Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast
Everything 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.
Episodes
612 episodes
Girls who play sports have an advantage / Tips for the runner at second / Update on paying college players / Top things college coaches are looking for / Coaches deliver what you promise
This week's Lineup:Warmup SegmentGirls who play sports become women who lead (@02:28)Listener Question: What should a runner at second do in various situations? (@19:18)Update on paying college playe...
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54:14
The batter's box is the size it is to give you freedom to move around
Players and coaches should not have a predisposition that a batter should always stand in the same spot in the batter's box. We preach "make adjustments" and that should apply to the stance. Good advice for players and coaches in the types of a...
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7:49
Watch some fall ball / Why are men's and women's pitching styles so different / Recruiting Calendar / Daddy Ball / Slow pitching is not an excuse
This week's LineupWarmup SegmentGo watch some fall ball (@2:55)Listener Question: Why are men's and women's pitching styles so different? (@12:02)Review of Recruiting Calendar (@18:15)Daddy Ball (...
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41:35
Suggestion to solve the problem of the shortage of pitchers
We discussed in the last Everything Fastpitch podcast that a great number of teams continue advertising that they need pitchers. One of the solutions to this problem is for sanctioning bodies to implement pitching restrictions. This would requi...
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13:58
There not enough pitchers / Correlation between Professional Baseball and Collegiate Softball / Coaches continuing to learn
This week's LineupWarmup SectionHow many college softball programs? (@2:39)Listener Question: Bad or good strategy in allowing the catchers and pitchers call pitches? (@9:52)There are not enough pitchers (...
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37:43
Impact of pitch count on a hitter's success
This episode discusses the impact the pitch count has on a hitter's success.
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11:57
Do certain majors limit you in softball / Affect of additional scholarships / Breakdown of college athletics / A question every coach should ask themselves
This week's LineupWarmup SegmentListener Question: My daughter wants to study medicine, will that limit the schools that she can play softball? (@11:56)How the additional scholarships will affect colleges (@17:35)<...
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46:59
Running is a skill that needs to be taught
Straight line running is a skill and everyone can get better. Players are at many different levels when it comes to speed. Coaches need to educate themselves or get someone with track experience and incorporate running drills into their practic...
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12:50
Softball LLWS / Pay for softball players / Respect your glove / Classifying college teams / Coaches can change lives
This week's lineupWarmup SegmentSoftball Little League World Series (@2:39)Listener Question: How much do professional softball players make? (@14:46)Respect your glove (@22:17)Classifying college...
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42:43
Fail Better
In this episode we use a quote from Samuel Beckett about failing better. Failures are a major part of our game and we need to think about ways to handle them better.
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11:13
Starting a New Team /Travel Ball Silly Season / Classifying College Teams
This week's LineupWarmup SegmentListener Question: What type of players should I be looking for to field a new 12U team? (@13:26)Travel Ball Silly Season. Teams switching organizations and players switching teams i...
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49:36
The 0-2 pitch
This week the topic is the 0-2 pitch and what should the pitcher be trying to do.
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10:25
Softball in the Olympics / Future of slapping / Thoughts on coach retiring / Classifying colleges / It's just a dream
This week's lineupWarmup SegmentSoftball in the Olympics (@2:50)Listener Question: Future of the role of slapping (@9:45)Thoughts on a coach retiring (@15:50)Classifying colleges and conferences (...
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33:35
Cut a marginal player now or see what happens?
Some players have attributes you want but their skill level is not quite up to what is needed. It often happens that you keep that player with the hope that she might make it. Is it better to make the cut early or see what happens?
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10:37
Impact of scholarship limits / Advice for lesson business / Classifying colleges / Too much negative feedback is a problem
This week's LineupWarmup SegmentImpact of increase in scholarship limits (@2:48)Listener Question: Advice on starting in the lesson business (@20:28)Comparing college athletics to structure of professional...
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50:24
Always believe in your success and stay away from hoping to be successful
We have all seen it or been a part of it. A team is beating a team that is better and should beat them or we make a big rally and go ahead in a game and LOSE. It is something that coaches have to work on and create that mindset of believing and...
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10:56
Runner on third and batter gets walked defense / Challenges of starting a new team / Daughter wants to Quit
This week's LineupWarmup SegmentListener Question: Defending first and third with runner on third and batter walked. (@22:08)Challenges of starting a new team (@31:28)Managing when your daughter wants to q...
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48:53
Tagging up at third
Make the correct decision as a runner on third when the ball is hit. Practice and drill into the player's minds,
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5:42
Travel Ball Player Rankings
There is no way that rankings of travel ball players can be accurate. Too many teams and too many tournaments for anyone to know.
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7:41
Stay to play showcases
Showcases or tournaments that require you to use specific lodging can create a serious problem with your families. If you are contemplating one of these events, you need to have serious conversations with the parents on your team. You have to k...
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6:57
Satellite fields in showcases are a problem
When we go to a showcase, we don't know if we are going to be scheduled to play at a satellite field. Sometimes these fields are some distance from the primary sites. When this happens it makes it more difficult for college coaches to see...
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6:52
Picking up players should be for a specific reason
Relying on pick-up players to field a team is a sign of weakness and a problem with the basics of the team. Picking up a pitcher can make sense if we are down one. Using a pickup player as a means of trying out one, is a good strategy.
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6:37