Author: strikezoneacademy

  Private hitting instructors seem to be everywhere these days.  Indoor facilities, YouTube, Twitter, and many other platforms as well and all seem to promote their views on how to hit. The good news is that players around the world do not need to have personal access to...

Losing stinks! And often that losing happens during the most important softball event of the year, and sometimes of our lives. Make sure you understand the 5 lessons that losing can teach you as you get ready for another softball season. While we all love to win,...

In Part 1 of this post, I talked about the importance of commanding the strike zone for hitters.  Today, it’s the pitchers’ turn! On the pitching end of things, commanding the strike zone means different things depending on what age group you are dealing with.  With young pitchers...

Resolutions are about the future, growth, improvement, excitement and completion. We make them wanting to become better people – so let’s make them to become better coaches. Discover 4 resolutions to help you through your New Softball Season! I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions. To...

In the summer of 1988, I was fortunate to play in the Cape Cod League (Falmouth, MA). Top players from around the country converge on the coast of Massachusetts to play some pretty high-level baseball. The Cape was also one of the only summer leagues that required wood...

To help your baserunners see the ball better and make better, and faster decisions, get them to run with their heads UP! It’s pretty common for runners to get their heads down when trying to run fast, and while the effort is admirable, the result...

  Answer: consistency Good players consistently show up to workouts. Good players consistently compete. Good players give consistent effort in the weight room. Good players are consistently good teammates. Good players consistently make the routine play. Good players consistently put good swings on the ball. Good players consistently focus on their footwork. Good players consistently...

I have always loved this time of year. No matter what religion you are, this time of year is no doubt special to you. Whether it’s the music, the decorations or the time off from school, discover what the holiday season has in common with softball. Some people...

  In my day job, I teach Sociology and AP Psychology to high school students. Both are social sciences so the Nature v Nurture debate comes up frequently throughout the school year. Some human behavior is predetermined through genetics. That’s “Nature.” Other behaviors and thoughts are...

To help your slappers keep their slaps in fair territory instead of hitting foul balls down the 3rd base line try practicing using real softballs instead of whiffle balls or lite flight balls. Whiffle balls are so light that slappers get a false sense of hand strength at impact thus making...