Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast
581 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 79 ratingsEverything Fastpitch is a podcast hosted by Coach Tory Acheson and Coach Don McKinlay. Tory and Don are former college coaches that are now full time instructors and travel ball coaches. Since retiring form active collegiate coaching they have committed themselves to providing educational materials to the fastpitch community. This podcast is one of the resources they are providing. Their website has 500+ blog posts and they have a YouTube channel. All of these cover fastpitch softball from coaching and training beginner athletes up through college athletes. It is a great resource for players, parents and coaches. Whether it be training tips, mental aspects, coaching methods, recruiting etc. it is all covered, hence the name Everything Fastpitch.
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Episodes
A stitch in time saves nine
December 09, 2022 21:00 - 13 minutes - 9.6 MBThe proverb a stitch in time saves nine means that if one solves a problem while it is developing, one will save oneself time and work in the future. The coaches discuss how this applies to softball. If we make sure that a player is acquiring skills correctly from the beginning we save a lot of time, effort and frustration later on. Support the Show.
Recruiting "Coach Speak" / Celebrations for routine plays / Winter Workouts
December 07, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 44.3 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: A former coach of a new player reached out to me with a lot of negative information about her and her family. What do you think? (@15:21) Paige's Power Play (@21:26) Recruiting "Coach Speak" Sometimes we hear what we want to hear. Some guidance on things coaches say and do and how they should be understood. (@28:20) Are over the top celebrations for routine plays good for the game? (@48:37) Guidance on winter workouts. (@55:23) Supp...
Great coaches are made in the off-season
December 02, 2022 21:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBDuring the off-season coaches have the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques. There are many clinics and on-line resources available to keep up with the game. Also, this should be a time of reflection on how to better communicate with the players and help them reach their potential. Listen as the coaches discuss this topic. Support the Show.
Prize Money Tournaments / Be uncomfortable in training / Answering the why
November 30, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 41.8 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Can you give me some tips on a home batting cage? (@11:21) Paige's Power Play (@21:01) Some tournaments have started awarding prize money to the winner. The coaches discuss the pros and cons of this. (@24::13) In training we need to push players into practicing what they are not good at. Players, parents and coaches should accept that the player's performance will not be what they expect, but it is the only way to get better. (@35:56)...
Fluid Not Robotic
November 25, 2022 21:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBAs we teach the skills of the game we break them down into steps for the player to learn. For example, we have to field the ball before we can throw it. But the long term objective is for each skill to flow to the next one in a fluid motion. Watch your players and see if the are being robotic and going through the steps one by one or are they nice and smooth in the transition from one step to the next. Support the Show.
Clearwater Invitational / Winter Workouts / Cold Weather Preparedness
November 23, 2022 21:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: What age / school year should you start focusing on recruiting? (@13:00) Paige's Power Play (@21:59) The Clearwater Invitational is not that far away and plan on attending if you can. (@27:06) Balance your time off with keeping your skills current and working on new things. (@35:25) Unfortunately we have to practice or play in cold weather. Be prepared and do everything you can to make it more comfortable. (@45:06) Support the Show.
Clearwater Invitational / Winter Workouts / Cold Weather Preparedness
November 23, 2022 21:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: What age / school year should you start focusing on recruiting? (@13:00) Paige's Power Play (@21:59) The Clearwater Invitational is not that far away and plan on attending if you can. (@27:06) Balance your time off with keeping your skills current and working on new things. (@35:25) Unfortunately we have to practice or play in cold weather. Be prepared and do everything you can to make it more comfortable. (@45:06) Support the show
Time Limit Changes
November 18, 2022 21:00 - 12 minutes - 8.35 MBThe coaches discuss some changes they would like to see to give the players more meaningful game situations. Support the Show.
