The Hawaii Bustos Bash is just two weeks away!

Please remember to share this information with anyone you think may be interested!

What to Expect at the Clinic

The Got Bustos? motto is: “See It, Feel It, Fix It”

This is something that Crystl and instructors take to heart. They let the players “see” what they are teaching, “feel” how their body should feel when doing the exercise and give the tools to “fix it” if they are not doing it correctly.

The Got Bustos? clinics started as “Weekend with Gold” back in 2005 with the help of Mary Ellen Bonner who is now our clinic coordinator. From that one clinic the response to Crystl and her method of teaching was tremendous, but more importantly reaching out to the players that weekend turned into Got Bustos? Sports Training, LLC.

Crystl’s goal has always been to give the players a lot of quality time and training with a limited number of players at a cost that is affordable. It’s always been quality, not quantity with Crystl. We set up our clinics with separate stations. We try to limit the stations to 4-6 players. Crystl and her instructors teach proper throwing and fielding mechanics, which all corresponds with hitting and the rest of the clinic Crystl instructs the players through her “Seven Steps of Hitting.”

Players of the same skill level are put together in stations. The clinics start out with Crystl and the instructors demonstrating a specific drill. The girls then return to their station to work on that drill with an instructor. As Crystl and/or Howard walk around they check to see if all the players understand that particular drill. If not she brings them back together and does another demo. Then back to their group. If there are still players who are struggling she will then put them individually with an instructor until they understand what she is teaching.

In each clinic Crystl always takes time at the end of the session to take pictures with each player (and she lets them wear her Olympic Medals in the picture) and autographs. I have never seen Crystl leave a session without making sure each player gets a picture and something signed. Sometimes that means she signs item after item for the same player.

Each player leaves a Got Bustos? clinic feeling not like they just had a workout with the best hitter on the planet but also made a new friend.

Education and training are both important to all of the Got Bustos? staff and Crystl takes time to talk to the players and explain what having good grades can mean. She also makes it known that she believes it takes a lot of hard work and you have to be willing to put in the time and effort in order to succeed.

Crystl’s motto is: “At the end of the day there is no one to blame but yourself for something you do or do not get”.

Crystl is working to help today’s young players, who will be our Olympic Softball Players should softball make it back to the Olympics, prepare to bring the Gold back to the USA!

Register now to see and work with Crystl in person => http://www.staciemahoe.com/bustos

We now have the registration form ready for you to view, print, or save to your computer.

Get the Clinic Registration From HERE

Crystl will do a coach/parent clinic on Friday night (August 5th) then a 2-day player clinic which will include BOTH offense and defense on Saturday and Sunday (August 6th & 7th).

Cost for the coach/parent clinic is $40.

Cost for the 2-day player clinic is $99 (includes both days).

Register to reserve your spot in this first ever Crystl Bustos clinic.

The clinic is slated for August 6th and 7th at Kapolei High School.

Cost is $99 per player for BOTH days.  Get softball hitting instruction from one of the BEST in the game!

General layout for this event will include hitting on Day 1 and fielding/defense on Day 2 (many don’t realize Crystl played SS for the National Team before).

Exact times will be announced soon.  I will keep you posted here at All About Fastpitch when registration forms come out.

Crystl is also interested in doing a coaches clinic for $45 on Friday night.  We don’t currently have a location set for this but will keep you posted as details unfold.

This is an event you don’t want to miss! Got Bustos is offering this first Hawaii clinic at a very special never-been-done-in-Hawaii-before discount.  Hope to see you there.

If you know the reason, or would like to take a guess, leave a comment below and you’ll be entered to win a FREE Softball Performance DVD.  Winner will choose from one of the following…

• 4-Minute Dumbbell Workouts for Softball
• The Pitching Velocity System
• Breakthrough Speed and Agility for Softball
• Power Training for Softball
• Dynamic Warm-Up for Softball
• Bat Speed and Hitting Power System
• Softball Playground Workout

Hurry.  You must leave a comment with your guess today because I’m giving you the answer tomorrow.  Good luck! 

In case you haven’t seen this video, here’s the most popular softball video on my YouTube channel for 2010.  It’s about hitting and something I think too many coaches teach as a “must do” when it’s not something that you actually must do when hitting.

Let me know what you think…

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk7_xQJNwao

Coach Mark Mulvany from SoftballHittingOnline.com recently talked about reading pitch spin.  He coaches hitting both with baseball players and softball players.

I was surprised to hear which pitch he thought was tougher to read spin off of. Baseball or Softball.

What’s your guess?

