Does a riseball really rise? How important is deceleration in the movement sequence? What comes first velo, control or spin? Rick Pauly joins Rob Crews to dive deep into pitching and what drives velocity, the present and future of technology. Rick also explains why sequencing is important. The two also discuss the hitter's decision-window and why tunneling and late movement are important. Rob Crews and Rick Pauly also consult 4D Motion, a sports technology company that focuses on 3D Motion capture. The two discuss in depth how they use it to assess tboth hitters and pitchers. 

Kerri Foster joins Rob Crews to discuss pitching ideas, the increase in homeruns, mental health in athletes, and she shares her spiritual perspective in self-esteem and sports performance. Kerri also shares her take on the pressures of sports and coping strategies.

In Episode #54, Coach Josh Johnson, founder, and coach of Virginia Unity, a competitive fast-itch softball platform. Tune in and listen to how and why the Unity got started, how technology transformed the hitting philosophy, how he develops player mindset, the Mojo Merger, the 2021 National Championship and more.

Timestamps

[03:27] The whole idea behind Virginia Unity

[06:16] About Virginia Unity success and championship.

[12:15] Combining team winning and player development for individual players.

[17:15] Identifying and recruiting the right team

[21:09] The story behind Virginia unity merger with TN Mojo.

[[30:33] The team composition for 2024 and 2025 classes.

[32:33] The importance of buying, cost, and identifying whether a player has the ability to buy.

[36:51] Next level for Virginia Unity.

[43:44] Faster way to get kids to different levels.

[45:19] Technology trends in the industry.

[46:40] How kids can overcome pressure internally and externally in the team.

[49:35] How to build up a killer mindset for the players.

[55:27] The zoo tiger versus the wild tiger analogy.

Connect with Josh Johnson

Facebook: Virginia Unity FC

Twitter: VAUnitySB

Resources and Links

Summary: In this episode of Transcending Sport, Rob invited Mo Mercado to the show to discuss her time as a University of Arizona athlete. Now a softball instructor., Mo shares her origin story of how she became the pro she is today and how she’s passing on the torch to the softball athletes of tomorrow!

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction to Mo Mercado

[03:25] Mo grew up in Temecula, Ca, which is now a hotbed for up-and-coming softball players. In her earlier years, they would commute to Garden Grove, a hub for the best teams at the time. Through her many years of practice, Mo learned the meaning of being successful and prepared, setting herself to a high standard to meet with her California competitors.

[10:09] Having an uncle who played for the University of Arizona, Mo felt inspired to follow in his footsteps. After attending her dream school, Mo moved on to Team USA.

[13:44] Mo credits getting her edge from her parents, who installed batting cages in their home, giving her and her sister the advantage of practicing every day. Overall, Mo recognized that if she kept up with physical training, doing drill work, remaining agile, and altogether staying active, she would always have the edge over others.

[16:07] Mo recalls the feeling of surprise but excitement when she was recruited to the Team USA and going to Japan that same summer.

[21:59] Mo goes into the importance of being in tune with your mental game. She trusted her ability which was exhibited in her skill.

[29:40] Mo describes going to bed visualizing what her pitch would be for her next day so when it was game time, she felt as if she already done the pitch which in turn gave her the confidence boost she needed.

[35:58] Connect with Mo

Key Topics Discussed:

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Connect with Mo:

Summary: In this episode of Transcending sport, I am joined by the coach of the Virginia Glory founder and Bishop O'Connell HS Varsity Coach, Suzy Willemssen. She gives some insight into her process behind building a winning team and how she helps her athletes become better players.

Episode Highlights:

[03:02] Coach Suzy shares her journey into softball; she recounts being on the cusp of Title IX, so if she wanted to play any sports, she would have to go down to the YMCA. She was the first female to play baseball in her community, and by the time she was a sophomore, softball was brought to her school, which marked the beginning of her love for the sport.

[09:45] Coach Suzy shares how she became a Virginia Glory coach. The Washington Glory Professional Softball team wanted to create a developmental team using their training facility. Having already coached a team called the Blue Jays, Suzy knew she was qualified, so she applied and was selected to be the 18 yr coach.

[12:38] Coach Suzy reveals her tricks to building a great team, which includes staying true to what you believe and allowing it to grow organically.

