• Bonus #1: Sample Parent Letter: just another way to help you out with that very important Pre-Season Parent Meeting
• Bonus#2: Top 10 Tips for Being a Great Assistant Coach: if you’re an assistant, this is perfect for you, if you’re a head coach, this is something you can share with your assistants to improve your relationship with your coaches and help your entire staff be more effective.
• Bonus#3: 5 Tips for Coaching Millenials: ever feel that today’s athletes just have a completely different mindset than we did when we were their age? Get some tips on how to coach these millenial athletes

Claim your spot in the Fastpitch Insider Bootcamp today. CLICK HERE to join.

Wishing you more success and less stress in 2009!

I was actually surprised to see people signing up already and I haven’t even said anything about it yet. If you’d like more information on how to sign up (for free) and learn how it all works, Click Here to visit our Affiliate Sign-Up Page.

I also have another exciting announcement which I’m planning to make next week (it’ll also be a unique opportunity for a select group of coaches). However, this opportunity will only be announced to our members. If you haven’t already signed up for the Free Fastpitch Membership here at AAF, click here to join now. Then keep your eyes on your mailbox for more information on this rare opportunity. Again, it won’t cost you a dime. Just make sure you’re on our mailing list if you’re interested.

Also, we have secured our final Resident Expert. He was actually our Guest Expert for February’s Column, but has accepted the final spot we had left to become a permanent feature on our column. The new Resident Expert is Coach Jerrad Hardin of ChampionshipFastpitch.com. Welcome Coach Hardin!

One more thing, if you haven’t noticed yet, there is a new article up: 5 Things Coaches Don’t Want to Hear. Go check it out on our Articles Page.

There are a few more updates to come and I will announce them in our newsletter. If you haven’t signed up as a Fastpitch Member yet to receive the newsletter, but would like to receive updates and additional tips, please CLICK HERE to sign up.

I hope you had a great weekend ~ wishing you a wonderful week this week.

What Softball Players Really Think About Coaches

Here are the most popular softball resources purchased by AllAboutFastpitch.com visitors during the 4th quarter of 2006.

Books
The Softball Coaching Bible
101 Offensive Softball Drills
Defensive Softball Drills

DVD’s
Increasing Speed: Troubleshooting Tips and Drills for Increasing Pitching Velocity

Basics 1-2-3: The Basics & Fundamentals for the Windmill Pitcher

What is your #1 question on strength and conditioning for softball?

Those of you who are fastpitch members have already started sending questions in (Thank you!). But for those of you who aren’t – this is your chance to have that question answered. Just e-mail me what you’d like to know about strength and conditioning for softball the e-mail address is:
allaboutfastpitch [at] hawaii.rr.com (replace [at] with the @ symbol).

Hazen-Forte is the former coach of Colgate University and since 1993 has been providing camps, instruction, and clinics. Hazen-Forte looks forward to helping the next generation of athletes advance in the sport of fastpitch softball.

The plan is for the facility to offer both class instruction and individual instruction in all divisions, specialized instruction for each position and open membership time to use the facility with or without instruction. The focus for the facility is primarily for fastpitch softball, but there will also be baseball instruction one day a week as well.

Read the full article on this facility at Oswego County Business.

Thunder Signs Olympic Gold Medalist to Contract

Osterman becomes first pitcher locked up for 2007 season

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Rockford Thunder of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) and General Manager Aaron M. Moore announced today that they have signed pitcher Catherine (Cat) Osterman to a contract for the 2007 season. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Osterman, 23, most recently went 6-0 for Team USA at the World Championships in Beijing helping them win the gold and the No. 1 seed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 6-2 lefty finished her eligibility at the University of Texas in June of 2006, finishing her career with a record of 135-23. She was 37-2 during her senior season. In addition to her success in college, Osterman has also won several gold medals, including an Olympic Gold in 2004 with Team USA.
“The signing of Cat is extremely exciting for our organization as we continue to prepare for our first season in Rockford,” said Moore. “Cat is easily one of the best, if not the best, pitchers in the world. Her ability as an athlete, coupled with the type of person she is, is only going to make Rockford and the whole NPF stronger.

“We think this signing will help make us the team to beat in 2007,” stated Moore. “The battery of Cat and Mackenzie (Vandergeest) is going to be special to watch this season.”
While at Texas, Osterman set 25 single-season or career pitching marks, including becoming the NCAA’s career strikeout leader with more than 2,200 in her career. During her outstanding career at Texas, Osterman also took home the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year award four times, the Honda Award for Softball (presented to the best college softball player) twice and the Big 12 Player of the Week award 25 times.