He says that baseball spin is more obvious because the ball is smaller.  Smaller ball means more revolutions between release and contact, thus giving more “clues” that you can see.

Softball spin, however, can be a little tougher to read. That’s why Coach Mark uses a method he calls “Backdropping” to teach players of any age how to read the ball inside or outside.

Obviously this is a very useful tool because the sooner you can recognize pitch location, the earlier you can make your decision about whether or not to swing, the sooner you can identify the correct path to take to the ball, which all means you will have a better chance of not only hitting the ball, but hitting it well!

To watch the video where Coach Mark explains all this (which is interesting by the way, I will certainly have to get in a batter’s box to try it next time I’m at the field) you must be a member at SoftballHittingOnline.com.

Softball Hitting Online is a paid membership site, BUT Coach Mark is so confident you will love the hitting resources there that he allows you two full weeks to check out the site for free. Which means that you could be watching this video today.

If you’re already a member, simply click this link to watch.

If you’re not a member yet, go ahead and click on the link anyway…it will take you straight to the sign up page where you can join for free today and watch, not only this video, but a whole bunch of others which can help you become a feared hitter in the batter’s box.

In fact, once I got the hang of it, I actually ended up preferring outside pitches over inside pitches!  Maybe it’s because you have just a tad bit more time to see the ball.  I’m not exactly sure why, but whatever the case…

I was super lucky that my softball hitting weakness on the outside didn’t hurt me too much growing up.  But it seems like now-days you get eaten up as a hitter if you have such a glaring weakness.  So, just because I could get away with it and didn’t need to deal with it until college, doesn’t mean that you should follow suit.

In fact, I highly suggest you don’t.  If playing softball is something you like to do, and playing rather than sitting on the bench is something that’s important to you, then you need to be the best hitter you can be.

As a coach, I can tell you that MOST coaches will find a place for you in the lineup if you can HIT!  Being able to hit can go a long way in making you a more valuable player.  Coaches want players that can hit so don’t ignore the things you need to work on.  Too often players go through their hitting drills and only take reps on pitches/spots that they can hit well.  How are you going to improve your hitting weakness if you never practice it?

Do whatever you need to do to get help with your hitting weakness and work on it!

Lucky for you I have something that can help. If you’re like me and struggle with the outside pitch, here is a free softball hitting video dedicated to the topic of hitting the outside pitch.

Enjoy!

Click Here to watch the free softball hitting video now

Many say the bat doesn’t matter, it’s the person that hits the ball and there is definitely truth to that. While it’s probably true that great softball hitters could “hit the ball with a stick” I still believe your bat choice matters!

When it comes to choice, softball bats are a lot like shoes. After all, wouldn’t a fast runner be able to run fast even without the best shoes (or even without any shoes at all)? Just as a good softball hitter could probably “hit the ball with a stick?”

For this bat/shoe comparison, let’s assume we are looking for shoes to run fast in and a bat to hit well with. Given these objectives, there are 3 major ways that softball bats are like shoes when it comes to choice.

The Wrong Size Negatively Affects Your Performance – Have you ever tried to run fast in shoes that just didn’t fit right?  If they are too big you’ve got extra room on the end and your feet probably slosh around in them.  That’s not going to help you run your fastest.  If your shoes are too small and are squeezing your feet or squishing your toes or digging in to the back of your heel, obviously that’s not going to help you run your fastest either.  The same is true with a bat.  Choose the wrong size – too light, too heavy, too long, too short, wrong balance, etc and you won’t swing or hit your best.

Some Models Are Designed to Perform Better than Others – I think we can agree that when it comes to both shoes and bats, some are cheap/generic vs higher end/name brand.  Obviously, some models are designed to perform better than others (and are often effective at putting a bigger dent in your pocketbook too).  If you’ve got a light weight shoe that supports your foot well and gives it everything it needs to do it’s thing without getting in the way, you’re going to be able to run closer to your best than if you got some generic shoe that isn’t lightweight and doesn’t really have the best design for optimal running.  I believe the same is true for bats.  Let’s say you did choose the right size and all that, there are certain bats that, just because of the nature of the design will send a ball screaming just a bit more than another cheaper, more generic, non-high performance type model.  Plus, just like some shoes fit and sport your foot better than others, some bats have handles that feel and fit better in your hand than others.  Which do you think is going to allow you maximum comfort and performance in your swing?

