Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast
588 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.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Catching Instruction and Practice / State of College Athletics / Connecting training to game like situations
January 12, 2022 21:00 - 1 hour - 47 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Should I get my glove steamed? (@14:56) Paige's Power Play (@22:51) Catchers need instruction and practice. During normal team practices, catchers don't get really dedicated practice especially at game speed. Most catchers need outside training. (@25:28) College Softball is just around the corner. Hopefully COVID will not have an impact on softball. The coaches discuss the state of college athletics and the impact of the changes that ...
Training to recognize what is possible
January 07, 2022 21:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBSometimes coaches get frustrated when players attempt a play that is impossible. For instance, a throw to home from the outfield when the runner is 20 feet from home plate. Understanding what is possible is a skill that has to be taught just like fielding, throwing, etc. In the case above, the outfielders have to learn to judge the distance they have to throw the ball against the speed of the runner. They will learn quicker by practicing than by failures in a game. Support the Show.
Catchers back up first base / More games are lost than won / What is a ball player / I hate "my bad"
January 05, 2022 21:00 - 55 minutes - 37.9 MBThis weeks lineup: Catchers, back up first base (@2:26) More games are lost than won. (@16:36) What is a "ball player" (@30:24) I hate "my bad" (@47:26) Support the Show.
Explaining What You Want isn't the Same Thing as Coaching
December 31, 2021 21:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBIn this week's edition of the show Coach Tory and Coach Don talk strategies for becoming a more effective coach, which doesn't always mean explaining what you want from your players. Support the Show.
Catcher's Mask - On or Off / Strike out is just an out / Yoda Logic / Create Versatility
December 29, 2021 21:00 - 39 minutes - 27.4 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Catcher's mask - On or Off (@2:10) Strike out is just an out.(@8:45) Yoda Logic - You must unlearn what you have learned. (@20:56) Create Versatility (@33:05) Support the Show.
Coaches should always have a repair/emergency kit available
December 24, 2021 15:00 - 13 minutes - 9.17 MBCoaches have to be prepared for many different situations that come up over the course of their careers. They need to have a repair/emergency kit to handle these situations. In this episode we talk about some of the items that can save the day. Support the Show.
Quality at bat / Drama of starting a new team / Age of players dictates our practice plans
December 22, 2021 21:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter has been hit by several pitches this season. Now she is scared to get in the batter's box. What do I do? (@9:22) Paige's Power Play (@14:16) What is a quality at bat? Keeping track of your success by using batting average is a trap that doesn't really reflect how a player is contributing to the team. Putting pressure on a player because of batting average can be very detrimental. (@16:43) Putting together a brand new team ...
Things coaches should be doing over the holidays and off-season
December 17, 2021 21:00 - 12 minutes - 8.74 MBGood coaches never stop learning. There are many opportunities for coaches for to acquire more knowledge of the game, managing games and players. Nobody knows all there is to know. If you are not getting better, you are getting worse. Support the Show.
5 Ways to Judge Commitment / Maintain a program after a great player is gone / What homework really is
December 15, 2021 21:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter wants to take time off over the holidays, but right after the first of the year she is going to college camps. How do we find the balance between taking time off and being prepared for the camps? (@9:07) Paige's Power Play (@13:39) 5 ways to judge whether a player and/or family is really committed to softball. (@16:59) When a great player is no longer with a team the statement a lot of times is "Well we will see if the coa...
Coaches - You have a great opportunity to teach some non-softball life lessons
December 10, 2021 21:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBThe coaches discuss the fact that you have a platform to teach some life lessons that are not related to softball. Your players are used to you teaching and helping them. Coaches often connect with players better than parents at certain ages. Our suggestion is to allocate a short segment of your practice to discuss different topics related to things that might happen to them or they should be aware of. Support the Show.
Pinnacle Power Butter Interview / Hitting Doesn't Get Easier / Coaches Keeping Their Composure
December 08, 2021 21:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Should you play your way out of problems or coach and practice your way out of problems? (@11:17) Paige's Power Play (@21:12) An Interview about Pinnacle Power Butter. A nutrient dense health food that provides sustained energy and lasting performance. (@24:50) Hitting Doesn't Get Easier. Pitchers gets better. Defense gets better. So it gets harder for the player to get hits and they have to keep working. (@38:50) Coaches keeping t...
