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US Sports Softball: How to Become a Softball Pitcher And Kai Minor Goes 6-for-6! 7 Takeaways from OU Softball Presented by Hat Club

 

How to Become a Softball Pitcher

• By Brandon Ogle

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Getting started as a softball pitcher is certainly something that’s easier said than done. At the same time, it shouldn’t be confused with the techniques and strategies utilized on the baseball side. It requires a different approach and of course, plenty of practice. In this article, I’ll walk you through some of the basics of fastpitch softball pitching. Whether you’re a coach, parent, or player, these points will help start you on the path to success.

Mechanics

First and foremost, mechanics are critical. This can’t be stressed enough. Without the proper mechanics, you’re not only going to struggle to find success on the field, but there is an increased susceptibility to injuries later on down the road. While mechanics is a broad term and could easily fill an article by itself, I wanted to stress the primary points here.

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Stretching - Something as basic as stretching is ignored countlessly by young athletes. The truth is without an appropriate stretching routine, don’t be surprised when you see shoulder injuries pop up later on.

Proper Stance - Stand straight and tall with your shoulders back. The foot on your throwing arm side will be placed in front of the pitching rubber with the glove-side foot behind the rubber. As a side note, keep in mind that a lot of leagues and associations specify how much of the foot can be touching the rubber.

Backswing - A common misconception is that the speed or height of your backswing is truly what’s generating the heat on the pitch. Yes, it might help a little, but the key is to work at a speed where you still feel comfortable and in control. Don’t rush it too much!

Arm Moving Forward - Here’s where you’re going to generate the majority of your speed. As you move towards your push-off foot, make sure you’re utilizing your body weight to transfer over more power.

Obviously, there’s more things involved in terms of the entire pitching process, but I wanted to be sure to highlight these items as they tend to be overlooked.

Proper Release

When you’re arm is moving towards the release point, try your best to keep the wrist back. This will allow you to whip it forward upon release. As you release the ball, keep your arm outstretched. Not completely straight, but no more than a little bend. Lastly, continue to stand tall throughout the process. Any bending of the knees will likely result in a loss of speed on the pitch.

                                 Foundations of High Level Pitching®

                                                          by Austin Wasserman
Confidence

As is the case in nearly every other sport, confidence is critical to success. If you’re not confident in basketball, you’re not going to trust your shot. If you struggle with confidence in golf, you’re going to miss easy puts. Starting to get the point? Well, this is no different when it comes to fast-pitch softball, particularly for pitchers. Here’s a few tips to think about, whether you’re coaching up a young pitcher or are one yourself:

Don’t let one bad inning spoil your day. You’re going to have some bad games. No matter how good you are, it just happens. Even one of the greatest softball players of all time, Jennie Finch, had some not-so-great performances on the mound.

Learn from your mistakes. A tip that can be used in all walks of life is yet again a viable strategy for softball. If a pitch isn’t working early on in a game, try using some other options you have in your repertoire. It’ll even possibly keep your opponents a little off-balance later on in the game.

Practice Makes Perfect

It can’t be stressed enough the importance practice plays in pitching. If you want to be a successful softball pitcher, you need to have the entire process down to the point where you can consistently repeat it time and time again. The only way to do this is through continuously practicing. If you’re just starting out, work on throwing 10-15 pitches to the point where they’re all strikes. Then, gradually build up that pitch count. A second technique is to work on spins. Toss the ball in the air to yourself and focus on generating some spin on it. What may seem like a trivial exercise can be definitely beneficially is building the right techniques. In the end, the key to developing pitching skills is through careful instruction and constant practice!

Want to help kids find sports they love? Sign up to be a coach or volunteer in a local youth sports program. Learn more ways to support youth sports in the National Youth Sports Strategy: https://bit.ly/2lIHPUc

US Sports Golf - Two Main Principles For Improving Your Golf Short Game and PGA Tour Highlights Round 4 Bank of Utah Championship. Presented by Hanes

 

• By Grant Young

The short game in golf can be the most challenging aspect of the sport for many players. While hitting long drives off the tee may seem impressive, it's the finesse and precision required for chipping and putting that can truly make or break a golfer's game. Mastering the short game demands a great deal of skill, touch, and concentration. 

Unlike the full swing, which allows for some margin of error, the short game requires a high level of consistency and control. Ultimately, success in golf often comes down to proficiency in the short game, and those who can excel in this area are likely to see significant improvements in their overall performance on the course.

