Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

This weeks lineup:Shoutout segmentPaige's Power PlayListener Question: Why does my daughter hit so much better in practice than in a game?Interview with Danielle Rubin a pitching instructor that not only does in person lessons but has mastered giving instruction online.Discussion on why players should consider junior colleges.Coaches set the tone for the team. As the coach goes so does the team.Support the show

Most games are lost because we do little things poorly. What are little things? Listen as the coaches talk about just a fraction of the little things and you realize there is no end to the little things that a player can do to improve the odds of winning. Support the show

This weeks lineup:The shoutout segmentPaige's Power PlayListener question - the pros and cons of knee saversHow to handle discontent on a team and a mutiny is not the way to go.Know the differences between cut-offs and relays.Support the show

Coaches, in a game, we get in the habit of watching the ball instead of watching the whole field. It is like watching the game on TV. The camera follows the ball. In the game, every player has a role on every play and pitch. If we are surprised that a player did not back up a certain play, do you know if that was just one incident or have they not been moving all game. If you can't answer that question, you have probably been following the ball instead of watching the entire field and the movement of everyone.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Listener Question: Is it okay to let my catcher practice with a pitching machine?More games are lost than won. Be the team that wins by paying attention to the little things.Pitchers: Attack the ZoneDon't let the inequities of who does the work to support the team cause friction on the team. Think of all of the tasks that have to be done like cleaning up the dugout, carrying equipment to the warm-up area, etc. Assign duties and spread the work out over the whole team.Support the show

Playing softball successfully requires mastering certain skills. It is a game of skills. An athletic player can be successful by relying on their athleticism up to a certain point. Sooner or later the speed of the game catches up with their athleticism. Each player has a ceiling as to what they can achieve and we should be requiring all of them to acquire the skills to take them as far as possible. It is possible for a less athletic player to surpass an athletic player if they work on their skills harder. Coaches have to have the same expectations for every player.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Shout our segment.Discussion of catchers backing up first base. This is prompted by comments from a post on the same topic. The coaches are pretty adamant that a catcher's job is to back up first.15 skills that are learned by playing on a team that are important and are carried over to real life.Unwritten rules that are being carried over from baseball to softball. There are not good reasons for some of these and we shouldn't feel bad by doing what's best for the team and players.Discussion  of coaches taking it personally when a player leave a team. There are a lot of times that it is a good decision by the player and a coach should see it as a positive and not feel bad. Support the show

Some players have the opportunity to play for a team, such as a school team, that has lessor skilled players than their travel ball team and is not near as competitive. This is especially true with middle school teams. We hear complaints all the time about I can't hit slow pitching, they make more mistakes, etc. This is not something to complain about, but a great opportunity to grow as a player.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Listener question on developing competitiveness in a team. A team should always be performing at their best no matter what the score or circumstances.Interview with InnerPro Sports. They offer an app that allows an athlete to train wherever they are. It generates an individualized program for strength and conditioning, mental performance and nutrition.Fall recruiting in these strange times. Signals and offensive strategy. For instance, you call a steal. What do you expect the batter to do. And does the batter know what you expect.Support the show

Everyone does not learn the same way and most learn better with a mix of methods. When you are coaching a team there is going to be a mixture of learning types. You can't go out there and teach just one way and impact all of your players. You have to understand how they learn and how to teach so that they all understand. In this podcast we discuss how people learn and how to apply that to teaching softball skills.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Shout out segmentListener question: Moving up in bat size? Length and weight, length only or weight only.Many COVID changes this week in the college world. Any player that is looking at being recruited needs to understand that the recruiting process has changed. They and their parents have to adapt and they will have to do more to advance their chances.Listener question: What type of shoes? We discuss the pros and cons of Turf Shoes, Molded Cleats and Spikes.Support the show

