In our hyper-fast world we tend to only look at what’s right in front of us. In doing so we miss the benefits of a longer-term view. A couple of weeks ago, as I was preparing for my annual battle with putting Christmas lights on the roof of my house, I came across the note […]

Patience may be a virtue, but it’s one that can be tough to come by. Especially in today’s world where everyone wants results now. I know I’ve talked about this many times before but one of the problems fastpitch softball players face in our “instant-everything” world is an expectation that they can fix major issues, or go […]

Goal Getting is based on what a young athlete can achieve through effort. Goal Setting is based on win/loss types of outcomes. While it makes intuitive sense that effective goals for fourth graders differ from those made by juniors in high school, it’s important for parents and coaches to understand how to help youth athletes […]

Before enrolling your child in a sport program, ask yourself if you are ready to take a step back and embrace a more hands-off role as a “sideline teammate” to your child. Signing up your young athlete for a team means they will soon become a teammate to others. As a parent, you will likely […]

The overall idea is to aim small and miss small. So if you have a pitcher who needs to gain more precision in hitting her spots, give this drill a try. A few months ago I put up a post that showed a way to help fastpitch softball pitchers who were struggling with hitting their inside and […]

Whether you’re in season or in the offseason, it’s in the player’s best interest to work regularly on learning whatever it is she’s trying to learn. Sometimes getting a player to understand the value of practice can be difficult. Those who aren’t the most dedicated to fastpitch softball can find a hundred excuses not to […]

The more you follow Occam’s Razor the more success your players will have and the more games you’ll win. Isn’t that really what it’s all about? At some point in your life outside of fastpitch softball you’ve probably heard the term “Occam’s Razor.” No, it’s not a brand of shaving utensil. Instead, it’s a way […]

Making mistakes is critical to the kind of growth that ultimately wins games – especially those in tense situations – as well as championships. First of all, for those of you who are wondering, yes. This is my dog Swayze. (I didn’t name him; he was a rescue and that was already his name.) He’s […]

It’s very easy for players to slip into their comfort zone when they’re practicing or playing. Unfortunately, for many that comfort zone may be far less than they’re capable of achieving when pushed. The other day I was reading an article in the NFCA’s Fastpitch Delivery newspaper. It was written by Megan Brown, Ph.D., an assistant coach at […]

The reality is, a softball player’s career is short, which means your time to enjoy watching your player(s) as a parent is short. It’s not life-or-death. It’s just a game. The reality is, a softball player’s career is short, which means your time to enjoy watching your player(s) as a parent is short. It’s not […]