Fundamental Fastpitch: The Podcast

Hitting the rise ball is difficult to teach because it goes against what they’ve been taught Hitters should understand their swing, how to make adjustments, point of contact before attempting to teach hitting rise balls How is the rise ball different from other pitches? The trajectory of the pitch is opposite of the swing path for every other pitch As a hitter, what can you do to help yourself? Study the pitcher Identify the rise Patterns - rise with 2 strikes, rise ball for a strike or a chase pitch Know the umpire’s zone Be disciplined - starts high, only getting higher Expect them to work the ladder if you swing Back of the box vs front of the box Toes on the line - don’t make it easy on the pitcher Drills Bad Monday bag High tee Front toss from the ground (tennis balls) Selective front toss Facing a talented rise ball pitcher is a very difficult task. Jess and Heather discuss how and why hitting the rise ball is different and more difficult than any other pitch. The conversation covers some things you can do as a hitter to give yourself a better chance at success. We close our discussion with a few drills to work on a higher contact point and to simulate a rising pitch. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #RiseBall #Hitting #Patterns Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 27 : Timing & Adjustments 47 : Strike Zone Early vs Late in an at Bat 55 : Five Parts of the Swing 61 : Wanting to Hit vs Hoping to Walk

If you’ve invested the time and effort to create a strong, positive team culture you probably want to protect that culture. We talk about some culture killers and some things coaches can do to avoid having their team infected by culture killers. What if, as a player, you’ve found yourself on a team with a culture that wasn’t advertised or that you don’t agree with? We close the conversations with some thoughts on how to handle that situation. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Culture #CultureKiller #Bully #MeanGirl #Gossip

Coaches, players, and parents are all responsible for building and maintaining a positive team culture. Communication, accountability, commitment, and respect are common themes in this episode. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #TeamCulture #Respect #Communicate Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 38 : Know Your Players - Building Relationships 64 : Your Kid is Listening 102 : Respecting Young Athletes

Having a strong, positive team culture doesn’t happen by accident. Join us as we talk about the elements of a good team culture and how to build one. The culture you cultivate influences how you and your team are perceived. Take initiative and do the work to make sure that culture is a positive one. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #TeamCulture #Communicate #Trust Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 16 : Control the Controllables 66 : Being a Good Opponent 102 : Respecting Young Athletes

Buying a new bat can lead to more questions than answers. Aluminum or composite? How much should I spend? Where do I get a new bat? Does my kid even need a new bat? Jess and Heather get into the weeds as they discuss many of the questions that surround bats. Send us your bat-related questions! #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Bats #CompositeBats #Investment Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 48 : Keeping Up With The Jones’s 101 : Coaching Gear Essentials & Extras 112 : A Parent's Guide to Beginner Softball 120 : How To Choose The Right Private Instructor

Join us as we close out the week with the last of our five-part mini-series with Quincy Lewis of Diamond Dynamics. The transfer portal and NIL are new on the scene of college softball. Quincy gives some inside information on how the transfer portal isn’t what it looks like on social media. #FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #TransferPortal #NIL Connect with Quincy! Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist! FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball Instagram: @Diamonddynamicssb Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 20 : The Ride Home 38 : Know Your Players - Building Relationships 81 : Preparing for an At Bat

Diamond Dynamics’ Quincy Lewis joins Heather and Jess in the fourth of our five-part mini-series on college planning. Things get real as athletes enter their junior and senior years of high school. Quincy shares how to tell when college coaches are listening and are interested as well as how to know when it’s time to focus your efforts elsewhere. As high school nears its end, it’s time to have some difficult conversations and make some thoughtful decisions. #FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #11thGrade #12thGrade Connect with Quincy! Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist! FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball Instagram: @Diamonddynamicssb Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 33 : Quality > Quantity 39 : Coaching Styles 42 : Why Do You Play Softball?

Quincy Lewis of Diamond Dynamics is back for the third installment of our five-part mini-series on college planning. As athletes enter high school, their college planning experience diverges from dreams and aspirations and takes on a more realistic look. Get Quincy’s take on how communication with college coaches should look and how to always “be recruitable” - you never know who’s watching. #FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #9thGrade #10thGrade Connect with Quincy! Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist! FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball Instagram: @Diamonddynamicssb Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 16 : Control the Controllables 29 : The Next Play After an Error 31 : Being Coachable - What Does That Mean?

Welcome back Quincy Lewis of Diamond Dynamics for the second episode in our five-part mini-series on college planning. Families of 7th and 8th graders might start feeling pressure to start the college planning process. There’s still plenty of time! Everyone’s college planning experience is different and there is no one-size-fits-all plan. #FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #7thGrade #8thGrade Connect with Quincy! Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist! FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball Instagram: @Diamonddynamicssb Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 32 : Comparing Your Kid to Their Teammates 64 : Your Kid is Listening 65 : Kids Have Opinions Too 118 : Softball Conversation Starters

