15 Savvy Ways to Watch the NCAA Playoffs

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Here’s a repost on how to watch the NCAA playoffs!

The road to the Women’s College World Series is one of the most exciting things to watch on T.V. Regionals start today, May 17th. The best athletes in the country execute incredible plays and jaw-dropping, extra-inning games.

When you watch the NCAA tournament this year, don’t just sit passively. Actively take part by analyzing what’s happening and applying it to your own development. I’d suggest picking 4 or 5 of the questions below and watch with intent. Because we mimic what we see, it’s called “visual learning,” you can improve simply by observing. There’s nothing better than relaxing and getting better at the same time! I’ve found girls with older sisters who pitch an advantage. They “get it” at a young age from observing their siblings play.

Situational

  1. Does the pitcher throw a first pitch strike? If so, how often does the batter get out? It is very important to get ahead of a batter especially at more competitive levels. This allows you to throw pitches with different speeds and trajectories.

  2. What pitch does she throw after a foul tip?

  3. What movement pitches does she have? Is she deceptive when throwing them or can you tell a different pitch is coming?

  4. Is the pre-motion fast or slow?

  5. What two pitches does she throw the most?

  6. Why do you think the coach chose to switch our pitchers when she did? Was the pitcher giving up too many hits or was there another reason? A pitcher isn’t always taken out because she is throwing poorly.

  7. Keep score using a good ol’ fashioned scorebook. When your coach hands you the book during your next game, you’ll know how to fill it out.


    Mechanical

  8. Compare your motion to hers. Are her mechanics different than yours? If so, why do you think this is the case?

  9. Is she performing the five fundamentals properly?

  10. Which one of the following is the pitcher best at - spinning the ball, hitting her spots, or throwing it fast?

    Mental Game

  11. What is her pre-pitch routine? With your phone or watch time her pre-pitch routine. Record if it speeds up or slows down over the innings. Does the amount of time in between each pitch relate to the amount of hits she gives up?

  12. What is each pitcher’s demeanor on the mound? Are they vocal and upbeat or are they calm and intense? Does this help them or hurt their performance?

  13. How resilient is she after giving up a home-run? Is she timid? Does she subsequently walk the next batter, or does she attack and hit spots?

  14. Can you tell what pitch she is going to throw based on the catcher’s signs? This is important because if you can see what’s coming the opposing team might be able to as well. Then they will tell the batter.

  15. As the game progresses does her speed get slower? Does she give up more hits?

After watching the game, writing down any questions or important observations you’ve made. Is there anything you want to try or ask your own coaches about? What is the reasoning behind why your coach taught you the way that she did? Don’t be afraid to ask them —clarifying their thought process will only help you understand and appreciate pitching more. A respectful way to do this is by mentioning that you saw a team on TV do a mechanic or pitch differently.

While I normally love players who take initiative, I would not recommend taking the changing the way your coach taught you just because you saw a girl on TV do it. First, find out your why your coaches do what they do. I have seen many different ways to throw a softball effectively. Just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s better or worse than what you were taught. Always ask the question, “why?” first and then commit to getting better.