Calling the Game: The Coach, Catcher, or Pitcher?

Calling the Game: The Coach, Catcher, or Pitcher?

Erica Hanrahan

When it comes to deciding who should call the game, there are two very different schools of thought—and both have valid points. Before diving into the debate, though, I want to emphasize something I’m incredibly passionate about:

Pitchers need to have full autonomy to shake off a pitch or location call if they feel something else is more appropriate.

This autonomy is critical because pitchers need to own every pitch they throw. If they don’t like a pitch call for any reason, it’s on them to shake it off and get the pitch or location they believe in. That’s how you grow from being a thrower to becoming a pitcher. At the end of the day, the responsibility lies with the person throwing the ball—not the pitch caller.

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3 Must-Haves to Make It at the Highest Level

3 Must-Haves to Make It at the Highest Level

After running our first successful college evaluation event with Coach Erica Hanrahan, I wanted to share with you some thoughts I had on playing at a high level before you get to college. 80% of current Practice Pro pitchers are eight grade an under. I believe there are three attributes an athlete must posses to reach A or B level travel play, or regional-level high school play.

I would never discourage anyone from learning to pitch because they probably weren’t going to pitch in the Olympics, but I do believe there are certain attributes and life circumstances a player must posses to play in college.

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Don't Make These 5 Common Pitching Mistakes

Don't Make These 5 Common Pitching Mistakes

Let’s face it, pitching strikes isn’t easy. It often takes five to ten years for a player to develop the skills and strength needed to throw a ball over 60 mph with precision and movement. By avoiding the following mistakes, a pitcher can fast-track her journey to mastery.

DON’T...

Slow down your arm to pitch strikes.

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Why You're Failing at Winter Pitching

Why You're Failing at Winter Pitching

Winter in Chicago can make softball practice challenging, but it’s crucial for young pitchers to keep working on their skills, no matter the conditions. Consistency is key, and even if you don't have access to perfect equipment or facilities, there are still ways to practice effectively. Whether your daughter has a catcher, a net, or just a small space indoors, there are drills and equipment that can help her focus on mechanics and build proper movement patterns. The key is to make the most of what you have and keep practicing every day, ensuring steady progress even during the colder months.

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Why Practice Pro Is Your Key to College Prep with Erica Hanrahan

Why Practice Pro Is Your Key to College Prep with Erica Hanrahan

This is what college coaches are looking for: a pitcher who wants to be part of a team’s success, even if that means she isn’t the primary star. This takes practice, and that practice is in the mental preparedness to be that type of a teammate. You must train to execute this behavior when you don’t think or feel this way at first. Once you rehearse this skill after learning about it, writing about it, and deciding your action plan to live it, you get to prepare in class through the Practice Pro model. THAT is why I believe in pitching school so profoundly. And THAT is also why Abby and I are deeply motivated to start an elite level class for pitchers who want to be everything they can be in college

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The Most Influential People in the Softball Industry - With Guest Erica Hanrahan

The Most Influential People in the Softball Industry - With Guest Erica Hanrahan

Over the last 37 years of my relationship with softball (as both a player and a coach), there is not a single piece of my experience that trumps the TIME spent with my father.  We forged through thousands of hours of training together.  It created the foundation of our adult lives together, and that life has been a host of full and vibrant experiences (some softball and many not), set in motion by softball: the joy, laughter, frustration, honesty, support, and motivation that was necessary for me to transform myself from the worst player on my 10 year old travel team to the pitcher who earned a college scholarship and became a coach herself.  

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Playing Time: A Method to Align Coaches, Parents, and Players

Playing Time: A Method to Align Coaches, Parents, and Players

What if you could make decisions based on what a player earned, not just on what you feel? What if you could take the pressure off yourself and let the work they put in decide who gets the ball? What if, when a player asked, "Why am I not pitching?" they understood, didn’t resent it, and just got back to work to get better? You’d have more peace. You’d have a better team.

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What Should I Do During Practice, Exactly?

What Should I Do During Practice, Exactly?

Depending upon the season, the percentage break-down of maintenance, game prep and future practice differs. The closer a pitcher is  to the season, the more game prep and the less future learning she should do. The offseason is great for learning new things.

When you ask, “How much time do I spend teaching my daughter all of these new movement pitches when she can’t even throw a strike?” look to the chart below for the answer. Apply this formula to a day or week of practice, depending on how you like to schedule it out. 

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Getting Tired of Practice? One Source of Inspiration That'll Rekindle Your Love

Getting Tired of Practice? One Source of Inspiration That'll Rekindle Your Love

This year I created the online practice club. We tested it last year, and now we’re rolling out an upgraded version. The program I created tells you exactly what to practice, pitch by pitch, every day for the ten weeks of pitching school. There are four levels, and as you improve, you move up a level. Each drill has a video so you can review it. Everything is in CoachNow, our app where students currently store their videos and notes. There are rewards, pins, and a community to keep you accountable and to cheer you on.

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Switch from Baseball to Softball?

Switch from Baseball to Softball?

