Watch as Stephen Mackey explains that athletes are dealing with pressure and expectations that come from the community and from themselves. Most athletes do not expect growth or personal best but instead, perfection. Athletes should […]
Where Is the Title IX Finish Line with Peg Pennepacker – High School Title IX Consulting Services
Watch as Peg Pennepacker discusses the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and where she sees the end goal or “mythical finish line”. There has been a lot of positive movement in the last 10 years, […]
A Lot of Try
By: Coach Mickey Marley Originally Published in: Game Ready – 52 Takeaways for Winning Previously, I shared that my daddy was a professional cowboy in Texas. Kid Marley had many clever sayings related to his […]
Infielder’s Short Hop Practice Drills with Leslie Huntington – Univ. of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]