[16:07] Coach Suzy recognizes that a team cannot succeed without the support of the parents, beyond encouraging players to stay true to themselves and sticking to their core values. It's the three prongs, as Coach Suzy puts it, that allow for growth; parents, coaches, and players.

[19:00] Coach Suzy discloses her secret to growth mindset. She emphasizes the importance of allowing players to own their success and their failures. When players step out of their comfort zone and tackle a challenge, they open up new opportunities to grow and learn from their mistakes

[35:17] Coach Suzy puts emphasis on curiosity; it’s an essential characteristic to have as a player. She also gives insight into the perspective of an athlete and what influences them to do better. That being having a coach who is also a continuous learner. If a coach is learning, then so are their players.

[41:11] Coach Suzy shares a few things she has in the works coming up. She is gearing up for a new team since a lot of the players will be away at camps, she will be on a showcasing tour starting mid-October, and most notably, she will be speaking at the NFCA convention as part of the high school caucus.

[44:57] Coach Suzy shares the most challenging aspect of getting athletes to push through their mental hurdles: comparing themselves to others. She continues by calling attention to social media and its pressures to always want to appear perfect

[48:26] Connect with Coach Suzy

VA GLORY Website

www.gloryfastpitch.org

TWITTER

Key Topics:

Quotes:

Summary:

In this episode of Transcending Sport, I welcome Coach Tina Plew Whitlock. Coach Whitlock is a former MLB Coach, former USA player, and a USC softball standout. Coach Whitlock brings us along with her on her baseball and softball journey and shares with us her experience in being a founding SEC player to becoming a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Episode Highlights:

[02:57] Coach Whitlock shares a bit of her background and how she got into baseball. She was the daughter of an active Navy member and moved around frequently. During her stay in Utah, the activities options for young girls were limited, so she decided to take up baseball. When Coach Whitlock graduated high school, she was immediately signed with the University of South Carolina and by the time her senior year came her and her team played in the first SEC Championship. They ranked #1 and made an appearance at the Women’s College World Series.

[06:01] Coach Whitlock comments on the advantages of being a multi-sport athlete. She discusses the different roles she would play in every sport, one being a leader, an observer, and a learner as an example.

[18:11] Coach Whitlock shares her experience in being one of the founding players of the SEC. She looks back at that time as being locked in and focused and not truly realizing that she was making history.

[23:01] Coach Whitlock discusses her transition of going from baseball to softball. She reveals the jump as feeling natural and habitual to her. The main difference to her was the focus put on arm care. Baseball invested heavily in arm programs and in making sure your battery was taken care of. Additionally, the cultural differences in commitment to the game also came as a shock.

[28:43] Coach Whitlock started coaching in her local community, at first in softball but would end up doing both. One faithful day she got a call from Tyrone Brooks, who invited her to discuss opportunities involving the MLB. Once Coach Whitlock returned from Japan, she agreed to meet and was later titled the fourth coach for the Cardinals.

[34:02] Coach Whitlock shares the role faith plays in her career. She approaches athletes with love and with the help of her faith she extends courage, perseverance, and strength.

[37:52] Coach Whitlock highlights the importance of getting to know your athletes. She hones in on their movements and techniques. She then takes that information and helps improve their patterns and swings.

[42:15] Coach Whitlock shares her strategies on how she approaches athletes who are focused on their failures. She dissects the outcome of those failures, from frustrations to breakdowns, and turns those actions into positive changes.

[55:55] Connect with Coach Whitlock

Quotes:

Connect with Coach Whitlock:

In this episode, Rob sits down with long-time friend Lou Ledoux, Founder and CEO of Axis Bats. While a fan of baseball since he was a kid, Lou never really gave much thought to the science of bats—much less the manufacturing process—until a little over 15 years ago when he was approached by an acquaintance looking for someone to create professional level bats for big league players. Being in his fifties at that point, Lou initially wasn’t all too eager to make a significant career shift. However, a long discussion with his wife gave him the confidence to jump into the bat industry.

Listen in as Rob and Lou discuss all things bats, from how different wood species affect the feel and performance of the bat, knowing which bat size to give to a player depending on their build, designing an effective one-hand trainer, and optimizing your swing technique.

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WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

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REACH OUT TO LOU AND HIS TEAM AT [email protected]

Credit: IggyBeats, DT Productions, and Ali the Greatest for background music.