Even the Best Won’t Make You Better – If you run 3.5 down the line, there’s no shoe in the world that’s going to transform you into a 2.6 base runner.  Same is true with bats.  If you simply don’t have a good swing or aren’t good at tracking the ball, no bat in the world, no matter how expensive or high tech is going to fix that for you.  However, choosing the right tool for the job allows you to execute the skill the best YOU can while choosing the wrong tool can possibly hinder your performance and stop you from executing the skill the best YOU can.

I agree that execution of the skill itself comes from you.  However, the tool you choose for the job can either

1. allow/help you perform/execute the best you’re capable of or
2. hinder you from performing your best

Choose the tool, in this case, a softball bat, that

• is the best fit – is the right size (length, weight, balance, grip), feels the best in your hands, feels the best when you swing, feels the best on contact, and gives you the most confidence
• doesn’t make you uncomfortable in any way
• doesn’t take away from your ability to execute your best swing

1. Hit and Run - Getting Out of the Box
In a game, what do you have to do after you hit the ball? That’s right, RUN! Yet, how many of your swing in practice are followed by a run down the line to first base? If you’re team gets a lot of reps in station drills or in the batting cage, then chances are they may very rarely actually hit then run in practice. Maybe you NEVER actually run down the line to first after a hit in practice, yet this is a very important aspect of the hitting process! Obviously you have a better chance at being safe at first if you get out of the box as quickly as possible, but if you never practice it, how are you going to get better at it? How many times have you seen players, especially younger ones, hit the ball, then “forget” to run right away? This is not something that comes “automatically” to every player. It needs to be practiced like anything else. Make sure you practice running after a hit or swing.

2. Getting into the box
Another things that’s often overlooked is getting into the box. There are things that a batter must do and should do before getting into the box to hit. One, of course, is to look at the base coach for a signal (again, how many times have you seen players skip this step?). Another thing players should be doing is going through their own little routine when getting into the box. Just as basketball players often have a set “approach” before the shoot a free throw shot, softball hitters should have their own little routine when getting into the box. They should do they same thing each time. This is a big part of being in the right frame of mind and having a good mental approach to the at bat.

Routines are what make us feel comfortable, confident, and in control – the 3 C’s you really want when going into any at bat. Getting into the box the same way, a way that makes you feel comfortable and in control, each time helps promote the right mental approach to an at bat. Again, an important part of hitting, but how often is this practiced??? There’s a good chance you never practice this part of your hitting outside a game situation. But how can you expect to be solid in every part of your hitting when you leave out such important portions of it in your practice time? Set aside some time to practice at bats all the way through from beginning to end. One of the best ways to do this is with visualization drills. No equipment needed except, you, your bat, and your mind.

3.  Taking Leads
I realize this isn’t a hitting skill, but it does come right after a hit if you get on base and it is still an “offensive” skill if not a hitting one. But taking leads is also overlooked quite often, especially at the older age levels where most players already know how to do it. Unfortunately, many don’t do it well. You’ve probably seen players take leads a couple different ways: straddling the bag (rocker) or back foot on the bag. EITHER WAY – this skill must be practiced. The biggest mistakes I see players make are: not taking strong leads, not taking leads the same way all the time, and probably the most annoying for me to see…not timing leads properly which can most definitely mean the difference between an out and safe call!

So, when you put together your plan to practice hitting or offensive skills, please remember these.  Improving these areas can make an immediate positive impact on your game!

So, this poll (leave a comment below to vote) is about how often you practice hitting.

In what percentage of your practices per week would you say you practice hitting?

• Is it every practice? (you do some kind of hitting drill at every practice)
• Is it only half? (you practice hitting in about half the practices you have each week)
• Is it less more than half?
• Less than half? (you focus more on defense or other skills)

How often do you hit in practice?

Leave a comment below to vote in this poll.  Can’t wait to see what you have to say!

There are 3 main things I love about this TCB ball…

3.  This ball cuts down on hitting/pre-game time and space needed – this means more reps in a shorter period of time

2.  This ball gives instant feedback - any time your players can see for themselves what they are doing wrong without you having to tell them just makes your life as a coach/parent easier and less stressful.  One problem with today’s bats and hitting off pitching machines or hitting regular balls off live toss is that a player can hit a ball badly and it may still look and “feel” just fine.  Then as a coach, when you try to correct, it you may get some resistance from your player because their end result was “good” and they felt no negative feedback during the swing or hit.  With this ball, unless you hit it right, it doesn’t look and it doesn’t feel right.  You instantly see that your hit wasn’t a solid one.  This leads me to the #1 thing I like about this ball…

1.  This ball is addicting - I was able to get in the cage and take some swings at this ball.  Because of the instant feedback, whenever I didn’t hit the ball well, the competitive “player” inside me just wanted to try again.  Then when I did hit it well it was just something I wanted to keep doing over and over and over again since the “good” hits look and feel so much better than your “bad” ones.  Seeing it happen right was cool!  Seeing it come off your bat poorly, just makes you want to have another chance.  So, the player in me liked it.  It was addicting.  I just wanted to keep trying to hit that ball and hit it well.

