Interesting.  I was browsing the internet for some interesting softball news and this small article about a softball fundraiser caught my eye. Los Gatos High School girls softball program is holding a 1st annual wine tasting later this month to raise funds for their program. Now, I’ve never been to a wine tasting, (though I have friends that go regularly to these things) but I’d certainly check it out for a softball fundraiser!

Sounds like a pretty fun fundraiser if you ask me. This particular one also includes appetizers and live music – so cool!

I hope it goes well for them.

Have you heard of any unique softball fundraisers recently? If so, please leave a comment below and share them here.  I’m sure many programs out there are looking for ideas for the upcoming season.

Technorati Tags: Fundraising, fundraising ideas

I came across a pretty cool announcement by Oklahoma University yesterday. They will be broadcasting (via audio stream) softball games on the internet for free this season. I think it’s great that there are more and more ways to fans to follow softball!

Yahoo Sports also shows a list of college sports that will be broadcast in some way shape or form so you can check there to see if your favorite college softball team is one of them.

Another place to follow your college team online is CSTV. You can search for specific events or schools there.

Hopefully we see even more and more of these avenues for following softball pop up!

By the way - who’s your favorite college team this year? Leave a comment here and let us know!

Technorati Tags: College Softball

… AND are in Chicago (or will be in the summer) then you definitely need to check out the Golf Event the Chicago Bandits Softball Team is going to host this summer.  It’s the first ever Chicago Bandits Golf Classic.  I rarely golf and I’m still thinking about making a trip to Chicago.  lol

This event will be held on July 13 at Marengo Ridge Golf Club. Here’s a little more information about this fun softball/golf event:

Each hole at Marengo Ridge Golf Club will feature a different contest or challenge for the 18 holes of scramble-style golf. Check-in is scheduled for 8 a.m. with a shotgun start planned for 9 a.m.

Registration forms are now available for groups of four and also individual golfers. To golf with a Bandits player in your group, the foursome must pay an extra $125 (or only $31.25 extra a person). For $75 a person, golfers will experience a day of scramble-style golf and a golf cart, swag bag prizes, have the chance to earn on-course prizes and a lunch buffet after the round is complete.

Spots are limited to the first 144 golfers to register and a silent auction will be held during the dinner portion of the event.

For additional information, check out the article in the Daily Herald HERE.

Technorati Tags: golf, NPF

Just a really quick note!  Dr. Tom Hanson, mental game expert has put up a free video for you today showing you a short, simple 5 minute exercise you can do to build your confidence quick.

Often time confidence is what separates good players from great players.  Confidence can be the difference between a successful at bat and a strike out.  So when you need to boost your confidence before a game or between innings, give this exercise a try.

It’s one that Dr. Hanson’s used time and time again with great success.  (and remember, he works with professional athletes as well – if it works for them, it can work for you too).

Watch the Free Video Now

Technorati Tags: Mental Game

To avoid disastrous consequences down the road, here are a few coaching must do’s for pre-season. I am sharing this from experience by the way.

1. Clearly Layout Your Expectations Up Front
This is often easier said than done. But it’s very important that your entire coaching staff and team are all very clear on your expectations for the season. Laying out all the information up front will help you avoid tough questions and situations down the road. Not only that, things just go a lot smoother when everyone is well informed and well prepared for what lies ahead.  That’s why it’s so important that your coaching staff and your players know what “the plan” is from the beginning.

It’s also critical that your players (and parents, depending on what age level you coach) understand your expectations on issues such as: attendance, conduct in team settings, grades, communication if players are going to be absent or late, attitude, team policies, procedures, guidelines etc, etc, etc. Again, the clearer the guidelines are for everyone, the less headache you’ll have during the season.

2. Don’t think that once is enough
You’ll find that even though you’ve gone over an issue or guideline or policy once, you may have to go over it again. I know, it would be fabulous if everyone remembered every single word you’ve ever said.   It would be totally awesome if, after you said something once, your word would get branded into the minds of your team and they would remember it forever and ever and ever.  But that’s simply not the case.

Be reasonable. If you’re instilling a new idea, a new concept, a new policy, or you have new players on the team, or if you are a new coach to a team, it’s only right that you go over important issues, expectations, rules, and guidelines more than once. Just as you practice softball skills over and over and over again to help your players learn them and get better at them, some things you’ll have to go over more than once in order for your players to really “get it.”

3. Remember that change takes time
Coaching would be quite simple if players could make a permanent changes and adjustments immediately. However, with most things, that’s just not how it works. Change takes time. Change take practice. Surviving change often requires a lot of support and encouragement because change can be downright uncomfortable.

It’s usually very easy and quite tempting to go back to doing things the “old way” because the “old way” is comfortable and familiar. But if you keep doing the same ol’ thing, you’re going to keep getting the same ol’ result. So often times, in order to get BETTER, in order to improve, something’s gotta change.  But change can be scary and change can be hard and change can be very easy to give up on. So remember to be supportive while you keep pushing forward. Remember that players are probably not going to make a 180 degree turn over night (and neither would you). Be patient and remember that “today” is part of a bigger process, a bigger journey.

Technorati Tags: Coaching Softball, coaching tips

Did you ever stop to think that maybe your shoes are the reason you don’t run well? Or that they could even be causing injury???

I know I never did.

