bully #MeanGirl #Gossip

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76 : Billboard

112 : A Parent’s Guide to Beginner Softball

135 : Creating a Team Culture - Part 1

136 : Creating a Team Culture - Part 2

Coaches, players, and parents are all responsible for building and maintaining a positive team culture. Communication, accountability, commitment, and respect are common themes in this episode.

#FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #TeamCulture #Respect #Communicate

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38 : Know Your Players - Building Relationships

64 : Your Kid is Listening

102 : Respecting Young Athletes

Having a strong, positive team culture doesn’t happen by accident. Join us as we talk about the elements of a good team culture and how to build one. The culture you cultivate influences how you and your team are perceived. Take initiative and do the work to make sure that culture is a positive one.

#FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #TeamCulture #Communicate #Trust

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16 : Control the Controllables

66 : Being a Good Opponent

102 : Respecting Young Athletes

Buying a new bat can lead to more questions than answers. Aluminum or composite? How much should I spend? Where do I get a new bat? Does my kid even need a new bat? Jess and Heather get into the weeds as they discuss many of the questions that surround bats. Send us your bat-related questions!

#FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Bats #CompositeBats #Investment 

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48 : Keeping Up With The Jones’s

101 : Coaching Gear Essentials & Extras

112 : A Parent's Guide to Beginner Softball

120 : How To Choose The Right Private Instructor

Join us as we close out the week with the last of our five-part mini-series with Quincy Lewis of Diamond Dynamics. The transfer portal and NIL are new on the scene of college softball. Quincy gives some inside information on how the transfer portal isn’t what it looks like on social media.

#FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #TransferPortal #NIL

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Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist!

FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball 

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20 : The Ride Home

38 : Know Your Players - Building Relationships

81 : Preparing for an At Bat

Diamond Dynamics’ Quincy Lewis joins Heather and Jess in the fourth of our five-part mini-series on college planning. Things get real as athletes enter their junior and senior years of high school. Quincy shares how to tell when college coaches are listening and are interested as well as how to know when it’s time to focus your efforts elsewhere. As high school nears its end, it’s time to have some difficult conversations and make some thoughtful decisions.

#FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #11thGrade #12thGrade

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Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist!

FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball 

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33 : Quality > Quantity

39 : Coaching Styles

42 : Why Do You Play Softball?

Quincy Lewis of Diamond Dynamics is back for the third installment of our five-part mini-series on college planning. As athletes enter high school, their college planning experience diverges from dreams and aspirations and takes on a more realistic look. Get Quincy’s take on how communication with college coaches should look and how to always “be recruitable” - you never know who’s watching.

#FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #9thGrade #10thGrade

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Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist!

FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball 

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16 : Control the Controllables

29 : The Next Play After an Error

31 : Being Coachable - What Does That Mean?

Welcome back Quincy Lewis of Diamond Dynamics for the second episode in our five-part mini-series on college planning. Families of 7th and 8th graders might start feeling pressure to start the college planning process. There’s still plenty of time! Everyone’s college planning experience is different and there is no one-size-fits-all plan.

#FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #7thGrade #8thGrade

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Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist!

FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball 

Instagram: @Diamonddynamicssb

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32 : Comparing Your Kid to Their Teammates

64 : Your Kid is Listening

65 : Kids Have Opinions Too

118 : Softball Conversation Starters

We are excited to bring back our friend Quincy Lewis of ⁠Diamond Dynamics⁠ in the first of our five-part mini-series on college planning. Although college is a long way off for 5th and 6th graders, parents of athletes with big goals have questions when it comes to college planning. Quincy shares her thoughts and strategy for introducing college planning to families of young athletes.

#FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #5thGrade #6thGrade

⁠Connect with Quincy!⁠

⁠Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist!⁠

FB Group: ⁠College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball ⁠

Instagram: ⁠@Diamonddynamicssb⁠

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⁠Check out our YouTube Channel⁠

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⁠66 : Being a Good Opponent⁠

⁠113 : Aging Up from 10u to 12u⁠

⁠124 : Athleticism in Multisport Athletes⁠