Watch as Coach Lisa Navas explains that catchers can develop bad habits if they relax in the bullpen. Catchers need to get the ball back to the pitcher with good tempo emphasizing proper arm alignment […]
Infielder’s Figure 8 Drill with Mary Jo Firnbach – Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale
Watch as Coach Mary Jo Firnbach explains, and infielders demonstrate this figure 8 drill. The drill works on footwork, setting up to attack the ball forward, and glove flips. Each player will take 5 reps, […]
Use Social Media as a Tool
By: Becky Burleigh – Retired Originally Published in: Winning Ways of Women Coaches Provided by: Human Kinetics Most athletes have outward-facing social media as well as inward-facing social media. You can post things on your […]
Timing Slap Drill with Tim Walton – Univ. of Florida
Watch as Coach Tim Walton explains and shows video clips of the Timing Slap Drill. Strategically, if the batters can show bunt and pull back to swing hard, you cause the infield to be out […]
7 Key Steps for Making Ethical Decisions
By: Dan Gould & Cliff Mallett Originally Published in: Sport Coaches Handbook Provided by: Human Kinetics To help you make ethical decisions in your own coaching, here are seven key steps. Recognize that ethical decisions […]
Foul Ball Pop Fly Catcher’s Drill with Kelly Inouye-Perez – UCLA
Watch as Coach explains that catching foul fly ball pop-ups is a skill that needs to be practiced. The catcher must turn their back to the infield on a foul ball behind the plate because […]
Building Bat Speed: Quick Toss – Weighted Balls with Ralph Weekly – Univ. of Tennessee
Watch as Coach Ralph Weekly explains and shows a clip of his best hitting drill. This side toss drill uses weighted baseballs with 3 sets of 24 swings that helps develop bat speed.
Helping Athletes Overcome Perfectionism with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
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 […]