Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

I am so excited to share this episode with you all this week. It is full of so much game, knowledge, and advice for both coaches and athletes alike. Pro Athlete and former Duke Softball Pitching, Jala Wright is a one of a kind human being who began her playing career at one institution before moving over to Duke where she and her team had the opportunity to compete on the biggest show in college softball.

Jala has wisdom far beyond her years and in this episode provides advice for athletes entering new programs, advice for coaching who bring these athletes in, and so much more.

For me, one of the best parts of this episode was our discussion on how Coach Young paved a way for her as an African American Athlete to be great and how now Jala aspires to do the same for the next generation of female athletes, particularly those of the black and brown community.

Whatever you do, listen to this episode completely, share it with others, and then come back and take notes. The keys to a coaches and teams true success is all throughout this episode.

Be sure to follow Jala as she and her Texas Smoke Softball Team are competing and then keep a close eye out as she will be joining the staff at Tennessee as a Graduate Assistant!

Twitter/Instagram: @__jalaaa

Texas Smoke: @thetexassmoke

Duke Softball: @dukesoftball

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode of the Playbook for Success Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk to first year Head Softball Coach and friend of mine, Coach Courney Knight. Coach Knight became the head coach of Agnes Scott College last summer and has already made a huge impact on the Division 3 program. If you know him, like I do, this doesnt come as a surprise to you because he genuinely loves the game! This entire episode was all about how to create an infection and energetic environment. He gave some great tips on how to engage those who want to be there and those athletes who sometimes dont. Its been a fun year to watch him shine and I am excited to see how the team continues to flourish under his leadership!

This is an interview that you do not want to miss. After you listen to it, please share your key takeaways in the comments and share this episode with anyone who could use the insight found in this podcast. Be sure to also follow Coach Courtney Knight and his Agnes Scott Softball Program. You can find their handles below.

Twitter/Instagram: coachknightscourt

Claflin Softball: Agnesscottcollege

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode of the Playbook for Success Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk to first year Head Softball Coach and friend of mine, Coach Ricky Holden. Coach Ricky was appointed head coach in December of this season and took his team on a major run in their conference tournament. Having entered mid-season and forced to build connection and require a tandard of excellence wasnt an easy thing to do, However, Coach Ricky pulled from his past experienced from the military, his experiences from studying other cultures around the world and his degree in mental health to make it all happen at a really high level and fast pace.

This is an interview that you do not want to miss. After you listen to it, please share your key takeaways in the comments and share this episode with anyone who could use the insight found in this podcast. Be sure to also follow Coach Ricky and His Claflin Softball Program. You can find their handles below.

Twitter/Instagram: Coach_Rickyh

Claflin Softball: Claflin_Softball

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode of the Playbook for Success Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk to current Head Softball Coach and my former college teammate, Coach Brittanie Talley. Coach Talley is the current leader at Midwestern State University in Texas. She has a decorated past and a wealth of knowledge and experience from both her playing and coaching career.

Key Moments in the Interview:

- There is nothing like coaching or playing at a community college. You can learn alot about yourself and your coaching capabilities while in that space.

- Every level has its own loves and hards. Learning to embrace the hards and love the the loves will set you up for success in your coaching journey

- Coaches willing to allow their athletes to evaluate them at the end of the year is a gold mine that can catapult your coaching career and success.

- The best teams are going to be player led.

- As athletes, it's helpful to seperate how coach communicates with you on the field vs. how they feel about you as a person.

Take a listen and let me know in the comments what you think of this week's episode.

Instagram: coach.t_sb

Twitter/Intagram: CoachBTalley

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode of the Playbook for Success Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk to recent graduate Kalei Christensen and athlete at the University of North Texas. Kale as she is known to be called was a catcher and offensive leader for the mean green softball team. This episode is a great one for parents and athletes to listen to because Kale breaks down what it takes, what she wish she had when she got there, and how she plans to make an impact on the world in the next phase of her life.

Key Moments in the Interview:

- If you want something, determine if its worth it and make the decision to go all in on it.

- 8th grade and 9th grade is a crucial time to make an all in commitment. Decide what you really want

- College Sports is a Grind every single day and its worth it only if its worth it to you.

- The Mental side of softball is not talked about enough and if she could do anything different from high school to college, it would be adding mental skills to her tool box.

Take a listen and let me know in the comments what you think of this weeks episode.

Instagram: kalechristensen

Twitter/Intagram: meangreensb

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

To join her free coaches community on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/i/communities/1760455822939943090

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode of the Playbook for Success Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk to current University of Houston Softball, Assistant Coach Hope Trautwein. Coach Hope is a former Division 1 Athlete for the University of North Texas, National Champion from the 2022 University of Oklahoma Softball, and a professional athete. After completing at OU and serving some time as an assistant coach also at OU, she is in her first full season at the University of Houston as their pitching coach. This episode talks all about her ability to truly embody the word and identity of a competitor to not only catapult her playing career but her life!

