Always a student of the game

This post is short and sweet:

WORDS TO LIVE BY: BE A STUDENT OF THE GAME EVERYDAY

Understand that even professionals learn everyday. If you have the mindset that you know everything already you will never get better. Its good advice for anything. Every player that has an open mind will be more likely to be more successful than a player who doesnt want to hear anyone out. Keep that in mind when you meet someone new. Have a great Wednesday! 

The Power of a T

There are a million ways to practice hitting but my own opinion hitting off a T is the best way to see what is really going on in a person's swing. Here are some drills you can do with your player using a T:


First thing to know...if you are hitting off the T make sure it is the right height for your player. Waist high. (unless you are working lower or higher in the strike zone.)


DRILLS:

• WARM UP SWINGS: set the T right now the middle. Have your player just take about a bucket full of swings. 
• LEFT ARM ONLY: Get a small bat...t ball bat or you can choke up on your regular bat. You will only have your left hand on the bat. You will load as usual and work the left hand coming straight to the ball. One of the major issues with a swing is hitters hitting around the ball and not keeping the hand between the hitter and the ball. This drill will not only work on the left arm strength but keeping the hand inside the ball. You can do this drill down the middle first then move it in and out. HANDS ARE SOOO IMPORTANT! Not only hitting the ball hard but at the right time.
• HIGH T DRILL: this drill works on keeping the hands on top of the ball. Place the T on a chair or bucket. Now this drill is suppose to be dramatic. If your player is having a hard time keeping their hands high they will feel it 100%. Their focus is not hitting the T and having fast hands to the ball.
• WALK THRU DRILL: I like to call this the HAPPY GILMORE drill. Your player will be about two steps back from the T. She will step over with her right, then with her left. When she steps with her left she would be lined up to the T and then she will swing and keep her weight moving towards the pitcher. Note: at contact she will be at 50-50 on her weight then will move  forward. This drill works on weight transfer, power and leg drive.
• TWO T DRILL: Now this drill is tough but great to have girls work their hands thru the zone. the Ts will be in front of each other and will have one ball on each T. The point is to hit both balls. This works the hands farther out and helps with extension. 

Now these are just a few ideas of T drills. Try them out and see if they help any. 

Pregame Rituals

Everyone should have pregame rituals they go through to get ready for their game. Mine was the following:


-Eat two Oranges
-Get stretched the same way for warm up
-Jam certain songs
-Plan my mental approach to the game that day
-I wore the same two headbands for the weekend series
-Always warmed up till I was somewhat tired
-NEVER stepped on the base lines
-Always made sure my glove, batting gloves and helmet were in the same place

you might think this is weird...and really it kinda is but the point of having these rituals is just to feel ready to play. Set up a routine so your body knows when you are ready. Mind you there are alot of places you will play that you cant get two oranges or dont have enough time to stretch like usual but for the most part you will be able to set up a routine and stick with it.

Its worth trying...if you already have a pregame ritual I would love for you to share...let me know what you do to get ready to kick butt!

Giving a 4 when you wanna be an 8

Yesterday I asked one of my lessons, "On a scale from 1-10, how bad do you want to be on varsity?" She said an 8. and then I ask, "On a scale from 1-10 how much effort are you putting out to be an 8?" She looked at me knowing that I knew the answer.

This is a great example of what you put in is what you get. To be an 8 you need to give at 10 effort. To be a 10 you have to give a 12 effort. This game or any sport for that matter is EXTREMELY hard. You have to think, every high school team is practicing after school. Most pitchers are pitching at least three solid bullpens a week. Most hitters are hitting 500-800 balls a week. So what are YOU going to do to make yourself stand out? What are you going to do to beat the competition?

Your Answer:  ALWAYS BE WORKING!

-Hit 100 extra balls a day

-Pitch an extra bullpen

-Field 100 more balls after practice

I hear a ton of excuses....my hand really hurt. I had homework. My dad didnt tell me to go throw last night. Im was tired.

Excuses only make you feel good about taking a day off. Excuses wont be there when the other team is getting the metal around their neck. Excuses wont be taken into consideration when you struck out instead of hitting the game winning hit. 

A great player's mind set should be: There is someone that is always out working you, someone is always someone better because when you think you are the best, you could always be better.

HARD WORK BEATS TALENT WHEN TALENT DOESNT WORK HARD. ALWAYS WORK HARD, ALWAYS PUT IN THE EFFORT SO WHEN LUCK DOESNT GO YOUR WAY YOU DONT HAVE AN EXCUSE OR REGRET. YOU HAVE HARD WORK TO LEAN BACK ON. 

Excuses dont make great athletes

This picture is of one of my lessons (Emma) and her dad throwing in a warehouse because it was too cold outside. There are so many people that have an excuse not to throw or get work in. If there is a will, there a way. I hope this motivates you to work more than the average person.

Post Arm Care after Pitching

Softball pitching is 10x more of a natural motion compared than baseball right? Of course! BUT....that doesn't mean your arm doesn't need to be taken care of after a long day of pitching.

If you pitch 75< pitches or more you need to....

• Ice your shoulder, elbow and whatever feels tight or sore after
• Run long distance (1 to 2 miles) This helps get all the toxins out of your muscles.
• Drink ALOT of water
• Stretch
• Throw overhand the next day lightly 

If you wait to be sore the next day you will have a tough day on the mound. Take care of your body!!!!

Knowing Your Count

In every position...fielding, hitting and pitching the situation is different every pitch. Your player needs to know how the count affects the situation. This post will be for a hitter:

0-0: Hit away. Your box is super small. You are looking for one pitch and that is your favorite pitch. Anything else you leave alone.

1-0: Same thing. Looking for that one pitch you want to drive. You are ahead in the count.

0-1 Called Strike: The pitcher is ahead of you and will probably throw it there again later in the count. Make sure you are aware of where the location was and keep your eye out for the next pitch. You are behind in the count but not pressing to put the ball in play yet. Take your time and still be selective.

0-1 Swinging at a ball: Hey first pitch of the at bat, be more selective. Dont get so caught up in swinging at the first pitch. Make sure its yours and you can get a solid hit.

2-0: Way ahead. She is about to pitch a fatty or something near to it. You better be ready to rip the ball.

1-1: Not behind. Still in a good count. Still be selective.

0-2: Now you have to open your box and have a defensive swing. You must make contact with anything close and hope she misses somewhere on the plate. Now just bc its 0-2 doesnt mean your swing changes you just open your strike zone more. The most relaxed two strike hitters are the best two strike hitters

2-1: You are ahead. She doesnt want to go 3-1 so its going to probably be more fat that off the plate. Gear up and be ready to hit.

2-2: its a 50:50 shot. She is either going to come with it or stray away from the plate depending on how aggressive you have been in the at bat. Stay focused and dont press. You are looking for a mistake and laying off junk pitches

3-1: HITTERS COUNT!! She has to pitch a strike. Be very selective but ready to hit!

3-0: TAKE! I dont understand why people swing on 3-0. Why? Crowd the plate...make that glove look so small and put the pressure on her. If you go 3-1 you are still in a good count. Have confidence you can hit with one strike on you.

3-2: Anything close. You would rather foul it off than get ringed up on a call. Be aggressive and take the at bat into your hands. Don't leave it up to the ump.