Practice with PRESSURE! – Carol Bruggeman

How many coaches out there can relate to this scenario? You feel you have a very solid defensive team, as your athletes work hard on the mechanics and fundamentals of fielding, throwing, and receiving every day. Each member of the team fields 150…

Sep 25, 2013

Four Guidelines for Any Coach

I will be the first to admit that I have been very lucky in this business. My career has allowed me to live a life which most softball coaches can only dream of. I have won national championships, coached All-Americans and served on the USA …

Sep 25, 2013

Quick Tips To Improve Bunting Skills

Bunting is one of the simplest, but most often under-taught aspects of our game. Here are some quick tips to help you.

First, you want to either be in the front or back of the box. Being in the front increases the chance of the bunt going fair…

Sep 25, 2013

Seven Tips for Better Hitting – Ken Krause

There has been a revolution in the game of fastpitch softball in the past few years – the introduction of powerful and reliable hitting. While it used to be a given that any game between two even halfway decent teams or above would end in a score…

Sep 25, 2013

The Mental Game of Hitting

Hitting is adjusting–adjusting to the pitch, the type of pitcher, the count, the umpire, and the situation. The mental game of hitting begins in practice. In a game, it begins on the bench, continues in the on-deck circle and on the approach to…

Sep 25, 2013

Toss Drills

These drills are useful because they do not require a lot of space or expensive equipment. Players can use rubber softballs, old softballs (tape the balls if the seams are coming apart), and Wiffle balls and can hit into a fence, carpet, curtain…

Sep 25, 2013

You don’t have to be fast to be a good base runner…

As I look at the identity of my program, I always look at ways in which we can get better. The place I always come back to is base running. Base running, in my opinion, right next to over hand throwing is one of our games’ weakest skills.

Sep 25, 2013

Base Running – Light vs. Sound Approach

Our philosophy of base running is based on two concepts Light vs. Sound plus ownership of the skill. Generally speaking, one of the skills lacking of players when they come to college is the understanding of base running. Base running is not to be…

Sep 25, 2013

Stealing a Base

Stealing bases is a useful component of fast-pitch softball because the speed of play is dramatic with the bases just 60 feet apart. A successful steal can build offensive momentum and increase the pressure on the pitcher and defense by moving…

Sep 25, 2013

Speed Training for Softball Base Running

In softball, getting on base is purely about speed. A quick jump toward first base after a batter makes contact with the ball is often the difference between reaching safely or being called out.

Sep 9, 2013