Watch as Coach Leslie Huntington explains, and infielders demonstrate these short hop warm-up drills. The players start on their knees facing each other, working straight on. They turn sideways, still on the knees, to work […]
Building Relationships Is Key with Athletes with Christa Williams-Yates – Friendswood HS (TX)
Watch as Coach Christa Williams-Yates explains that her players perform better and buy in when she is more personal with them and shows that she cares. The goal is for each player to be the […]
Networking
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics The old saying that “it’s not what you know but who you know” doesn’t always hold true, but having […]
Pitching: Tempo of Movement with Melyssa Lombardi – Univ. of Oregon
Watch as Coach Melyssa Lombardi discusses the impact of tempo on pitching consistency and explains why most issues with mechanics stem from the same problem.
Catcher IQ – Know Your Pitcher with Kelly Inouye-Perez – UCLA
Watch as Coach explains the importance of catchers understanding a pitcher’s routine, mechanics, spins, movement, and key words. Having your catchers study film of the pitchers allows them to understand the base and then to […]
Mindset: Stop Blaming & Complaining with Alan Stein, Jr.
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 […]
What Are Your Athletes’ Biggest Influences? with Chet Scott – Built to Lead
Watch as Chet Scott explains the ‘leadership is influence’ concept, and that you know you are a leader if you have followers. If you are going to lead and influence your players, it would be […]
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? […]
High-In Low-Out Hitting Drill with Garland Shirley – Clarke Univ.
Watch as Coach explains, and a hitter demonstrates the High-In Low-Out Drill that is good for hitters struggling with inside and outside pitches. Coach covers the tee placement, and then the hitter will pull the […]
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 […]
The Importance of Mindset
By: John Klessinger Originally Published in: A Coach’s Manual Provided by: Championship Productions “Confidence is a very fragile thing, and it certainly is something that has to start with your mental approach and your ability […]
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 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 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 in the […]
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 […]
Tools For the Short Game with Karen Weekly – Univ. of Tennessee
Watch as Coach discusses the short game and explains that you need to use all of the tools in your toolbox. Factors that can determine what tool a slapper must use include: what the defense […]
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 […]
Increasing Your Pitcher’s Speed with Beth Torina – LSU
Watch as Coach discusses increasing your pitcher’s speed through long toss. Pitchers should long toss 2 to 3 times per week, working on throwing the ball as high and far as they can while using […]
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 […]
How to Avoid Coaching Burnout with Dr. Lee Dorpfeld – Univ. of South Florida
Coaches will not experience burnout if they do not care about what they do and are not passionate about their work. Most successful coaches put in tremendous amounts of time and effort but without some […]
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 […]
Pitcher’s Bungee Balance Drill with Marissa Young – Duke Univ.
Watch as Coach explains, and pitchers demonstrate these bungee balance drills that address a pitcher’s posture, balance, and finish. Using the bungee drills, Coach mentions “feeding the mistakes” to help correct them. Use the bands […]
What Gets Rewarded, Gets Repeated with Heath Eslinger – A Better Way Athletics
Watch as Coach explains that “what gets rewarded, gets repeated”. If celebration is only based on playing time and performance, you are missing an opportunity to help your players get better. Look for what your […]
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 […]
Tire Hitting Drill with Tim Walton – Univ. of Florida
Watch as Coach explains and shows video clips of this tire hitting drill using a 15-inch wheelbarrow tire. The hitter is in her stance with a good stack position looking at herself in a mirror. […]
Infielders Hurdle Drill with Caitlin Bollier – Sandra Day O’Connor HS (TX)
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 […]