By: Megan Brown, Ph.D. – Assistant Coach, Boston College Provided by: National Fastpitch Coaches Association Have you ever wondered why kids pick up on certain skills really quick only to take weeks to grasp the […]
Pitching: Batter Silhouette with Lin Casciato
Watch as Coach Lin Casciato discusses how he uses a batter silhouette with a piece of string attached to the elbow to assist pitchers on delivering an inside pitch. The silhouette helps the pitchers feel […]
Understanding Motivation and the Learning Process
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics Effective coaches devote considerable time to identifying and creating training activities for their athletes. But even the most creative and engaging […]
Catching: Catch and Release Drill with Stacy Iveson – Univ. of AZ
Watch as Coach Stacy Iveson explains and a catcher demonstrates this catch and release drill. The catcher receives the ball and rakes the ball to the throwing hand by the ear. The catcher must get […]
Hitting: Strong Barrel Drill with Tony Abbatine – Frozen Ropes
Watch as Coach Tony Abbatine explains and a hitter demonstrates this strong barrel drill. This drill utilizes a truck tire, punching bag, or a stationary wall. The batter is going to contact the tire and […]
The Power of Practice
By:Cindy Bristow Provided by:Softball Excellence Practice makes perfect, doesn’t it? Make sure your practices have the greatest chance of improving your players. For many, practice is just around the corner. Before you start, read this. […]
Hitting: Front Toss Drills with Joe Yegge – Kirkwood CC
Watch as Coach Joe Yegge explains and a batter demonstrates these front toss drills. These power hitting front toss progression drills include Pre-Load, Slow Load, Face the Fire, Fall Into It, and Change Up.
Pyramid of Teaching Success in Sport
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics The Pyramid of Teaching Success in Sport is a popular athlete-centered coaching philosophy framework. Legendary American college basketball coach John Wooden […]
Infielders: Backhand Drill with Peter Turner – San Jose St. Univ.
Watch as Coach Peter Turner explains and infielders demonstrate this backhand drill. By using a backhand throw, the ball will get where it needs to go quicker than by rotating to the ball and throwing.
Pitching Journals with Melanie Coyne – McNeese State Univ.
Watch as Coach Melanie Coyne discusses how journaling provides an outlet and feedback for both positive and negative performances. Therefore, she asks her pitchers to keep a journal and to write in it after each […]
Sportsmanship – Mallory Holtman
By: Joseph M. Hoedel, Ph.D. Provided By: Character Development & Leadership “It didn’t feel like it was a decision. It just felt like the right thing to do.” On April 26, 2008, Central Washington University […]
Infielders: Tags Drill with Randy Ward – Loyola Marymount Univ.
Watch as Coach Randy Ward explains and infielders demonstrate this tags drill. Footwork positioning is key and the infielder must own the front corner of the base forcing the runner to slide behind the infielder. […]
Hitting: Sit Down Drill with Tony Abbatine – Frozen Ropes
Watch as Coach Tony Abbatine explains and a hitter demonstrates this sit down drill. This drill emphasizes isolating and quieting the lower half and having the hitter know where the bat barrel is from beginning […]
Practice Evaluations: Building Blocks
By: Donna Papa – Univ. of North Carolina Originally Published in: Practice Perfect Softball – NFCA Provided by: Human Kinetics In developing my program goals, I begin with the end in mind. So my starting […]
Outfielder’s Fly Ball Ladder Drill with Caitlin Lowe – Univ. of AZ
Watch as Coach Caitlin Lowe discusses this outfielder’s fly ball ladder drill. This drill works to feel the activation of the quick feet before getting into the fly ball footwork.
Throwing: Towel Whips Drill with Megan Smith Lyon – Marshall Univ.
Watch as Coach Megan Smith explains and an infielder demonstrates this towel whips drill. This drill emphasizes proper throwing mechanics and the towel is a visual reinforcement of mechanics and technique.
Creating a Productive Environment
By: Rachel Lawson Originally Published in: Practice Perfect Softball Provided by: Human Kinetics To prepare a team for the upcoming season, a coach must push the athletes to heights that they would not reach on […]
Hitting: Jeter Tee Drill with Chase Turner – San Jose St. University
Watch as Coach Chase Turner explains and a hitter demonstrates the Jeter Tee Drill. Coach emphasizes on quick and tight movements when hitting inside and outside pitches up the middle and opposite field.
Pitching: Managing Anxiety with Melanie Coyne – McNeese State Univ.
Watch as Coach Melanie Coyne discusses managing anxiety by encouraging her pitchers to embrace their feelings and fears, and not to suppress them. Pitchers should find a teammate or coach that they can discuss their […]
Practicing Indoors: Cone Drills
By: Jen McIntyre Originally Published in: Practice Perfect Softball – NFCA Provided by: Human Kinetics As we begin practice, we run and stretch as normal and then go right into our throwing progression. We emphasize […]
Hitting: Reggie Drill with Tony Abbatine – Frozen Ropes
Watch as Coach Tony Abbatine explains and a hitter demonstrates the Reggie Drill that helps a batter to sit down on low ball strikes to create better hitting angles. This is a great drill for […]
Pitching: Correcting Back Leg Drive with Lin Casciato
Watch as Coach Lin Casciato explains and a pitcher demonstrates using a block board or box to help the pitcher keep the heel from dragging.
3 Reasons for Pitching Blind Balls
By: Cindy Bristow Provided by: Softball Excellence Hold on – before you think I’m suggesting that umpires are blind, or that pitchers should throw balls – read on and then decide. If your pitcher’s ever […]
Side Toss Drill with Mike Candrea – (Retired) Univ. of Arizona
Watch: Side Toss Drill – Mike Candrea
Hitting: Point of Contact with Chase Turner – San Jose State Univ.
Watch as Coach Chase Turner explains, and hitters demonstrate a point of contact drill using a football bag. The hitter swings and hits the bag with bent arms and pushes out as if driving the […]
Pitching – Mentality of Success
By: Connie Clark Originally Published in: Practice Perfect Softball – NFCA Provided by: Human Kinetics Sports performance specialist Dr. Ken Ravizza, one of my mentors, has a saying: “Ain’t no use worrying if it’s in […]
Hitting: Front Toss Drills with Randy Simkins – Utah Tech Univ.
Watch as Coach Randy Simkins explains and a hitter demonstrates these front toss drills.
Base Running: 40-50-60 Leads with Randy Schneider
Watch as Coach Randy Schneider explains and a base runner demonstrates these 40-50-60 leads. The length of a lead is determined by arm strength and actions of the opposing catcher and the percentages of a […]
Hitting: 2 Common Load Mistakes with Tripp MacKay – YSPN360
Watch as Coach Tripp MacKay (Univ. of Texas) talks about 2 common load mistakes. The foot and head should never move forwards or backwards at the same time. Balance must be maintained throughout the load.
Coaching With an Appropriate Leadership Style
By: Wade Gilbert Originally Published in: Coaching Better Every Season Provided by: Human Kinetics Leadership is generally defined as a process of influence. A coach’s leadership style, then, comprises the behavioral processes that a coach […]