Transition from Cold Weather Practices to Warm Weather Game
December 03, 2021 21:00 - 14 minutes - 9.95 MBYou have moved indoors for practice because of the cold weather, but you have a trip planned to a warm weather destination to play some games. Whether it be the start of the spring season or you have not played a game in few weeks but are going to go to a tournament somewhere warm. The coaches discuss what you can do to keep the team prepared as best as possible to hit the field at a competitive level. Support the Show.
Are dynasties good for sports / 3 B's of playing better defense / Side or short toss
December 01, 2021 21:00 - 58 minutes - 40.2 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Can you give me some advice on how to transition to metal spikes? (@11:15) Paige's Power Play (@16:08) Are dynasties good for sports? The coaches discuss the pros and cons of a team dominating a sport and the attitude of fans. (@21:06) When a ball is hit every player has someplace to be and it is never where they started. Teach the 3 B's of defense. Ball - Base - Backup (@33:55) All teams practice or warm up before a game using sid...
Match your coaching level to the players skill level
November 26, 2021 21:00 - 10 minutes - 7.4 MBIt is important for coaches to match what they are teaching to the skill level of the players they are coaching. There is a natural progression of skills that the player has to learn. If we are doing drills that skips this progression the chances of the player succeeding goes down. If we are staying at a low level and not moving up the ladder then it will take longer for the players to progress. So coaches, you have to develop a strategy that matches what your are teaching in order to maxim...
Interview with BatClubUSA / How to handle multiple games in a row / Hitting balls for practice
November 24, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBThis weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter's travel team doesn't spend much time warming up. How do I handle this? (@09:17) Paige's Power Play (@14:56) Interview with Erik Rico and Oscar Llarena of BatClubUSA.com. It is an interesting concept on bat ownership and worth giving a listen. (@17:46) Games have stacked up and you have a lot of games with little rest time. The coaches talk about some strategies to keep the team sharp. (@43:05) Coaches do not use a wooden...
Don't Unintentionally Create a Prima-Donna Player
November 19, 2021 21:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBIt is easy to put a very talented player on a pedestal and they develop a prima-donna personality. This isn't good for the team and certainly not good for the player. She may be on a pedestal at a younger age but middle of the pack at an older age. The coaches talk about handling this situation and give you some advice. Support the Show.
Softball Shopping List / Fall Signing Period / WTH Moment
November 17, 2021 21:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter's coach wants to take over her recruiting. Is that a good idea? (9:30) Softball shopping list of things for a player. (@17:38) Fall Signing Period (@29:06) WTH Moment (@36:47) Support the Show.
Preparing to move up an age group.
November 12, 2021 21:00 - 13 minutes - 9.2 MBThe coaches discuss the different issues when it is time to move up an age group. There are things to consider as we move up especially in the younger age groups. Player are maturing, the rules are changing, equipment is changing and many things that have to be taken into consideration in our training and preparing. Support the Show.
College Status with Justin McLeod / Pickup Players / Hitting with a purpose
November 10, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 48.6 MBThis Week's Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Getting prepared for next season in a cold weather environment. (@09:48) Paige's Power Play (@16:56) Interview with Justin McLeod - Status of the College Game (@19:50) Phenomenon of Pickup Players (@47:07) Hitting with a purpose (@58:03) Support the Show.
Playing in Cold Weather
November 05, 2021 20:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBMost of the country is now facing games being played in cold weather. When we first encounter cold weather it affects us more than if we are used to it. In this episode the coaches offer some guidelines that teams can do to make it easier on the players. Cold and stiff players do not play well. Support the Show.