Enjoy the game before it is over / Players over frustrated with their performance / White Uniform Pants
November 16, 2022 21:00 - 49 minutes - 33.9 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: One of our parents want to donate a substantial amount of money. What are the possible problems with doing this? (@11:28) Paige's Power Play (@17:34) Make sure you enjoy the game now before it is over. (@21:39) Teach your players not to react poorly when someone is trying to encourage them. (@31:02) Parent's are up in revolt with trying to get white uniform pants clean. (@38:54) Support the Show.
Addition by Subtraction
November 11, 2022 21:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBBranch Rickey, great baseball innovator, coined the phrase "addition by subtraction". The coaches discuss what this means and the necessity of doing it sometimes. Support the Show.
Players losing love for game / Leadership / Safety Tips
November 09, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 42.8 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: I have seen enough of stalling tactics. How do the players feel? (@17:56) Paige's Power Play (@25:10) Players that are losing their love for the game. We need to recognize this early. (@28:26) Leadership models are changing. (@43:57) Safety tips to reinforce with our players to keep them safe. (@53:54) Support the Show.
Advice from an ancient Greek Philosopher
November 04, 2022 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBThe coaches discuss words of wisdom from an ancient Greek Philosopher that apply to our learning to play the game better. Support the Show.
Recruiting Question / Halloween and Softball / Teach Nutrition
November 02, 2022 20:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment: Listener Question: What can I do for an immediate impact on making my daughter faster and quicker? She is very slow. (@20:37) Paige's Power Play (@28:28) Question from a listener. What do we do when a college coach comes to see me play? (@34:15) Coach Tory talks about things they have done to have a good time at Halloween as a team. (@44:36) The coaches discuss the need to teach players about the value of proper nutrition. (@48:58) Support the Show.
If we don't have a pitcher, do we have a team?
October 28, 2022 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBThe coaches discuss the situation where you have a team but no pitcher. This can happen in school ball, recreational leagues and sometimes in travel ball. What do we do? Support the Show.
Playing Time Questions / Gamesmanship or Cheating / Reactions to Tournaments no meeting expectations
October 26, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter is 8, when should I spend money on a high end bat and glove? (@13:45) Paige's Power Play (@19:12) Thoughts on playing time with development type teams and different level teams. (@24:40) An event happened in a high school playoff game that was blatantly against the rules. But, some people say it is gamesmanship and others are adamant that it is cheating. (@39:14) Fall Showcase event was not anywhere close to how it was a...
Help for Beginning Coaches / Quality At Bats / Interview
October 12, 2022 20:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBCoach Tory is not with us today due to a medical issue, but we are using some earlier published segments to fill in. This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Paige's Power Play (@4:07) Help for beginning coaches. (@07:28) Quality at Bats. Define them and use them to measure performance. (@33:11) Interview (@43:25) Support the show
Help for Beginning Coaches / Quality At Bats / Interview
October 12, 2022 20:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBCoach Tory is not with us today due to a medical issue, but we are using some earlier published segments to fill in. This weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Paige's Power Play (@4:07) Help for beginning coaches. (@07:28) Quality at Bats. Define them and use them to measure performance. (@33:11) Interview (@43:25) Support the Show.
Balance the negative and positive of performance
October 07, 2022 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBThis game can never be played perfectly. When you watch a player you can always find something wrong. We need to make sure we are not just emphasizing what they could do better. When they do something well we need to be positive and reinforce that they need to be excited about what they just accomplished. Support the Show.
Overcoming instincts / Growth as coaches / Change culture of being loud
October 05, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 41.2 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: I was asked to help coach a team. Now I am seeing push back from my suggestions. (@16:25) Paige's Power Play (@23:50) We have certain instincts that are not conducive to playing softball. Fear of getting hit by the ball is natural, but to play the game we have to get over that fear. (@27:54) Discussion on the growth of coaches and how they will change methods over time. (@40:00) The cheering noise at a game should never be directed n...
Can a home run be a bad thing?
September 30, 2022 20:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBThis is a topic to ponder on. There are thoughts that home runs can be detrimental in certain situations. Listen and tell us what you think. Support the Show.
