Instruction always works better when you apply it properly. In the early stages especially, that requires consistency. The once-funny and now just more generally creepy comedian and filmmaker Woody Allen has been quoted as saying “80% of success is just showing up” or something to that effect. While most times ol’ Woody isn’t the person […]

Be a smart consumer. Make sure what you’re being taught, no matter who is teaching it, matches up with what great players do. Every week I receive an email that links to pieces of instructional videos for fastpitch softball. And almost every week I end up shaking my head at what I see in them […]

If your mechanics are bad and you’re not performing, there’s little risk in making changes. Nowhere to go but up and all of that. It’s a pretty safe bet that “Turn, Turn, Turn” is the best-known songs by the 1960s folk-rock band The Byrds. It’s either that or “Mr. Tambourine Man,” but I personally think […]

By the way, there was no prize for winning or avoiding getting HORSE, although there certainly could’ve been. The game simply appealed to her competitive nature and got her attention. Being a coach sometimes can feel like you’re stuck in the movie Groundhog Day. You offer a correction, the player makes it for a repetition or […]

The more open you are to new information that can help you, the more likely you are to reach your goals. A few days ago my friend Tim Boivin sent me this article about NBA star (and future Hall of Famer) Tim Duncan. The article quotes an open letter from Tony Parker, who explains that the San […]

Start low and out. Most hitters don’t like that pitch and will let it go by for a free strike. “When in doubt, throw low and out.” This came up recently when the mom of one of my students asked me for a little help in learning how to call pitches for her daughter. Makayla […]

The problem slappers have always had with the current scoring system is that it doesn’t accurately reflect their ability to get on base. This is a proposal I think has been a long time coming, and one that is sure to be cheered by every lefty slapper and her parents. It’s a new stat that […]

While that may be easy to say it can be tougher to execute. You want to hit the ball with the bat, and the bat is held in the hands, so for many hitters (especially young ones) it makes more sense to lead with the bat. OK, before anyone gets their undies in a grundy, […]

“It’ll help you understand if it’s a place you can see yourself at or not. Camp is a win-win situation for everyone involved and I highly recommend going to as many one-day and overnight camps as you can.” “The best way to get recruited is to attend that coach’s camp or clinic. As a college […]

Just about everyone knows how important it is to warm up before undertaking any athletic activity, both to prepare for the best performance and to reduce the risk of injury. (I would say “everyone,” but I still hear horror stories of players being thrown into games or or having their pitch/overhand throw speed measured at […]