While teaching pitching in both the city of Chicago and the suburbs, I’ve been able to come to understand the culture of each. Because most of the parks on the north side of Chicago began their softball programs less than eight years ago, many girls still play baseball. Parents struggle with the decision of switching their daughters from baseball to softball. If she does switch, when is the best time?

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Think You’re Cut Out For Pitching? Take This Quiz

Think You’re Cut Out For Pitching? Take This Quiz

This quiz can be taken by people who are thinking about taking on the pitching position or for people who are already pitchers and want to test their progress. I wrote this from the player’s perspective, but parents can take it too.

I notice, as expected, parents new to the sport and position aren’t aware of what it really takes, and are looking for a way to “get by” and just “pitch a few more strikes”, without formally learning how to do the skill. Likewise, long-time players wonder why they’ve hit a plateau. Take this test to see if there are any barriers you need to overcome.

See where your mindset is!

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College Coaches Recruit from Camps

College Coaches Recruit from Camps

Here are some interesting things I learned that will help you:
1. Many college coaches are recruiting most of their players from camps, not tournaments.
2. A lot of college coaches recruit families, not players.  They need cooperative parents and are attracted to players who come from well developed travel programs because they, and their parents, have been groomed on how to conduct themselves.
3. The biggest problem college coaches see with pitchers, and other players for that matter, is that they have no idea how to deal with failure and are not tough....

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The High-Level Pitching Formula: Accuracy PLUS Movement, Velocity, Change of Speed

The High-Level Pitching Formula: Accuracy PLUS Movement, Velocity, Change of Speed

When it comes to building a top-tier college pitching staff, the four wow factors of pitching—Accuracy, Movement, Velocity, and Change of Speed—are essential. Among these, Accuracy stands as the ACE, the cornerstone of effective pitching. I will never forget Lisa Fernandez, legendary Olympic pitcher and long-time assistant coach at UCLA, who once emphasized that a mere six-inch difference could turn a ground ball to second base into a home run over the right field fence.

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5 Drills That'll Help Your Mechanics Improve

5 Drills That'll Help Your Mechanics Improve

After eight years of running a pitching school and sometimes coaching up to 150 pitchers per week, I have identified the drills that work the fastest to help pitchers understand the most important skills in pitching. After trying just about everything, these drills work for the largest amount of girls at the fastest rate. It is crucial to teach them correctly, so be sure to pay close attention to the explanations provided in the videos. Here are five of my favorite drills that help pitchers improve at blazing speed.

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Help for Brave Parents Who Catch

Help for Brave Parents Who Catch

In lessons, I'll sometimes ask a parent who's catching for her daughter if she can see the spin on the ball. I'll ask if she saw a fundamental that could have been executed better. Most of the time, I get these answers to the question:

"It's hard to see if my daughter's follow-through is correct when the ball is flying at me at 50 miles an hour."

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What The Best Teams Do: Everyone Has A Purpose

What The Best Teams Do: Everyone Has A Purpose

In college you'll rarely see a player sitting on the bench doing nothing during a game. When I played at Ithaca College, every player on the team was always cheering, clapping, or doing something in a supportive role when on the bench. Your positive attitude can anchor the “spirit of sport” in your team.

Last week our mental game lesson was about Charlie Morton, a 37-year old pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays who started the last game of the 2019 World Series. At the time his ERA is .57 and only made his first all-star game two years before that. If Morton would have won that night, he would have tied a record by posting eight consecutive winning postseason starts.

When asked about this wonderful run, he said,

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10 Compelling Reasons Why You Need Your Dad to Catch For You

10 Compelling Reasons Why You Need Your Dad to Catch For You

Growing up, my dad played an integral role in my softball journey. Without him, I wouldn’t have achieved what I did in sports. His support, along with that of my uncle, cousins, sister, and anyone who caught for me, was invaluable. Here’s why having someone, especially a dad, to catch for you can make all the difference. In my personal experience my dad was the one with the best hand-eye coordination, as opposed to my mom, so I’m going to share with you the benefits I got from working with him!

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A Look Into the Future: What Will Your BHAG Look Like in 5 Years?

A Look Into the Future: What Will Your BHAG Look Like in 5 Years?

Last week I wrote a blog about creating your own BHAG, a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal [Video 1:18]. After Oklahoma accomplished a 4-peat last night by winning the WCWS against Texas, I wondered if they made a goal 4 years ago to win 4 in a row. While I doubt it, I think that would have been a perfect BHAG! Winning not just one, but 4 national titles is something truly outrageous.

I thought back to this speech I made two years ago at my Alma Mater, Trinity High School. In it, I explain a BHAG that I had as a high school student. It was to be a CEO at a big company. At the time, I didn’t know about BHAGs, but I think it’s interesting that I made one. I didn’t end up coming close to that, obviously. What is even more interesting is that if I didn’t have a goal to be a CEO of a big company, I wouldn’t own my awesome little one. They key is to create your BHAG for fun, try to get it, and welcome any twists and turns that come along the way.

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