In my book, anything that…

• cuts down on time
• makes your practice more efficient
• gives players immediate feedback
• AND is something players enjoy and want to do…

that’s a pretty great thing.

So if you’d like to learn more about this hitting aid or buy some for your team/player, check out Total Control Sports OR if you are in California or Hawaii, call your sales rep directly (Howard) at (714) 293-3088.

LAST DAY: Today is the last day to enter our 10 Commandments
Contest!  Submit your entry at the Fastpitch World Forums
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I’m afraid of the ball…Did I just say that? Well, not terrified of the ball like some people are, but I admit, I am more afraid of getting hit by a ground ball than I used to be. Why? Mostly because I know that I’m not as quick as I used to be. My reaction time is slower than it used to be. Let’s face it, I’m no longer training to actively compete as a softball player. I do not practice fielding ground balls on a daily basis and therefore, I know that my skills are a little rustier than they were 13+ years ago when I was training to be the best infielder I could be.

I’m not, however afraid of balls that are thrown at me. I’m still quite confident in my ability to catch a thrown ball and do that quite often, so it’s not something that worries me. But lack of that confidence is a common reason why young athletes are afraid of the ball. Not only is it a relatively hard object traveling toward them, but they lack the confidence in their ability to handle it. They do not believe they possess the adequate capability to safely deal with this hard moving ball that
is coming at them.

I know that if I were to practice and train to actively play softball again, my fear of the ball would all but disappear as I regained confidence in my skills. The same is true for young players. If they gain confidence in their own ability to adequately deal with and protect themselves from this ball that’s coming at them, they won’t be as terrified of the ball anymore.

Of course, that’s more easily said than done in some cases and there are specific things you can do to help them along the way. I’ll talk about that in another post, but first I wanted to know if you’ve ever personally dealt with this situation before (players being afraid of the ball).

• What triggered it in their case?
• What did you do to help them?
• How old are the players you work with?
• Is there anything in particular you’d like to know about helping players get over their fear of the ball?

This seems to be a topic that I get e-mailed about a lot lately, so I just wanted some of your thoughts on it in case you were also dealing with the same issue.

Leave me a comment and let me know.

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Bill Hillhouse Pitching Location Update

Location for the Bill Hillhouse 2-Day Pitching Clinic in Hawaii (Oct. 10-11) has been set at St.  Francis High School. Registrations are already coming in for the clinic and spaces are limited! For more information, print out the flyer at http://www.allaboutfastpitch.com/BH2009.pdf

Grab your registration form at http://www.allaboutfastpitch.com/BHR2009.pdf

• some differences in doing a line-up for the younger age groups vs the older age groups
• opinions on how to utilize the #9 slot
• and some good points about power hitters and the 4 slot

Do you believe the “best power hitter” on the team should always be in the #4 slot?

What if she hits tremendously in the 3 or 5 or even 6 slot and never really produces the same in the 4 slot? Would you leave her there since she’s the best power you have or would you put someone with less power in that spot so that you can return your “power hitter” to a slot where she produces better?

If you’re a coach and have moved a great power hitter out of the 4 slot because she simply doesn’t produce there, how many times have you been questioned or second guessed on that decision?

You can leave me a comment here to share your thoughts OR if you want to join us in the discussion over at Fastpitch Haven, we’d love to have you!

Photo: courtesy of http://flickr.com/photos/nomad7674/148503229/

So how do you help correct this issue?

Well, I just came across a tip from Dan Huff of Baseball Strength that addresses this issue. He actually suggested utilizing slide boards to help with hitting balance issues. Read what Dan had to say in this article.

image source: flickr http://flickr.com/photos/borderhopper/2394270647/

CLICK HERE to go to the page of softball instructional videos.

This link will take you straight to the pitching video.

I hope you enjoy these. Oh yeah, did I mention that it’s Mike Candrea and members of the USA National Team that are doing the instructing/demonstration in these videos?

If I’m not mistaken…the homerun stood in this game and Kailua went on to win the game even though they were down in the late innings of the game.

To find out exact pricing and further details about this offer, please contact Cheryl Beck at cheryl.beck [at] mattinglybaseball.com (replace [at] with the @ symbol, remove all spaces).