Fastpitch Softball Conditioning

Ahh, right now is one of my favorite times of the high school season ~ conditioning! Our players probably don't like it and wish they could just handle the ball already, but I love conditioning. It's challenging, it helps players develop, and I love seeing players excited about what they've accomplished during this part of the year. We do some cardio work and lots of agility as well as speed and quickness type drills.

Year after year I'm amazed by the number of girls who continue consume Starbucks or other fast foods before practice. Some are newbies, so that's almost understandable, but the returnees do it too sometimes. They learn, or are reminded, real quick why that's not a good idea.

Another Fastpitch Interview Ahead

You get to check out another "Fastpitch Interview" in the month of November. November's interview will feature Nancy Ellis, winner if the national softball Coach of the Year award from the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in 2002. Nancy Ellis took some time to sit and "chat" about softball, softball parents, coaching, and success. Again, Fastpitch Members will best the first to get the interview. Check back with us in November to read Nancy's interview or sign up for a Free Fastpitch Membership and have it sent directly to your "inbox"! If there's someone in particular you'd like to see an interview with, please feel free to comment here in the blog with your request and I'll try to set it up. Have fun and enjoy softball!

Coming Soon to AllAboutFastpitch.com

I'm currently working on an interview with Peter Sprenkle, developer of A Softball Coaches Tool Kit. Peter has been active in coaching youth sports for over 35 years. His interview will be posted to the site within the next 3-4 weeks. Fastpitch Members get to see it first and also receive some of Peter Sprenkle's handouts with their FREE Fastpitch Membership. If you haven't signed up for your Free Fastpitch Membership yet, you can do so at AllAboutFastpitch.com. It's always fun talking to and learning from others involved in the game. Check back for the interview during the second half of October.

New Fastpitch Fundraising Idea Added

You've seen them around as one of today's hottest trends. Some fashion experts thought Custom Silicone Bracelets would be a "passing fad" but it doesn't seem they'll disappear any time soon. Now, many organizations are using these fun, unique bracelets for fundraising. What a great way for your supporters to show their team spirit and contribute to your team's fundraising efforts at the same time! In return they get a cool, one-of-a-kind token of appreciation that allows them to proudly display their ongoing support of your organization.

Custom Silicone Bracelet phrase ideas:
~ Thank you from {team name}
~ Go Cobras! (insert your team name)
~ {team name} Softball - {team slogan here}

For more fundraising ideas, visit the fundraising page at AllAboutFastpitch.com.

Fastpitch Softball Resource Added

If you're a coach looking to improve your teams defensive performance, AllAboutFastpitch.com is please to introduce you to Defensive Softball Drills. This resource provides you with over 60 defensive drills as well as coaching points and detailed illustrations to help you make the most of the drills in practice.

Here's what Sue Enquist, UCLA Head Softball Coach has to say about this resource.
"If you are interested in becoming more efficient, productive, and knowledgeable about the game of softball, I highly recommend Jacquie Joseph’s Defensive Softball Drills. This book will provide you with easy-to-understand drills for every facet of the defensive game. In addition, Coach Joseph provides technical insight related to each drill’s purpose. There are individual position drills, team drills, practice organization tips and game strategies - all within one book. Jacquie Joseph is a highly respected coach in Division I softball and a past president of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She has designed a well organized resource equipped to take coaches and players of all ages to the next level."

Softball Parent - Staying Sane

Being a softball parent isn't easy. There are all kinds of practices, games, and tournaments to keep up with. Not to mention uniforms to wash and get ready for the next game or practice. It can get very hectic during season. Here are a few things that I have found help out just a bit.

1. Have your DD get her own uniform ready the night BEFORE a game so you're not scrambling around the next morning trying to figure out where all the pieces of her uniform are.

2. Buy an extra pair of socks if you can. Socks always tend to get lost. Having an extra pair gives you a bit of insurance. You don't want your DD to be the only one on the team wearing white socks when everyone else has blue, red, black, or some other cool color.

3. Use a crock pot. Who has time to cook? Either you'll miss your DD's practice or you won't get home until almost 7:00! Find some easy crock pot recipes and let the pot do all the work. That way dinner will be ready when you get home from practice! WAHM.com has a few crock pot recipes you may like.

4. Get a big calendar. You know, one of those desktop types so that you can actually write in the squares and plan your weeks. Post it on a wall or corkboard on a wall where you'll see it often enough to be reminded by the memos written on it.

5. Throw softball clothes into the wash right when you get home. This insures that you're DD will have clean practice and/or game clothes in time for the next practice/game. Plus, you don't want all that dirt and grime sitting in your laundry basket or on the clothes any longer than it has to.

FREE Fastpitch Membership

More and more visitors are taking advantage of the FREE Fastpitch Membership available at AllAboutFastpitch.com. If you haven't signed up yet, we made it simple and fast by adding a short sign-up form right there on our home page. Receive periodic information on resources, tips, and articles that help improve skills as a coach, player, or softball parent!

5 Things I Learned as a Softball Parent

1. The day I don’t have a chair in my trunk is the day we play at a field with no bleachers.

2. I can stop by a convenience store on the way to a game and pick up a semi-cold bottle of water for a buck or so. Or I can drive through at McDonald’s and get a large cup of water with ice for $0.26.

3. Most softball tournament concession stands don’t sell sunscreen, but they should.

4. If you have children playing in different age divisions the majority of their games will be scheduled at the same time and at fields 10+ miles apart.

5. Teenage players believe that Starbucks and Jamba Juice are essential components of their daily diet.

All About Fastpitch launches sister site

AllAboutFastpitch.com launches sister site Inspirational Sports Quotes as an added feature and resource tool for visitors. Inspirational Sports Quotes provides fun, motivating, sports-related quotes. Also included is a How to Use Quotes section that provides tips on what to do so the quotes not only uplift and inspire for the moment, but have a more lasting and meaningful impact on athletic performance and on life in general.

Visitors may also submit their favorite sports quotes and sign up for a FREE Membership to the site to stay informed of featured quotes, new resources, and updates to the site.

We actually refer to the sites as "teammate sites" vs. "sister sites" since both sites are sports-themed.

Fastpitch Softball - 43 feet?

As you may know I've been running a poll at www.AllAboutFastpitch.com on whether or not the high school pitching rubber should be moved back to 43' for girls fastpitch softball. We'll, it's seems that most voters do think the mound should be moved back to 43' from 40' to match the collegiate distance. (see poll results). I personally don't have much of an opinion one way or another, but I thought the results of the poll were quite interesting. Now I wonder, if we move the high school softball pitching rubber back to 43' do we also move the 16U/18U pitching rubbers back as well. Or do these high school girls play at 43' during the school year and 40' during the travel/summer leagues?

Fastpitch Softball - It's Just a Ground Ball

I finished a softball article called It's Just a Ground Ball and it's now up on my site. A link to the article can be found at the Player's Corner area of All About Fastpitch. Short and sweet reading material for softball players (or coaches of players) who seem to have a tough time with game situation grounders. You know, the ones you have to field when the pressure is on. It's a fun article that every softball player and/or softball coach can relate to. Feel free to download and print It's Just a Ground Ball for your own personal use. Enjoy the article, and remember, fastpitch softball is a game ~ it's supposed to be FUN!