Alan discusses awareness and mindset which may be the #1 separator from good to great and from great to elite. A winner’s mindset involves having extreme accountability and ownership for everything in your life. You […]
Outfielders: Ball in the Gap Drill with Colleen Powers – St. Catherine Univ.
Watch as Coach discusses the importance of outfielders working on balls in the gap, both on the ground and in the air. The goal is for the outfielder to get to a ball and to […]
A Competitive Drill to Increase Skills & Hustle
By: Cindy Bristow Provided by: Softball Excellence What softball coach wouldn’t want a single drill that practiced every skill used in softball, and was competitive at the same time? Does such a drill even exist? […]
Plank Pitching Drill with Melyssa Lombardi – Univ. of Oregon
Watch as Coach explains the Plank Pitching Drill. Throwing off the plank makes the pitcher focus on the pitch and staying on the plank. The drill is harder than throwing off the ground, so when […]
Improve Yourself, Improve the Team with Scott Whitlock – (Retired) Kennesaw State Univ.
Watch as Coach Scott Whitlock explains one factor in his success as a coach was knowing his limitations and never trying to teach a skill/part of the game that he was NOT proficient in. He […]
Outfielder’s Hula Hoop Throws Drills with Colleen Powers – St. Catherine University
Watch as Coach Colleen Powers explains, and outfielders demonstrate these Hula Hoop throws drills. This is an end of the game throw simulating making the out at the plate under pressure.
Pitching Alignment with Kirk Walker – UCLA
Watch as Coach Kirk Walker explains alignment, the concept of a straight line from the pitcher’s mound directly to home plate. The line must be in your mind, as a player or coach, vertically up […]
Coaching Third Base with Tim Walton – Univ. of Florida
Watch as Coach explains how he has won his team more games than he has lost coaching 3rd base by being in a good position and understanding the ‘how’ and ‘when’ to take chances. He […]
5 Drills for Hitting the Outside Pitch
By: Cindy Bristow Provided by: Softball Excellence Ever get that runner to second base only to have your next 2 batters hit groundballs to the shortstop – inning over! Learn how you can teach your […]
Are You Humble Enough to Admit You Were Wrong? with Dr. Greg Dale – Duke Univ.
Watch as Dr. Dale asks the question, “Are you humble enough to admit you are wrong?” Most coaches would answer yes to this question, but many have a hard time with it. Why? Undermining creditably […]
Optimism
By: Alan Stein, Jr. Originally Published in: Raise Your Game Confidence comes from an understanding of your own agency, your own influence, and your own ability to make things happen. Bob Rotella is a sports […]
Pitch Tunneling with Myndie Berka – BreakThrew Fastpitch
Watch as Coach discusses, and pitchers demonstrate tunneling. This is when two pitches hit the same spot, but look different to the hitter. In the drill, each pitcher will throw 20 pitches to a spot: […]
Outfield Relay Drill with Karen Weekly – Univ. of TN
Watch as Coach explains, and outfielders demonstrate this relay drill that works on fielding and throwing a ball that has gotten through to the wall. The outfielder should not take any steps as she picks […]
Life – Love It…You’re Gonna Leave It
By: Coach Mickey Marley Originally Published in: Game Ready – 52 Takeaways for Winning You know something I used to be really guilty of doing? I was guilty of taking life for granted. I used […]
Infielders Hurdle Drill with Caitlin Bollier
Watch as Coach explains that this hurdle drill allows the infielder to work on keeping the back flat and getting the hands out in front. The drill does not incorporate a glove and the infielder […]
Understanding Parents
By: John Klessinger Originally Published in: A Coach’s Manual Provided by: Championship Productions “Keep the discussion with your athlete and parents alive, but never forget that you are the coach, and you have your own […]
Infielder’s Change of Direction Ladder Drills with Mary Jo Firnbach – Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale
Watch as Coach explains, and players demonstrate these change of direction ladder drills. The drills work on flyballs, hard hit ground balls, slow roller ground balls, as well as flyballs and ground balls hit to […]
Building an Environment for Parents and Athletes to Communicate with Dr. Lee Dorpfeld – Univ. of South Florida
Watch as Dr. Dorpfeld explains that you want to build an environment based on communication in which the athletes are comfortable talking to you. Many times, parents or even coaches can hinder this process and […]
Developing a Pitching IQ with Rachel Lawson – Univ. of Kentucky
Watch as Coach explains that when it comes to pitchers, the first thing she teaches them is how to pitch to a count. She would then start to develop a changeup and work on getting […]
Catching: Straight Steals & Pickoff Sequence with Larissa Anderson – Univ. of Missouri
Watch as Coach explains straight steals and a pickoff sequence. The catchers are working on snap throws or calling pickoffs and it involves the pitcher, 1st and 2nd basemen, and right fielders. The left side […]
Repeating Success
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics Coaching Better Every Season – a lofty standard indeed, yet a very attainable one. The time-tested principles and strategies of quality […]
Credibility Is Like a Bank Account with Dr. Greg Dale – Duke Univ.
Watch as Dr. Dale discusses how to establish credibility with athletes. Preparedness, empathy, and honesty are all keys to success. Dr. Dale also explains the importance of giving kids a purpose on the team. Like […]
Are You a Leader?
By: Alan Stein, Jr. AlanSteinJr.com I try to build my success, brick by brick, and aim to get a little better every day. One of my focal points is improving my leadership. The words ‘coach’ […]
Hitting Goals with Ralph Weekly – Univ. of Tennessee
Watch as Coach discusses hitting goals with a brief explanation of each goal. Coach mentions something you should tell your team: “Look fast, adjust to slow. Look high, adjust to low.”
Develop Relationships with Alan Stein, Jr.
Watch as Alan Stein, Jr. discusses the importance of developing relationships with your players. Know your personnel and play to their strengths. Work with the players on their fundamentals and basics. Develop relationships with the […]
Power, Control, Deception with Kirk Walker – UCLA
Watch as Coach explains that in power, control, and deception, there are three measures of the pitch. Every good pitcher can throw hard, throw strikes, and can deceive the hitters. For ‘power’, you want the […]
Catcher’s Blocking Drills with Lindsay Leftwich – Louisiana State Univ.
Watch as Coach discusses blocking and shows practice clips of blocking workups. Repetition is the key in blocking and the more reps a catcher has, the more it becomes instantaneous, so they don’t have to […]
Want vs. Willing
Originally Published in: Game Ready – 52 Takeaways for Winning by Coach Mickey Marley I made this statement earlier, but I think it bears repeating. I often would ask my players this question: ‘How many […]
Social Media: Your Messages/Views Are Always a Reflection of Your Employer with Garry Rosenfield – Coaches Inc.
Watch as Garry explains that coaches need to know their social messages and their views they express are always a reflection of their employer/program. Coaches are always on duty, thus always representing their school or […]
Pitching: Negative Talk with Melanie Coyne – McNeese State Univ.
Watch as Coach Melanie Coyne discusses how negative talk reflects a distrust and lack of respect for teammates and staff, as well as the individual player. Much emphasis is placed on the use of positive […]