We are excited to bring back our friend Quincy Lewis of ⁠Diamond Dynamics⁠ in the first of our five-part mini-series on college planning. Although college is a long way off for 5th and 6th graders, parents of athletes with big goals have questions when it comes to college planning. Quincy shares her thoughts and strategy for introducing college planning to families of young athletes. #FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning #5thGrade #6thGrade ⁠Connect with Quincy!⁠ ⁠Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist!⁠ FB Group: ⁠College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball ⁠ Instagram: ⁠@Diamonddynamicssb⁠ ⁠Follow us on Instagram!⁠ ⁠Like and follow us on Facebook!⁠ ⁠Check out our YouTube Channel⁠ You might also like: ⁠66 : Being a Good Opponent⁠ ⁠113 : Aging Up from 10u to 12u⁠ ⁠124 : Athleticism in Multisport Athletes⁠

Jess and Heather welcome Quincy Lewis of Diamond Dynamics! In the first of our series with Quincy, she gives us an introduction to the college planning process - when to start, how every experience is different, how involved (or not involved) parents should be, and some college coach red flags. Tune in next week to catch a breakdown of the college planning process from fifth grade through college. #FundamentalFastpitch #DiamondDynamics #Softball #CollegePlanning Connect with Quincy! Check out Diamond Dynamic’s College Planning Checklist! FB Group: College Planning with Diamond Dynamics Softball Instagram: @Diamonddynamicssb Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 15 : The Competitive Softball Journey 53 : Softball is What I Do - Not Who I Am 60 : Having Realistic Expectations 92 : Setting Goals

Heather shares her Little League Baseball coaching experience. Listen in as Jess asks Heather about how coaching boys is different from coaching girls. We talk about Heather’s least favorite baseball rules as well as how coaches, umpires, and parents treated her as a female coach. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Baseball #CoachingTheBoys #LittleLeague ⁠Follow us on Instagram!⁠ ⁠Like and follow us on Facebook!⁠ ⁠Check out our YouTube Channel⁠ You might also like: ⁠17 : Simple Softball⁠ ⁠26 : The Coach’s Kid⁠ ⁠31 : Being Coachable - What Does That Mean?⁠ ⁠62 : Keeping Your Cool During Chaos⁠

When a player is injured, finances and attendance at practices and games are a couple questions that could pop up. Jess and Heather tackle the challenges that surround player injuries - big and small- and how athletes can continue to grow as players through injury. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Injury #Rehab #Practice Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 64 : Your Kid is Listening 65 : Kids Have Opinions Too 84 : Settling in to a New Season 86 : The Offseason

Tryouts and open practices are different experiences with different purposes. Coaches, players and parents need to know what to expect, what their responsibilities are, and how to make the most of the experience. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Tryouts #OpenPractice #BeMemorable Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 35 : Tryout Season - Players 36 : Tryout Season - Coaches 37 : Tryout Season - Parents 86 : The Offseason

Learning to be an athlete helps players of all sports. Learning and practicing athleticism in a variety of sports helps softball players in a number of ways. Jess and Heather talk about how being a multisport athlete helps softball players become more athletic, build character, and grow socially and emotionally. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #MultisportAthlete #Coordination #Athleticism #Athlete

In part two of our Game Etiquette series, we talk about how parents and coaches can set a positive example for our players. How the adults behave sets the tone for how the players will conduct themselves on and off the field. In short, be respectful and keep it civil. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #GameEtiquette #Respect #BeCivil Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 3 : How to Watch Softball 62 : Keeping Your Cool During Chaos 102 : Respecting Young Athletes

Sportsmanship is a huge part of the game. Jess and Heather talk about how players can ensure they are playing respectfully before, during, and after games. Softball is about much more than balls, strikes, runs and outs. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #GameEtiquette #Respect Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 3 : How to Watch Softball 62 : Keeping Your Cool During Chaos 66 : Being a Good Opponent 88 : Managing the Dugout

When it rains on practice day, you don’t have to cancel. The key to getting a quality practice in when the weather doesn’t cooperate is being flexible and fitting your practice plan to the resources available. You have more options than you might think - listen in to hear some of our favorites. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Rain #SoggyPractice #BattingCages #SoftballSchool Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 6 : How to Run an Effective & Efficient Practice 18 : Throwing 101 24 : Dailies & Prep Steps 33 : Quality > Quantity

Private instructors have become the norm in the softball world. But how do you know you’re getting your money’s worth? How can you be sure your daughter is getting the most out of the time spent? Heather and Jess talk about how to find an instructor, what to look for, what questions to ask, and how expectations are different for private instructors vs coaches. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Lessons #PrivateLessons #Hitting #Defense #Catching Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 31 : Being Coachable - What Does That Mean? 33 : Quality > Quantity 60 : Having Realistic Expectations 92 : Setting Goals

Summer is knocking at the door, and you may be looking for softball camps and clinics for your players. Listen in to hear some recommendations, things to look for, and warnings. All camps and clinics are not created equal, and you need to know what you’re getting before you spend your money and trust a coach with your kid. #FundamentalFastpitch #Softball #Summer #Camps #Clinics Follow us on Instagram! Like and follow us on Facebook! Check out our YouTube Channel You might also like: 15 : The Competitive Softball Journey 17 : Simple Softball 60 : Having Realistic Expectations 62 : Keeping Your Cool During Chaos