Changes in college athletics (NIL) / Pregame and game day preparation / Building a team - talent isn't everything
November 03, 2021 20:00 - 58 minutes - 40.1 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: How do you pick the best national tournament for your team? (@11:10) Paige's Power Play (@17:58) How is the NIL changing college athletics and is it working? (@23:58) Game day preparations. Pregame warmups and practices. Pregame pep talks. Effective game communication. (@34:55) Looking for players to finish out roster. Be cautious, talent is great but it isn't everything. (@50:02) Support the Show.
End of season debriefing and meetings.
October 29, 2021 20:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBThe coaches give advice on conducting an end of the season meeting with your players. To keep on developing your team, it is a must to properly and honestly communicate with each individual player. Support the Show.
What success really is for hitters / Specialization vs. multi-sport athletes / Do players understand catch phrases
October 27, 2021 20:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Are winter camps a good investment? (@6:44) Paige's Power Play (@11:26) Players often think that hits are the only measure of success. We need to help them understand that their job is to hit the ball hard. They can't control where the defense is playing and if they continue to hit the ball hard the hits will come. (@15:11) Asking young players to specialize in softball rather than playing other sports is a bad idea. (@31:11) We nee...
Playing the outfield fence and ways to communicate.
October 22, 2021 20:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBAn outfielder catching a deep hit ball at the fence can be a great play. It also is tough because of the danger of the fence. Teaching them how to handle the fence and make the play takes a lot of practice and practice with communication coming from a partner outfielder. Drills and techniques are discussed to help the coach develop practice plans. Support the Show.
Weight Training / Simple habits that make better players / Old School way of playing with rhythm
October 20, 2021 20:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Is there one thing that my team can work on that will get results in a short period? (@7:57) Paige's Power Play (@11:14) Weight Training is necessary but only if it is done correctly. (@15:20) 7 simple habits that make better players (@28:51) A patron gave us a tip on using a device that has been around for centuries that can help our players get into a better rhythm and speed them up. (@52:52) Support the show
Weight Training / Simple habits that make better players / Old School way of playing with rhythm
October 20, 2021 20:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Is there one thing that my team can work on that will get results in a short period? (@7:57) Paige's Power Play (@11:14) Weight Training is necessary but only if it is done correctly. (@15:20) 7 simple habits that make better players (@28:51) A patron gave us a tip on using a device that has been around for centuries that can help our players get into a better rhythm and speed them up. (@52:52) Support the Show.
Running the bases.
October 15, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.9 MBThe quickest way to be get from point A to point B is not always a straight line. Anytime that we know we are only going one base, we want a straight line. If we are anticipating taking multiple bases our bodies cannot maintain speed and make a left turn so we have to round the corners . And it is better to round early rather than round late. The coaches discuss the difference between the shortest distance and the shortest amount of time. Watch young players and you will realize that this i...
Umpire Grab Bag / Recruiting Visit Questions / Why pitchers should attack the zone
October 13, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 54.3 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Why is covering steals different between baseball and softball?(@7:55) Paige's Power Play (@12:58) Coach Tory has some questions and he gets answers from Jeff our umpiring friend. (@16:46) Coach Don has a list of questions that should be asked in the recruiting process that are discussed. (32:05) Everything is better when the pitchers attack the strike zone. (@1:09:06) Support the Show.
Use field conditions to your advantage.
October 08, 2021 20:00 - 19 minutes - 13.3 MBField conditions and the facility come into play during a game. If your team is aware of these things and know what impact they have on their play it can be to their advantage. All fields are not created equal. Field preparation is different and sometimes is used to an advantage of one team. The coaches discuss how to make your players aware of the different things that they have to take into account to not be surprised and give them a better chance to win the game. The little things count....
Pitching Speed / Negativity / Transferring practice to games
October 06, 2021 20:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Coach demands players be on time, but coach isn't ready on time. What can we do? (@9:29) Paige's Power Play (@16:57) Speed isn't everything when it comes to pitching. (@23:56) Negativity is spoiling the game and is not making the negative person feel any better. (@34:32) A young coach is having trouble getting her pitchers to perform in games as well as they do in practice. (@43:21) Support the Show.
Do's and Don'ts to fully utilize batting cage time.