Beware of claims creating greatness / Evaluate a player who is good in all areas / Losing vs winning and Communication
September 28, 2022 20:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: What do you say to your pitcher when things are not going well?(@:16:05) Paige's Power Play (@22:00) There is a phenomenon of a really good player joining a travel team or organization and all of a sudden the team, their coaches and/or instructors start claiming that they are the reason that the player is good. A player becomes good over the years and with the help of many people and themselves. Don't take the credit away from the play...
Writing Letters of Recommendation
September 23, 2022 20:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBCoaches are often asked to write letters of recommendation for their players. The coaches discuss some of the do's and don'ts. Sometimes we are put in a tough situation when a player asks for a recommendation to a school that they have no chance of playing at. Great advice to coaches in fulfilling this request. Support the Show.
Perceptions of College Coaches / Recruiting Questions / Words of Wisdom
September 21, 2022 20:00 - 58 minutes - 40.6 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Outfielders first steps should be back, is this correct? (@13:30) Paige's Power Play (@22:37) People's perceptions of how much college coaches make. (@26:53) Some questions about recruiting. (@40:47) Tory's words of wisdom after his health scare. (@50:42) Support the Show.
How to handle bad days.
September 16, 2022 20:00 - 11 minutes - 7.84 MBUsing an old expression, sometimes the wheels just come off during a game. An error leads to more errors, mental mistakes multiply and everything seems to go wrong. Our job as a coach is not to make it worse, but try and calm everything down. And sometimes its just not our day and we need to do everything we can for it not to carry over to future games. Support the Show.
Names of Camps? / Finding a team after relocating / Focus on Development
September 14, 2022 20:00 - 45 minutes - 31.4 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: I have 2 players that can not get along. Any suggestions? (@13:01) Paige's Power Play (@20:20) With college camps using all types of different names, what is the code for understanding what type of camp it is? (@24:40) We have relocated and having a difficult time finding a team that matches the skill level of my daughter and the team she played on. Any suggestions? (@33:04) Coaches focus on developing your players! (@39:13) Support...
Handling Frustration
September 09, 2022 14:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBIt is not uncommon for players to show frustration while playing. It can be unrelated to playing, but it has an impact. The coaches discuss how to help your players manage their frustration. Support the Show.
September 1st and Recruiting / Communicating with College Coaches / Pressure Drill
September 07, 2022 20:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: What can we do when a hitter is lunging at the plate? (@13:11) Paige's Power Play (@23:58) September 1st is an important date in recruiting. But it doesn't mean that if you don't get a call on that date you don't have a chance.(@27:40) A listener want to know how to effectively communicate with a college coach. (@39:25) Another drill from a listener that add pressure during practice. (@46:35) Support the Show.
Teach secondary plays!
September 02, 2022 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MBWhen we first start teaching players the fundamentals, we have to begin with the simple plays. Ball hit to infield, throw to first. Hit to outfield throw to second. As players advance the need to be able to recognize secondary plays. Sometimes known as the "what if" play. The key word here is recognize. They can't think through the process, but they have to recognize that there is another play. Might be in addition to the basic play or it might be instead of the basic play. Support the Show.
Let's get softball in the LA Olympics / Twist on joining big organizations / Adding players to your roster
August 31, 2022 20:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Do you have suggestions for a fitness test for my team? (@16:07) Paige's Power Play (@22:33) Softball is not in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Why it is important that it should be. (@25:38) Twist on team joining big organizations. Tale of a coach's experience. (@32:50) Adding Players to your roster. Some suggestions that coaches need to think about. (@41:41) Support the Show.
Outfield is not a Position!
August 26, 2022 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBOutfield is not a position! There is Left Field, Center Field and Right Field. Don't categorize all of the outfield positions as playing outfield. The responsibilities and reading the ball is different in each of the positions. Teach your players how to play one position and then move them and teach them the next outfield position. Support the Show.