“I am very excited and very happy to be joining the Thunder,” exclaimed Osterman. “The team that is being put together is a good one and I am looking forward to being a part of it.
“This is also special for me because I will be close to some of my family,” said Osterman. “It’s going to be nice to be able to see some of my family in the stands for our home games in Rockford.”

Osterman was drafted No. 1 overall in last year’s NPF Senior Draft by the Connecticut Brakettes, but chose not to sign with the expansion team, making her officially a free agent on September 30.

For more information on the Thunder or to purchase season tickets for the 2007 season, contact Aaron M. Moore, general manager, at (815) 965-7000 or amoore@thunderprofastpitch.com. Additional information on the team can be obtained on the web at http://www2.blogger.com/www.thunderprofastpitch.com.

Surprisingly, I’m actually almost done with my Christmas shopping. We also took the kids to take pictures with Santa yesterday. We had our nephew with us too. He’s only 1. Needless to say my nephew was yelling in the picture and my son, who had so excitedly said, “Hi Santa” all the way until Santa put him on his lap, was just sitting there looking bored, refusing to smile.

Anyway – I hope this holiday season finds you and your family well. Wishing you a Merry Christmas from AllAboutFastpitch.com!

Can’t see the plate, so hard to tell if he’s safe or not. What do you think?

Our next game is Saturday against one of only 2 undefeated teams left on the island. We play them at their field and they are always tough there. We’ll see how it goes. I’m definitely looking forward to it. Don’t you love game day?

You can still order in time for Christmas and there is FREE shipping to the US (even Hawaii). For more information go to http://www.pre-wrap.com/Fastpitch-Pre-wrap.html

You can also call in your order – see the image below.

Listen now at www.FastpitchTalkRadio.com.

The tournament we ran this weekend was the last of the pre-season and this Wednesday begin our regular season games. I’m looking forward to it! The team we are supposed to play on Wednesday pulled out of this tournament due to grades though, so I hope they have a team that can play us on Wednesday. Our second game of the season on Saturday is against one of the best teams in our conference. It’s one we have yet to beat in regular season play.

On this show I talk to Coach Mike about that saying as well as other sports issues. I’ll warn you now, this show is about an hour long. So pull up a chair, get comfy, and listen in at www.FastpitchTalkRadio.com.

Many of my players ask me, “But am I good enough?” Many families and players don’t have a good idea of whether or not playing softball in college is even possible. If you’re in that situation (and are in high school) take a few minutes to fill out this Student Athlete Evaluation and find out if you (or your child) has what it takes to take this game to the next level.

Wishing you a great Thanksgiving weekend. Have a great one.

If you need a little bit of help getting or staying fit this holiday season or if you just want to look fabulous for the upcoming New Year, check out this link. I’ll be looking into it too.

Yesterday, our pitching coach brought a video camera to the game to video tape the pitchers. Well, there was one defensive play that was very cool and would be great to see again. It was one of those situations where the ball was hit into right field. The right fielder came up with the ball and fired home to keep the runner, who started off at 2nd, from scoring. Since the runner wasn’t going, the pitcher cut the ball off. The batter/runner had rounded first on the throw and was between 1st and 2nd. Our pitcher threw the ball to the short stop who was at 2nd to keep the batter/runner from advancing. Our SS caught the ball and started running the batter/runner back toward 1st. Of course, the runner that had gone back to 3rd now broke home. So our SS turns and fires to the catcher who is able to tag that runner out. During that time, the batter runner had gone to 2nd and rounded 2nd and gone almost half way to 3rd. Our catcher sees this and fires toward 2nd. I was thinking, “No don’t throw to 2nd she’s going to get to 3rd.” Just as I finish that thought I see the ball, not go to 2nd, but to the glove of our CF who was about 1/3 of the way between 2nd and 3rd and not far from the runner. She cut off the throw and chased the runner a bit toward 3rd before throwing to our 3b. That stopped the runner who tried to go back to 2nd. Our 3b then threw the ball to our 2b who tagged that runner out. Those were the 2nd and 3rd outs of the inning. So cool! Everyone (except the pitcher who should have been covering home after the hit but got the cut from RF instead) was in the right place at the right time and all the throws were accurate. After that, I see the pitching coach come over to the dugout from his position with the video camera behind the backstop. I ask him, “Did you get that play?”

He answers, “No, my battery died.” Ahhhh, wouldn’t you know it? LOL