October 01, 2021 20:00 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBYou have a batting cage available or have rented one for batting practice. We prefer the term that you are going to practice hitting not just batting. We see a big percentage of the available time wasted by non-hitting activities. In this episode we give you some do's and don't to maximize the time and get the most number of swings in. Support the Show.
Coach Pitch Questions / 10U Questions / Coaching Superstitions
September 29, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 43.9 MBThis Weeks Lineup Warmup Segment: Listener Question: Our team decided to add paid coaches. We weren't told about this. What do you think? (@8:03) Paige's Power Play (@14:43) List of Questions about Coach Pitch (@19:59) List of Questions about 10U (@47:06) Coaching Superstitions (@58:31) Support the Show.
Play More Innings! Showcase Players!
September 24, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBUnfortunately most games that are played have a time limit. In those games there is a lot of time wasted, that if eliminated, would result in the players getting a lot more playing time. Too much money is being spent on softball teams not to optimize the amount of time in a game to play more innings. Coaches, streamline your game procedures to get rid of non-playing time. If you are playing in a showcase tournament this is extremely important because the objective is to showcase players, no...
Being Realistic / Old School vs New School Coaching / Team Talent is split, how do we coach them
September 22, 2021 20:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter hits well in the cage in practice and in the cages, but struggles in a game.(@9:47) Paige's Power Play (@16:23) Be realistic in your expectations of training.(@18:40) Old School vs New School Coaching Styles (@32:30) There are drastic differences between the levels of talent on a team. How do you coach and set up practices to develop everyone? (@44:51) Support the Show.
To teach the big skills you have to teach the little skills.
September 17, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBTo teach the skills of playing which include fielding, throwing, batting, bunting, etc we can't just teach the major skills. We have to break it down to all of the little skills that make up the big skill. For example, fielding starts with getting the glove open. We have to get our body in the correct position. We can't just go hit ground balls and expect the player to figure it out. We have to teach the simple skills one at a time and then combine them to accomplish the end result. Support...
Grab Bag of Topics / Everybody is not an expert on Facebook / Kids don't learn from people they don't like.
September 15, 2021 20:00 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: How many players generally switch positions when they go to college? (@11:40) Paige's Power Play (@18:44) Various topics to bring everyone up to date. (@23:33) Someone posts a question on Facebook, probably 75% of responses were negative. (@36:37) Kids don't learn from people they don't like. (@45:48) Support the Show.
Team is failing on defense. Causes and Solutions.
September 10, 2021 20:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBYour team is allowing too many runs. What is the cause? First you have to analyze what part of being a good defensive team is going wrong. It could be a skill issue, focus issue, softball IQ, etc. Then develop a practice plan to address the problems. Don't forget that depending upon your mix of players, it could be multiple issues. Support the Show.
Rule Changes Update / Players getting involved in the community in times of need / Coaches should have at least basic pitching knowledge
September 08, 2021 20:00 - 59 minutes - 40.6 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Should players learn multiple positions? (@12:20) Paige's Power Play (@20:38) Rule Changes Updates (@25:08) Players getting involved in the community in times of need. (@42:30) Coaches should have at least basic pitching knowledge. (@50:02) Support the Show.
How to handle the situation where a star player gets hurt and is out for an extended time.
September 03, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBEvery team experiences this at some point. A top player goes down. How you handle this as a coach with the team is extremely important. You don't have a team "pity party", you reorganize your lineup and coach the rest of the players up and get each one to contribute a little more. You can't replace that player with one player but you can replace them with what many players can do. Support the Show.
Daughter meeting her idol / Judging expectations for younger players / Over Coaching in games
September 01, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: How do you handle the post game meeting when you lose? (@11:15) Paige's Power Play (@20:28) Interview with Billy Cooper who just had a great experience with his daughter. (@24:11) Listener Question: I am coaching very young players. How do I judge my expectations for them? (@40:49) Players are being over coached in games and it needs to stop. (@52:21) Support the Show.
When players make amazing plays in a game it doesn't just happen.
August 27, 2021 20:00 - 16 minutes - 11.3 MBCoach Tory says is we want to play amazing we have to practice amazing. Special plays don't just happen in a game. Amazing players are out there trying to make the impossible play in practice so that it could happen in a game. Support the Show.