Two things came to mind when I saw this article on shoes:
1) one day I let my daughter run on grass without her shoes – her running form was soooo much better than usual (hmmm…maybe the article has a point)

2) I remember one of my coaches saying that your equipment can hinder your performance if it’s not the best equipment for you (i.e. wrong size bat, glove doesn’t fit well, shoes no longer have grip, etc)

Unfortunately I don’t know what ANY softball cleat is designed to encourage proper sprint technique, but you can definitely do something about your equipment and the other issues mentioned above.

Make sure that your equipment works best for you!

If you want to read the article that talked about how shoes could possibly be CAUSING injury and encouraging incorrect running technique, CLICK HERE.

Technorati Tags: Baserunning, Softball Training, Speed Training

As you can imagine, I receive many questions about softball via e-mail…

• What bat should my daughter use?
• How should I run my team’s bunt coverage?
• What do I have to do to pitch faster?
• How do I handle this parent issue?
• What’s wrong with my daughter’s swing?

Believe it or not, I don’t actually know ALL the answers.  I know you’re shocked!  *wink*

It’s not only that, many of the questions, like the ones listed above require more information than what most people provide in one e-mail message.  Often times, the best answers or solutions for these issues come from discussing the exact situation at hand and receiving more than one suggestion.

Where can you get this type of help to get your biggest fastpitch softball questions answered?

The place to go is DiscussFastpitch.com.

It’s a great fastpitch forum that is regularly monitored so that you can get your questions answered on just about ANY fastpitch topic without having to sift through tournament/tryout spam and without fear of down right rude or harsh responses.  From coaching softball to being a softball parent, there’s a place for you to ask about the issue you need help with.

And yes, I drop in from time to time to chit chat or share my two cents.

Who knows?  There may already be a discussion going on about a topic you want to learn more about.  Take a moment to check it out – DiscussFastpitch.com.

See you there!

Technorati Tags: Coaching Softball, coaching tips, college recruiting tips, softball tips

One thing many, many coaches want to do is improve the effectiveness of their practices. Ideally, as coaches, we have a solid jam packed practice that has little down time  and lots of quality work being done by players.  So what are some of the ways you can make the most of your practices AND help them improve their game even more?

Here are 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Practice Sessions

1.  Schedule Your Practice Time: This is so important!  Always have a plan otherwise you’ll spend time in practice trying to figure out what to do.  This results in unproductive down time for the players and may stall the “momentum” you’ve got going.  Have a plan each day of what you want to work on, what drills you’ll use, and what equipment you’ll need to run them.

2.  Make it Game Like: Often times we ask our players to “practice how you play” and yet we give them very little “game like” situations in practice.  Too often practice situations are nothing like game situations (i.e. not having to run after you hit a ball, not having to keep track of your count when you’re in the box, having no baserunners when practicing defense, etc).  Look for ways to make your practices a little more game like so that your players are better prepared for game situations.

3.  Engage Your Players: Have discussions with your players!  Don’t just tell them what to do or tell them what they did wrong.  Ask them questions.  Have them identify problems and help each other fix them.  This is the only way they are going to develop a better understanding of the game and learn to think on their feet, a necessary skill for success at game time.

4.  Have a BIGGER Plan: Know what your striving for beyond today.  Have a plan of what you want to accomplish for the week, for the month, and even for the season.  This will help you figure out what to do on a day to day basis instead of just pulling skills out of the air to work on for “today.”  Having a bigger plan also allows you to plan a more solid progression to go through with your players, each day building upon the last vs being somewhat random.

5.  Work on the Mental Game Too: This is HUGE!  So many people will agree that the mental game is a big part of performance and yet so little time is spent on it in practice.  Give your players opportunities to work on the mental game in practice!

Bonus Tip: Have Fun! Always incorporate fun somewhere along the way.  Remember fun doesn’t always have to equal smiles and laughter.  :D

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Technorati Tags: Coaching Softball, coaching tips, Softball Drills

If you’re a new coach needing help with softball drills this season, I just wanted to give you a heads up about THE most popular resource here at All About Fastpitch.  It’s an oldie but goodie.  Year after year, this is the package that coaches are picking up to help them plan better practices and give them ideas of what to do in practice to develop their player’s skills while keeping the game fun!

Our 2.0 Package includes:

• The Keeping Softball Fun e-book filled with fun drills, competitions, and other resources to use in practice
• A Sample Practice Schedule
• Quick Tips for Organizing and Planning Your Practices
• Quick Reference Sheet with ideas on what to practice at practice
• Bonus 21-page report on Motivation and Mental Toughness

Always remember to have fun and enjoy the game! I wish you the best this softball season.

Technorati Tags: Coaching Softball, Softball Drills

Now that softball season is getting into full swing, one of the questions I’m getting a LOT via e-mail is about a particular piece of softball” equipment,” if you will.  Basically, the question goes like this:

“What where those little things you could put on your glove so you don’t lose it and you identify it faster?”

When I see the message and read the question, I know EXACTLY what they are talking about.  I actually shared a video about it a while back.  This “thing” everyone is asking about is MittMates! Now that spring is around the corner and softball teams are forming and seasons are about to start, everyone wants them.

If you’ve never heard of them or need a refresher of what they are, I here’s the short video I put together to share a little more information on what they are and why I like them.  Plus you can use the promo code in the video for a special offer from Jessica (the intelligent former softball player that created them).

Technorati Tags: mittmates, Softball Equipment