And when done well, the short game can be golf’s most satisfying aspect. Successfully executing a delicate chip shot to get the ball close to the pin or sinking a long putt can bring about a sense of achievement that is hard to replicate in other aspects of the game. The short game also offers opportunities for creativity, as players can employ various techniques and strategies to navigate around hazards and onto the green. 

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Additionally, the short game often plays a crucial role in determining a player's overall score, making every successful chip, pitch, or putt feel like a significant accomplishment.

All of which is to say that it’s worthwhile to try and improve your short game. And online golfing coach legend Gary Wiren is here to help you do so. 

Coach Wiren is a member of six Golf Halls of Fame, including the PGA Hall of Fame and the World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame, and has honorary memberships or distinguished service recognition from Sweden, Italy, New Zealand, and Japan. Wiren was a collegiate conference champion, won the South Florida Seniors PGA title, and the South Florida long-driving championship, played in the USGA Senior Open and the PGA Senior Championship and has won the World Hickory Championship. 

Coach Wiren’s ‘Great Golf Drills Vol. 2 - The Short Game featuring Dr. Gary Wiren’ course will teach you which shots to play in different situations, how to develop the touch necessary for a great short game, and will help you to learn the correct principles of practicing the short game and dramatically lower your scoring average.

Dialing For Distance

The first (and most crucial) point when deciding which clubs to use when attempting to land a shot on the green is knowing how far away you are from the hole. 

The best way to do this is with experience. The more you’re out on the golf course, the better you’ll be at gauging distance. But if you’re relatively new to golf, a great way to know is by using the yardage markers placed along the length of the hole. Better yet, if you have access to a yardage book for a template for the gold course you’re at, this can be an incredibly useful tool. 

Once you calculate an estimated range from your ball to the hole, you’ll want to have a good understanding of how far back you want to take your swing. For example, if you’re ten yards away from the hole, you’ll want to swing so that your club head goes about parallel to your knee during your backswing. If you’re about 20 yards away, your backswing will be around parallel to your hip. A 35-yard chip shot will make your backswing go about to your bicep, and so on. 

Again, repetition is paramount when it comes to deciding which club to use. This is where getting reps in on the driving range is vital because you can test shots and distances with each club to see which best suits you at each distance. It would also be wise to keep a notebook, telling you which clubs you like at certain distances. 

The Right Direction in Chipping

One drill that Coach Wiren loves to utilize when helping students with their chipping direction is placing a club on the ground next to their ball that can help them line their shot up, so they can see where the club of their swing goes through to the target. 

After doing this for enough repetitions, students should be able to envision that imaginary club on the ground while they’re playing, which will be useful in lining up a straight shot. 

Coach Wiren suggests that, when it comes to knowing where the ball should be positioned between your legs when taking a shot, what you can do is stick a tee in the tops of your club’s grip, place it in front of your sternum, and look downwards. The tee should be about ½ inch in front of where you see the ball on the ground beneath it. If that’s where it is, your ball is in the correct position. 

Principles For Putting

Coach Wiren explains how there are main principles for putting success:

1. Stroke Mechanics 

This is essentially learning to swing the putter smoothly, like a pendulum swing. This can be learned in a week.

2. Reading the green

Learning how to accurately read a green can take a lifetime, but some tips Coach Wiren is to imagine that every putt is a straight putt in your mind. In other words, if the green has a slope, you should be still executing a straight putt that accounts for the slope and any other factors that will affect how the ball travels. 

He also goes on to note that reading the green is also about pace, which means gauging how hard to hit the ball. While this will take time and experience, imagining a straight line in your head can improve how well you’re able to read the green.

Want to help kids #GetActive through youth sports? Learn how parents, coaches, and volunteers can get involved in @HealthGov’s National #YouthSports Strategy: https://bit.ly/2lIHPUc

The Rock Almighty Shaker Of Heaven And Earth. Keep Knocking Warriors Of Light. And Artist Spotlight: Imagine This

 The Rock Almighty, Now streaming on US Sports Radio

Praying Through the Silence

In the moments when God seems silent, keep praying and let His presence bring you peace.

October 8, 2026

Psalms 46:1-2

If God’s silence is beneficial for us, then how should we respond when we feel as if there’s a wall blocking our access to Him? The answer is to keep praying. It’s important that we continue talking to the Lord even when we can’t sense Him responding.

First, pray. While Jesus was on the cross, He demonstrated that we can approach God with our deepest questions (Mark 15:34). The Lord invites us to talk with Him about anything because He understands us perfectly.