Key Moments in the Interview:

- Committing at 9th grade, losing that scholarship and recommitting her senior year.

- Competing at every level possible

- A coaching change

- Stepping into a role as a leader at one school to being a leader of many at another school

- The importance of knowing how your athletes learn and having open communication

- Growing as a wife and coach

Take a listen as she discusses how she uses her elite mentality to better connect and grow with her pitching staff and to hear her 2 most important things new coaches should learn before they truly dive deep into their career. Be sure to also follow Coach Hope & University of Houston Softball Team and their run for a national championship.

Instagram: hope7trautwein

Twitter: hopetraut

Twitter/Intagram: uhcougarsb

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

To join her free coaches community on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/i/communities/1760455822939943090

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode of the Playbook for Success Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk to current Division II Head Coach at the Black Hills State University Texas, Coach Ashlyn Englehorn. Coach Englehorn, started coaching at a very young age and thankfully had some key mentorship along the way to help her establish boundaries and relationships.

Coach Englehorn is building something special over at BHSU Here are a few key takeaways from our conversation that Id like to point out:

- You can help an athlete be a better softball player by building relationships with them

- Getting your athletes to come to your office is the beginning to building relationships

- Use your past experiences and coaching opportunities to build on your coaching style

- Your athletes can handle the standards you give them, so allow them to rise to the expectations

Take a listen and let us know what you think? Also, be sure to follow Coach Englehorn & Her Black Hills State Softball Team

Twitter: AshlynEnglehorn

Twitter/Intagram: BHSUSB

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

To join her free coaches community on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/i/communities/1760455822939943090

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode of the Playbook for Success Podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk to current Division 1 Assistant Coach at the University of North Texas, Coach Jason Gwyn. Coach Gwyn, has been a head coach, run his own travel team before moving over to UNT Softball. He is the first of many male perspectives we have had on the show and it was awesome to hear his perspective on relationship building, leadership, and standards.

There are a lot of great things happening at North Texas and It was great to get an inside look into just how much this program functions as a unit. A few key take aways from our conversation that Id like to point out:

- Standards are the non-negotiables of a team

- Being a good human first is what matters at this level of play

- Expectations are necessary to raise the bar from comfort to uncomfortable, to growth

- As coaches, the best thing we can do for our athletes is give them the autonomy and the authority to Figure It Out.

Take a listen and let us know what you think? Also, be sure to follow Coach Gwyn & his North Texas Softball Team

Twitter: CoachJayGwyn

Twitter/Intagram: MeanGreenSB

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

To join her free coaches community on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/i/communities/1760455822939943090

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode we get the opportunity to sit down and talk to former Division 1 Coach and Current Head Softball Coach of Goodpasture Christian High School. She is the true definition of a relationship coach. The knowledged she dropped in this episode is sure to help any coach navigating what it truly means to build relationships. Walking in your authentic authority while realizing that this opportunity to shape the lives young people is invaluable but a purpose that needs to be taken seriously. One other thing that I believe is helpful from our conversation was her approach in the transition she made from athlete in one program to coach in that same program after graduation.

There was so many great gems. I believe that this episode is a good one for all head coaches to listen to. Especially when it comes to battling the transition of values of coaching at a high caliber college program to the opportunity to still coach in a competitive program but at the high school level, leaving more time for the things that are truly important to the joy life can bring. If you are an athlete, it is my hope that you recognize just how valuable you are and that being different and not having to be the same as everyone else is ok to do. Take a listen and let us know what you think?

Follow Coach Twaddle

Instagram: @jtizzzzle

Instagram: gcs_softball

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

To join her free coaches community on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/i/communities/1760455822939943090

Welcome to The Playbook for Success Podcast where coaches, athletes, and teams unlock the tools already within them so that they win games, but dominate at the GAME OF LIFE!

On this week's episode we get the opportunity to sit down and talk to former Division 1 Athlete and former assistant college coach, Donelle Johnson. Navigating her recruiting process as a homeschool athlete from a small town, to coaching changes and injury during her playing career, Donelle has the best story and insight on shifting your mindset from what cant I do because of my circumstances to what can I do? She also shared some insight into the impact that coaches get to make and how she has now transitioned that passion into a new career venture in sports photography and graphic design.

Im so excited for you to hear this episode. Whether you are an athlete dealing with setbacks, a new assistant coach trying to navigate your way and your role, or a person on a mission to make a great impact in the world, this episode. Take a listen and let us know what you think?

Follow Donelle Johnson

Instagram: @dmachine7]

Instagram: wide.rangemedia

To learn more about the playbook, visit www.coachashleycarter.com

To find Coach Ashley Carter on Social Media

@coachacarter1 on all platforms

To join her free coaches community on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/i/communities/1760455822939943090