Speed of the Game / Starting College Careers / Create Pressure in Practice
August 24, 2022 20:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Setting up cutoffs and relays. Do I use the Short Stop and Second baseman? (@13:10) Paige's Power Play (@21:54) Speed of the Game. Use some math to help your players understand how fast the game really is. For every mile an hour, the ball travels 1.47 feet. Round that up to 1.5 feet per second to make the math easy and have them see how quick they need to be. (@26:10) Players are heading off to college. Some for the first time. Here a...
Make sure you have defined "best"
August 19, 2022 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBCoaches state all the time that the best players will get to play. Almost every coach has a different definition of "best". Make sure that everyone that you use that term with knows exactly how you define "best". Support the Show.
15th Commandment of Recruiting / Coaches setting high standards? / Develop Secondary Position
August 17, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 44.5 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment: Listener Response: Umpires perspective of longer games (@16:37) Paige's Power Play (@21:41) Tory has added a 15th commandment to his 14 Commandments of Recruiting (@25:36) Coaches setting high standards. Usually the winners will love it, but the other players will quit. Sometimes we have to build up to the high standards. (@50:17) Every player should have a secondary position that they are totally comfortable playing. (@57:03) Support the show
15th Commandment of Recruiting / Coaches setting high standards? / Develop Secondary Position
August 17, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 44.5 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment: Listener Response: Umpires perspective of longer games (@16:37) Paige's Power Play (@21:41) Tory has added a 15th commandment to his 14 Commandments of Recruiting (@25:36) Coaches setting high standards. Usually the winners will love it, but the other players will quit. Sometimes we have to build up to the high standards. (@50:17) Every player should have a secondary position that they are totally comfortable playing. (@57:03) Support the Show.
Coaches, give yourself an end of year/season exit interview
August 12, 2022 20:00 - 10 minutes - 7.09 MBAt the end of a season or year we usually give our players an exit interview to let them know what things they need to work on. Give yourself a review and see what things went well and things that need improvement. This lets you know what you need to do to improve your skills. Support the Show.
We need more catchers / Bring back competition / Pressure cooker style of coaching
August 10, 2022 20:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter's coach says my daughter is a singles hitter. She leads the team in batting average, but is pulled out in critical situations for what he says are power hitters. What do you think? (@9:16) Paige's Power Play (@14:35) It is becoming obvious that we need more catchers. The coaches discuss how we can start developing them. (@19:02) Small rosters have reduced competition for positions. Competing for positions is a good thing a...
Take care of our gloves
August 05, 2022 20:00 - 13 minutes - 9.34 MBGloves are the tools of the trade, but they are often neglected. Teach your players how to take care of them and also be prepared to make repairs when needed. Support the Show.
How Important is a Player's Potential / Time Limits / Over Coaching
August 03, 2022 20:00 - 58 minutes - 40 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter is an outstanding pitcher and is an integral part of her team. After the season has ended the team has added more pitchers. Should we be worried? (@12:07) Paige's Power Play (@19:47) How important is a player's potential? We have to balance performance against a player's potential. Success is not measured by potential. (@24:26) Time Limits. Pros, cons and dislike of time limit games. When looking at tournaments look at ho...
How to handle a player who doesn't want to be there?
July 29, 2022 20:00 - 10 minutes - 7.22 MBSometimes we encounter a player who just doesn't want to be there. The parents or someone has decided that they should play ball. Maybe its for exercise, being part of a team or they honestly think the player will like it if they give it a try. We have to handle the situation so that it isn't a distraction. Support the Show.
College Softball - The rich keep getting richer / Nationals vs World Series vs ?? / Illegal Pitch
July 27, 2022 20:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBThis weeks Lineup Warmup Segment Listener Question: What will happen if they change the transfer rule to allow unlimited transfers? (@08:12) Paige's Power Play (@12:38) The rich keep getting richer in college softball. The transfer portal and NIL is allowing players to migrate to the great teams. (@16:17) How do you distinguish between all the different "Final Tournaments". With so many nationals, world series, etc tournaments, we don't have a true national champion. (@30:33) Illegal p...