Help for beginning coaches / Parent frustration when their player's don't have as much drive / Practice sliding more
August 25, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 44.4 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: How do you know which bats are legit? (@09:13) Help for beginning coaches. Coach Tory just did a coaches clinic and several things came out that he wants to pass on. (@17:13) Coach Dan has several parents on his team that feels like their daughters are just not trying hard enough. (@42:12) A skill that is not being practice nearly enough. That is sliding. (@56:16) Support the Show.
How to handle playing good and not winning.
August 20, 2021 20:00 - 13 minutes - 9.57 MBWe need to evaluate our level of play in a game and place the winning and losing in its proper perspective. The coaches discuss the possible outcomes of a game and help you understand what you need to look at beside the score board. Support the Show.
Big Changes in College Athletics / Keeping Your Field Nice / Value of live pitching vs coach pitching
August 18, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 45.2 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: Is there a shortage of pitchers? Every team posting tryouts is looking for pitchers. (@09:47) Big changes in the world of college athletics. (@17:20) Keeping your field nice and whose job is it. (@39:26) Value of live pitching versus coach pitching. (@54:39) Support the Show.
Helping young players be more accurate throwers.
August 13, 2021 20:00 - 13 minutes - 9.46 MBThe cornerstone of the game is the ability to throw and catch. One of the mistakes we make is playing catch or having a coach play a position and use our range and size to give the player a false sense of accomplishment. To get more accurate throws, adults need to reduce their size and ability to more represent players the size and ability of those we are training. We discuss some methods to accomplish this and we know that it is effective. Support the Show.
Make a plan for the year / Keep the "fun" in fundamentals / Softball - Stay Classy
August 11, 2021 20:00 - 58 minutes - 40.6 MBThis weeks lineup: Warmup Segment: Listener Question: My daughter is moving up to the 12" ball. Does she need a different glove? (@10:12) Paige's Power Play (@15:47) Now that kids are going back to school, this is a good time to make an assessment of your past year and where you need to make improvements. Then make a plan for development in the coming year. (@21:41) Keep the "fun" in fundamentals. Practice can be boring so you have to come up with a plan to work on the fundamentals and...
The value of all players spending time in the bullpen.
August 06, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.5 MBThe greatest challenge for hitters is pitch recognition. What better way for them to gain experience than spending time catching pitchers. They should be able to work up to being able to catch without knowing what pitch is coming. Listen to our thoughts on how to incorporate this into your practice routine. Support the Show.
NIL and Transfer Portal is putting "I" in team / Olympics / Show your team the next level
August 04, 2021 20:00 - 54 minutes - 37.8 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment: Listener Question: My daughter is 13 and plays on a 14U team. Her team will be moving up to 16U next year. Should she find a new 14U team or move up with her current team? (@9:32) Paige's Power Play (@14:43) The impact of the NIL and Transfer Portal putting the "I" in team. (@18:30) Olympics (@36:22) To improve your team let them see and witness the next level of play. (@48:31) Support the Show.
Teach our players to get up!
July 30, 2021 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MBAn unpracticed skill is getting up when a play forces us to the ground. On offensive if we dive for a ball and catch it, obviously we need to get up quickly to make a play. If we miss it, we are suppose to be in a secondary position. Get up and get there. If we are a base runner either diving back to a base or sliding into a base, we need to get up quickly in case there is a chance to advance. The worse thing we can do is immediately ask for time while on the ground. The umpire granting ti...
Proper Hitting Preparation / Player's attitudes and influences / Coaches, work on your game
July 28, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 43.8 MBThis Weeks Lineup: Warmup Segment Listener Question: My daughter hits a lot of singles and has a good batting average, but does not hit with any power. (@13:21) Paige's Power Play (@22:08) Proper Hitting Preparation. The coaches discuss the 4 deep preparation of hitters getting ready for an at-bat.(@25:45) Player's attitudes and influences. We need to be aware of what influences our player's attitudes. We either can help or harm. (@42:23) Coaches, work on your game. We expect players t...