Part 2: This Week's Top Lessons About Pitching
/The first-ever virtual National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association Conference blew our minds! Coach Sarah and I learned so many things that we will be passing on to you in pitching school.
Top coaches in the game like Mike Candrea (Arizona), Michelle Gasgoine (Northwestern) and Mike Whit (Texas) spill their guts with all of their best kept secrets. Here are 5 more lessons we’ve found the most helpful.
1. Mike Candrea, University of Arizona Head Coach
I certainly share this sentiment from coach Candrea. He said, “The word ‘coach’ is a very powerful word and I don’t take it lightly. I’m honored and blessed when a young person calls me ‘coach’.” He also said that he speaks to a lot of high school coaches who, in conversation, point out that they are “just” high school coaches or “just” travel ball coaches. “No!” he says. We are all equally valuable in what we provide young athletes.
2. Michelle Gasgoine, Northwestern University Pitching Coach
To practice curveballs and backdoor curve balls, place two plates next to each other and alternate between ending the pitch over each one. Change your stride to alter where you begin the pitch. You can do this with screwballs as well.
3.Dan McDonnell, Louisville BSB Head Baseball Coach
Do you need to keep the connection with your players during COVID? Coach McDonnell prints out a calendar and puts the name of one player on each day of the month. When it’s that player’s day, he must share a Hero, Hardship, and Highlight via social media with the team. He learned more about his players from this activity than he did anything he had ever done before!
4. Dan McDonnell, Louisville BSB Head Baseball Coach
Bookclub alert! Here are a few books Coach McDonnell thought were very valuable to him and his players. In fact, he chooses one book per year to be the thread to link everything they do together with the team. This includes cheers between innings, quotes on slide presentations, and uniform design. 1) Chasing Excellence by Ben Bergeron, famed Crossfit coach, 2) Legacy by James Kerr, about the most successful sports team in all of history, 3) The Gold Standard: Rules to Rule By, by Jamie K. Spatola, as a story about Coach K. and his Olympic basketball team.
5. Mike White and his daughter Nyree White (Texas University)
The Whites taught us about the pitcher’s mindset on the mound. Always take an offensive mindset of the mound, they say. Coaches need to provide a clear mission for a game or season and be extra clear on how a pitcher can accomplish that mission. Remember, the best pitchers are able to win without their best stuff. Also, never give the game away with your body language. Don’t disrespect the mound by giving up. Teach your pitchers that they have a huge responsibility to their team and their position.