Victory News On US Sports Radio - Trump wins Venezuelan TPS case & Admin says parents’ rights are non-negotiable. Presented on US Sports by Gorilla Sportswear

 

Trump wins Venezuelan TPS case | Admin says parents’ rights are non-negotiable | 10/6/26 Join us for the VICTORY News Daily News Updates at 6PM ET/5PM CT from the VICTORY Channel brings you the latest headlines, all from a faith-filled perspective. Share the feed with your family and friends! Now streaming on US Sports Radio

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US Sports Hockey - Hockey Practice Plan: Maximize Development in Every Session And Panthers vs. Kings Highlights Presented on US Sports by Dr. Berg

 

• By Jackson Chlebowy

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Designing a great hockey practice plan isn’t just about filling the hour—it’s about using that time to maximize player development, build habits, and prepare for real-game situations.

In this guide, you’ll get:

- A complete breakdown of how to structure your practice

- Example drills for each time segment (from warm-up to game play)

- Two proven drills pulled from elite-level coaching clinics

- Links to video demonstrations of featured drills

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Why a Hockey Practice Plan Matters

As a coach, you have a limited window to teach, correct, and motivate. A well-built plan keeps players engaged and ensures you’re hitting the right development goals each day.

A simple 60-minute practice might look like this:

0–10 minutes: Dynamic Warm-up – Get players moving and focused

10–25 minutes: Skill Development – Build core puck and skating skills

25–40 minutes: Situational Drills – Reinforce breakout habits and reads

40–50 minutes: Small-Area Games – Build pressure, pace, and creativity

50–60 minutes: Special Teams/Scrimmage – End with energy and fun

Presented on US Sports by: Dr Berg

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0–10 min: Dynamic Warm-Up

Drill 1: 3-Lane Warm-Up Skate

Objective: Activate key muscle groups and improve skating coordination

How it Works:

- Players skate in 3 lanes across the ice

- Each lane includes a different skating element (quick feet, crossovers, edge work, backward)

- Add pucks in later rounds to challenge puck control

Coaching Tips:

- Keep reps short and high energy

- Integrate communication (e.g., call for pucks, tap sticks, shout colors)

- Emphasize balance and edge control

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10–25 min: Skill Development

Goal: Build and refine technical skills in a focused, high-rep environment.

Work on: Skating, Shooting, Passing, Stickhandling, etc

Drill 2: Passing Progression Series (3 drills, 1 set-up)

Passing Progression Series

Objective: Improve passing accuracy and awareness in multiple game-like situations

How it Works: Three-part drill series

- Stationary Passing – Players pass while standing still

- Passing Under Pressure – Add light pressure to challenge quick decisions

- Passing on the Move – Players pass while skating forward and backward

Coaching Points:

- Emphasize crisp tape-to-tape passes

- Keep head up and communicate through each rep

- Smooth transitions between stages for realistic pace

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25–40 min: Situational Drills

Goal: Teach team concepts like breakouts, offensive entries, or D-zone coverage

Drill 3: 2-on-1 Continuous

Objective: Reinforce offensive decision-making under pressure

- Drill starts with a 2-on-1 attack

- Defender stays, two new attackers enter for a new 2-on-1

- Cycle continues

Variations:

- Limit passes

- Reward goals with an extra attacker

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40–50 min: Small-Area Games

Goal: Push tempo, compete, and develop under pressure

Drill 4: Corner Battles

Small area battle

Objective: Build compete level, puck protection, and angling

- 1v1 or 2v2 in a corner or below the goal line

- Play for 20–30 seconds max

- Winner earns possession, next players jump in

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50–60 min: Scrimmage or Special Teams

Goal: Reinforce power play and penalty kill systems, finish with energy, have fun!

Drill 5: Sled Dog Race Drill

Sled Dog Race

Objective: Build explosive lower-body power and skating strength through resistance

How it Works:

- One player kneels on the ice

- A partner grabs their stick or jersey and pulls them to the far blue line

- Run it as a race or timed event for fun competition

Coaching Points:

- Emphasize strong posture and stride from the pulling player

- Reinforce lower-body drive and arm movement

- Use cones or designated lanes to stay organized

Drill 6: Controlled Scrimmage (Half-Ice with Constraints)

Add constraints like:

- Goals only off passes

- One-touch rule

- Only 2 passes allowed in the zone

Let players have fun but still build habits.

Want to help kids stick with sports? Prioritize fun and #PhysicalActivity over competition in #YouthSports programs. Learn more in @HealthGov’s National Youth Sports Strategy: https://bit.ly/2lQ85f6