Managing the dugout is an often-overlooked aspect of coaching.  How you run the dugout will evolve as you move through the various levels of play.  Players need to know their spot in the lineup and where they are playing on the field, but there are also plenty of ways to keep players engaged whether they’re in the lineup or not.  

#FundamentalFastpitch #TheHuddle #DugoutMom #DugoutDad #DugoutJobs

League play wouldn’t exist without the participation of a multitude of volunteers - volunteers that are immensely appreciated.  How those volunteers are guided impacts the quality of the league experience.  We talk about some things a board should consider when structuring their organization and embarking upon a new season.

#FundamentalFastpitch #TheHuddle #LeagueSoftball #Communicate

The offseason is a chance to take a break, reset, and charge your batteries.  How long should the offseason be?  What types of activities should your athletes be doing?  How often and intense should activities be? 

#FundamentalFastpitch #TheHuddle #TheOffseason #TakeABreak #Burnout #IndividualSkills

Bring up fundraising and you’re sure to get some groans.  Whether you’re raising money for an organization, team, or yourself there are some things to keep in mind.  We also cover a long list of fundraising ideas and options.

#FundamentalFastpitch #TheHuddle #Fundraising #Transparency 

A new season brings new opportunities.  It also brings potentially uncomfortable changes.  Heather and Jess talk about some causes for change as you settle into a new season, when changes turn into concerns, and how to address concerns constructively.

#FundamentalFastpitch #TheHuddle #NewSeason #TeamChemistry #Communication

Jump back into the time machine for this encore episode where we mash up three of our earliest episodes.  Enjoy some highlights of episodes 4 : Yes, Yes, No Mentality, 6 : How to Run an Effective & Efficient Practice, and 10 : Baserunning 101 - Part 1.  

#FundamentalFastpitch #TheDugout #TheHuddle #SoftballSchool #YesYesNo #Practice #Baserunning

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4 : What does Yes, Yes, No mean?  Jess explains how to set yourself up for success in the box while Heather delves into the defensive side of things.  Listen in to learn how your mental approach can make a huge impact on your game.  TLDR: Have a plan! 

6 : Practice - whether you love it or dread it, it’s pivotal to your success on the field.  Jess goes into the qualities of an effective practice, and Heather explains efficiency on the practice field.  We round things out with a discussion about livening practice up with competition. 

10 : There’s more to baserunning than you might expect!  Jess takes us around the bases as she teaches the basics of baserunning.  Heather and Mike confess to not being the speediest of runners! 

We have grown so much in 80+ episodes! Jump into the time machine for this encore episode where we go ALL THE WAY BACK to the first ever episode of Fundamental Fastpitch: The Podcast!

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Welcome! Meet the Fundamental Fastpitch crew!  Longtime softball players, coaches, and students of the game: Jessica Tanner, Heather Maloney, and Mike Brouillette. Jessica and Heather introduce the four categories of Fundamental Fastpitch podcasts to look forward to: Softball School, The Huddle, The Dugout, and Tough Talks.

#FundamentalFastpitch #SoftballSchool #TheHuddle #TheDugout #ToughTalks

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Quality at bats are no accident.  Jess, Mike, and Heather go through a laundry list of ways to prepare for an at bat - long before you ever step foot in the box.  Taken in all at once, the ways to prepare can be overwhelming, but a step-wise approach to implementing these tips can give reliable results.

#FundamentalFastpitch #SoftballSchool #AtBat #Preparation #InTheDugout #OnDeck #InTheBox

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It may not seem like it, but the quality of a leadoff can make the difference between an out and safe call.  We explain what a leadoff is, what it isn’t, and why it’s so important.  Most importantly, getting a good, hard leadoff is the decision to apply two controllables - effort and focus.

#FundamentalFastpitch #SoftballSchool #Leadoff #IsSheStealing #KeepDefenseGuessing

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Jess didn’t get enough outfield talk during last week’s Outfield Position Spotlight episode.  We take a deeper dive into outfield-specific skills and drills.  #FundamentalFastpitch #SoftballSchool #Outfield #SkillsAndDrills