These week we discuss that there has to be some fun built into practices, especially for the younger ages. We want our players to want to come to practice not have to. We can make it fun and enjoyable and accomplish what we are trying to achieve by adding some new twists to our drills. It takes working on your practice plan and modifying it to add competitiveness and enjoyable aspects. Listen for some ideas.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Usual Shout Out topics.Listener question about punishment for mistakes. Mistakes need to be categorized between lack of a skill and effort. If some sort of punishment needs to be handed out we don't believe in running as a punishment. A complete athlete is well conditioned, so any form of conditioning should not be viewed as punishment.It's Tryout Season. We discuss how a player and her parents should approach the tryouts for a new team. It is almost like getting recruited for college, but on a smaller scale. Some of the same steps apply.Corona Update. Trying to keep up with the changes being caused by COVID-19 and all of the changes filtering down to the younger age groups.An honest discussion on Favoritism. We can't deny that we have favorites. But we need to have a system that everyone knows how we determine positions and lineups so favoritism doesn't play a part.Support the show

As schools start back, a lot of schools are going to be using virtual learning but with more structure than when it had to be implemented instantly back in the spring. If you are virtual learning, we discuss how to use your class breaks to become a better softball player.Support the show

This weeks lineup:Shout out sectionPaige's Power PlayListener question on needing help in finding dedicated players for her team.The merger of Perfect Game (PG) and Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF). Will this be good for the fastpitch community? The conversation also moves into the cost of travel ball and limits on how much you should spend for tournaments and showcases. High School softball has started up in some of the states that play in the fall. There will be restrictions and yes, you must follow them.Dropped 3rd strike. The rule is discussed and the nuances must be taught to our players and practiced. It can be confusing and confusion can lead to mistakes. If your players know all aspects of the rule, they will be able to handle the situation correctly on defense and might be able to advance a base on offense.Support the show

Throwing has to be practiced over and over to make the exceptional plays.There are many types of throws and each one should be practiced at every workout and at home. We go over many types of throws that you can build into your throwing program. Practice throwing, throwing and more throwing.Support the show

This weeks podcast was distributed with the wrong date. To avoid any confusion we are uploading it again with today's date.This weeks line up.Shout out section - Player of the week, Equipment tip, Did You Know, Listener question about foul tips and stealingPaige's Power PlayInterview with Steven Locke head coach of the AP Gold 16U team just off winning the Triple Crown Southeast Nationals. Listen as he explains how this team was built and their coaching philosophy.What has become a weekly update of the affects of COVID 19 to sports. Everyone is following college sports because what they do will have an impact on upcoming players for years to come.Finally a discussion of the large national organizations and some of the pros and cons. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/everythingfastpitch)Support the show

This weeks line up.Shout out section - Player of the week, Equipment tip, Did You Know, Listener question about foul tips and stealingPaige's Power PlayInterview with Steven Locke head coach of the AP Gold 16U team just off winning the Triple Crown Southeast Nationals. Listen as he explains how this team was built and their coaching philosophy.What has become a weekly update of the affects of COVID 19 to sports. Everyone is following college sports because what they do will have an impact on upcoming players for years to come.Finally a discussion of the large national organizations and some of the pros and cons. Support the show

A bat is a major expense for the fastpitch player and family. Understanding what you are buying and how to make this decision is discussed in detail.Follow us on facebook for the latest softball information:https://www.facebook.com/fastpitchpreponline/Support the show

Listen as we discuss different topics concerning the softball community.Shout out segment - Player of the week - City of the weekListener question - Should catchers remove their mask on fielding plays or leave it on?Segment 1 - Discussions are under way to change recruiting dates in an effort to clean up the mess caused by the Corona shutdowns. These decisions not only affect current players but ripple down through travel ball teams for several years. Segment 2 - The continuing changing Corona shutdowns continue to cause problems for colleges and travel teams. Also it seems that we are having more issues with decisions and conduct of participants of the teams that are getting to play. Coaching Tip - Use opportunities to teach and coach players in different positions to create versatility on your team. You never know when a condition will arise that cause you to put a player out of position.To keep current with Corona decisions and more great content follow us on facebook. www.facebook.com/fastpitchpreponline/