Rick Pauly returns for a no-holds-barred breakdown of the 2025 NFCA Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada—the largest in convention history.

As both attendees and presenters, Rob and Rick share their unfiltered observations about what they saw, what surprised them, and what concerns them about the current state of softball coaching and player development.

Topics covered:

• The record-setting attendance and what it reveals about travel ball coaching
• New technology and products showcased by exhibitors
• The tension between education and product endorsement in presentations
• Whether technology is becoming prohibitively expensive for smaller schools and programs
• Should travel ball coaches have a voice in college recruiting calendar decisions?
• Rob introduces his new concept: "egosystem" and its implications for competitive sports
• Does softball genuinely want to embrace data-driven coaching, or is it performative?
• Their favorite speakers and sessions from the convention

If you're a coach, administrator, or parent trying to navigate the evolving landscape of softball, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and give you plenty to think about.

Rick Pauly returns to Transcending Sport for another fan-favorite conversation where we contrast our perspectives on softball—me as a hitting coach, Rick as a pitching coach.

In this episode, we tackle the current state of travel ball softball and ask the hard questions: Is velocity everything, or are we missing something more important? How has the transfer portal reshaped recruiting and the travel ball landscape? Why do the rich keep getting richer in travel ball, college softball, and pro sports?

We also share what you can expect from us at the upcoming NFCA Softball Convention this December in Las Vegas.

Whether you're a player, parent, or coach navigating today's softball landscape, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.

Go beyond surface-level coaching in this powerful excerpt from Rob Crews' Monthly Master Class series, part of his exclusive Coaches Certification program.

Episode Description:In this transformative episode, Rob Crews pulls back the curtain on one of the most critical aspects of master coaching - understanding and reshaping the belief systems that hold athletes back. Drawing from his Coaches Certification curriculum, Rob demonstrates why great coaches must become students of the mind, learning to identify and dismantle the limiting beliefs and outdated teachings that create invisible barriers to performance.

Key Takeaways:

• Why traditional coaching often fails to address the root cause of performance plateaus
• The hidden power of belief systems in athletic achievement
• Practical techniques for uncovering what students truly believe about their capabilities
• How to replace doubt and confusion with clarity and conviction
• Real-world strategies for helping athletes unlearn counterproductive lessons from their past

Whether you're a coach looking to deepen your impact, an athlete seeking breakthrough performance, or someone interested in the psychology of excellence, this episode delivers actionable insights that transcend sport and apply to any arena of life.

Perfect for: Coaches, trainers, athletes, parents of young athletes, and anyone committed to unlocking human potential through the power of mindset transformation.

This episode features exclusive content from the Rob Crews Coaches Certification program.

Learn more about becoming a certified coach at https://www.complete.game/certified-coaches

Podcast Episode: Unlocking Human Potential Through Improv with Lainie Hodges

Guest: Lainie Hodges, Owner and Founder of Improv AlchemyIn this engaging episode, we dive deep into the transformative world of improvisation with human development specialist Lainie Hodges.

As the founder of Improv Alchemy, Lainie has discovered how the spontaneous, collaborative nature of improv can unlock extraordinary growth in individuals and teams across diverse settings.

From athletic programs to corporate boardrooms, Lainie shares how improv games and exercises create powerful learning environments where people don't just participate—they thrive. We explore her unique approach to harnessing everyone's individual talents and abilities, transforming them into enhanced innovation, agility, and responsiveness.

In this episode, Rob Crews shares knowledge on how recognition affects movement, timing and chase rates.

Rob Crews breaks down mind-body connection with a young hitter from Kentucky in her first 1:1 virtual session. Rob used this session as the introduction to her transformation in how she sees herself as a hitter.

Be a fly on the wall during this phone call with Rob and Dave as they discuss how to overcome some of the challenges for in-game success for hitters.

Join Rob Crews for an in-depth conversation with Neil McConnell, CEO and founder of MaxBP, as we explore the evolution of portable hitting technology and the science behind reaction training.In this episode, we dive into:

• The journey of developing MaxBP from concept to game-changing training tool
• Why traditional batting practice might be holding hitters back
• The neuroscience behind visual processing and reaction training
• How smaller balls create better big-league hitters
• The future of portable training technology in baseball and softball

Neil shares the story behind MaxBP's innovative approach to hitting development, including the research and iterations that led to a machine that's revolutionizing how coaches and players approach vision training. We discuss why portability matters, how to close the "visual gap" in hitters, and why the best players aren't always who you think they are.Whether you're a coach, player, or parent, this conversation will change how you think about hitting development.

In this remixed episode, Rob Crews & Jordan Bledsoe drop jewels on modern mindsets and their approach to coaching in today's sports performance culture.

Check out Jordan Bledsoe:Jordan BledsoeVelocity Sports Performance - Westchester & Dutchess5 training facilities:

HAWTHORNE  |  ARMONK  |  YORKTOWN  | MAMARONECK  |  FISHKILL

@velocity_NewYork

@coachjordan_velocity

@thebetterathletes_podcast

velocitywestchester.com 

Jordon is also dropping a podcast on Spotify

click here to check it out.

Rob Crews shares his thoughts on pre-game routines, high chase-rates, travel vs. college pitching, how technology can inform custom hitting approaches, & more.