Player or team performance is not a straight line of improvement
July 22, 2022 20:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBIf we graph performance of a player or a team it is not a straight line showing improvement each day. Skills are developed over time and while the skill level will increase over time it will ebb and flow on the way. Also it will depend upon what we measure to show improvement. As we progress through the age groups the skills of the opposing players and teams improve. And as the opponent improves it is harder to use the typical measuring sticks, like batting average, era, on-base percentage, ...
When a player outgrows her team / Stage Fright for players / Ask better questions before going to a tournament
July 20, 2022 20:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment: Listener Question: Why do people think that having coaches with no players on the team is the greatest thing ever? (@10:32) Paige's Power Play (@20:29) What to do when a player outgrows her team. (@24:36) How can we help the player that is all-american in practice but fails in a game. Its like she has stage freight. (@34:23) We see it all the time where a team complains about the facilities after they get home from a tournament. Can be fences, field m...
Silly Season - Finishing the season and trying out for next season
July 15, 2022 20:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBThe coaches discuss this time of year where teams are finishing this season but are planning for next season. We are finishing up with probably our biggest tournaments of the year. But, many are trying to get a jump on preparing for next year. It is hard to stay focused on the task at hand for the players and coaches if we are distracted by working in tryouts at the same time. Support the Show.
Etiquette for showcases / Organization Jumping / Pick the right showcase
July 13, 2022 20:00 - 50 minutes - 34.6 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: What do we do when the coach plays a guest player and several of the team members are given limited playing time? (@8:51) Paige's Power Play (@15:52) Etiquette for showcases. The coaches discuss some dos and don'ts for parents and coaches regarding the college coaches that are in attendance. (@21:32) Organization Jumping. Is the grass always greener on the other side? (@35:05) The coaches discuss picking the right showcase for the le...
Teach your players the basics of keeping score
July 08, 2022 20:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBWe can increase the softball IQ of our players by teaching them the basics of scorekeeping. They will better understand how their batting and fielding average is computed. Also they could look at an online or offline scorebook and reconstruct what had occurred. Every little bits helps in the education process. Support the Show.
UCLA going to the Big 10 / Follow up of previous topic / Quote from Matt Lisle
July 06, 2022 20:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Is there any place where I can find clips of great plays to share with my team? (@10:32) Paige's Power Play (14:04) Ramifications of UCLA and USC going to the Big 10 (@17:13) Based upon some listener responses we talk some more about loyalty and other topics.(@30:43) Great advice based upon a quote by Matt Lisle. (@44:37) Support the Show.
Tag Plays - Teach your players that the runner has to come to the base
July 01, 2022 20:00 - 11 minutes - 7.66 MBWe have all seen it. A runner is sliding into a base or homeplate and the fielder reaches and tags the runner high and the runner is safe. Remind your players that the runner has to come to the base, so we should get in a position to tag the runner at field level on whatever body part is going to be the first to hit the base. Support the Show.
Responses to Loyalty Topic / Pro-Leagues / Teach sliding better
June 29, 2022 20:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment: Listener Question: How quickly should a player be able the change a bad habit? (@12:11) Paige's Power Play (@18:23) We had some good responses to our topic on loyalty. There are some more things to consider. (@24:03) How do we make the pro-leagues work? (@36:54) We have to teach sliding better. Let's eliminate the collisions. (@50:55) Support the Show.
Loyalty in the game / How hot is too hot / More efficient practice
June 22, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBThis week's lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Can you give me some ideas on how to make practice fun for younger players? (@14:24) Paige's Power Play (@26:16) Is there any loyalty in our game and how do we deal with it? (@28:59) A lot of the country is experiencing a heat wave. How do we deal with the heat and make the call that it is too hot? (@48:08) Get our players onboard to make practices more efficient. (@54:04) Support the Show.
Enthusiasm - When is too much too much
June 17, 2022 20:00 - 11 minutes - 7.91 MBToday we discuss enthusiasm. There is a line that you can cross where enthusiasm becomes obnoxious. It is our job as coaches to keep our team on the right side of that line. Support the Show.