Thursday, April 3, 2025
US Sports Softball: How to Create a Softball Team’s Offensive Mindset and (Highlights) #16 Nebraska vs #10 Texas Tech (CRAZY GAME!)
Get Close To The Final Four! Now Streaming On US Sports Radio
- By Grant Young
One of the hardest aspects of coaching softball is getting players to overcome the various mental hurdles they face at the plate. Of course, it’s natural for all humans to experience self-doubt and negative thoughts at times. This is exacerbated in a sport like softball, where a hitter is destined to fail much more often than they’re going to succeed.
This is why cultivating a sturdy mindset at the plate, one that doesn’t view success in terms of hits or home runs, but in quality at-bats and personal progression, is one of the most important qualities a coach can impart to their player.
These lessons won’t only benefit the player at the plate, but they will continue to serve them long after their softball days are done, once they experience the harsh realities that the real world is sure to provide.
Softball coach Donna Fields knows a thing or two about cultivating success for her players, both on and off the field. Coach Fields just finished her 27th season at the helm of the St. Mary’s Rattlers softball team in 2024. Already a member of the St. Mary's Athletics Hall of Fame, Fields is the only Rattler in school history with a national championship as a player and coach. On December 10, 2021, Fields was also inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame.
Across Coach Fields’ incredible coaching career, the Rattlers have won 18 conference titles, four NCAA Regionals, and the 2002 NCAA title.
In Coach Fields’ ‘Building Offensive Players: Getting Them to Buy into Your Offensive Mindset’ Course, she details the precise methods she has used across her nearly three decades of head coaching to build an offensive mindset that her entire team encompasses, regardless of what their stats say.
We have compiled some of her strongest insights below, to that you can get a glimpse of the ways Coach Field has built and sustained such a winning program.
Your Offense Depends on your Personnel Along with your System
“As I work each day, I look at my athletes and I try to create our practice to where I can see what our athletes are able to perform, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses might be. Definitely build on our strengths and try to make our weaknesses stronger on a day to day basis.”
Coach Fields stresses that a team’s offensive mindset is going to change each year, depending on who is on each team’s roster. If your team has more power hitters, then you should alter your approach to give those power hitters opportunities to hit with runners on base, and emphasize swinging for the fences. And if you have a more speed-focused lineup, then you should facilitate a mindset that prioritizes reaching base, playing small ball, and manufacturing runs that way.
The important point here is that softball coaches must remain adaptable (meaning, not set in their ways) if they’re going to see success each year. This requires humility, which is a great quality for not only coaches to have, but for coaches to instill within their players through example.
Routine Hitting
Whenever Coach Fields finds the time, she tries to make her team’s batting practice sessions into what she calls ‘Routine Hitting’.
This is where she’ll divide her hitters into four to six groups, with one group doing station work (which will vary, depending on what your offense is working on at the moment, such as bunts or anything else related to small ball), a group in the batting cage (whether it be front toss, hitting off of the machine, or anything else), a group hitting on the field with live batting practice, and another group shagging on the field.
This allows Coach Fields to bring strategy into her team’s hitting, and simulating scenarios that players will actually experience in the game. Giving them these repetitions when the pressure isn’t so great is a fantastic way to help them get comfortable when the games to begin to count, and there’s another team in the opposing dugout.
Utilizing this style of batting practice ensures that your players are remaining active and engaged at all times, finding ways to improve and help their teammates out. Even in the shagging portion, players should be at their normal positions, getting as many game-like repetitions as possible from the hitters who are taking live batting practice.
Manufacturing Runs
Coach Fields notes that manufacturing runs is a major part of her team’s practices, regardless of whether her team is more catered toward power hitting.
The reason for this is that, while your team might be able to rely on the long ball during the regular season or in conference play, there will come a time at some point later on in the season where you’ll face a pitcher that’s good enough to stop your power hitters from hitting home runs.
And when that happens, you need to have plan B, so that your offense still has a chance to succeed.
Coach Fields notes how she’s a big believer in sacrifice bunting, in order to get her baserunners into scoring position. While this isn’t always the most popular choice, it’s a great way to manufacture runs against elite pitching.
But coaches can’t just assume their players (hitters and baserunners alike) will know how to execute a sacrifice bunt scenario to a tee. Therefore, players must get these repetitions during practice to feel good about doing so in high-stakes, postseason situations.
All of Coach Fields’ points are about
creating comfortability for players at the plate, which she believes is
the most important part of a solid offensive mindset. And it’s within all coaches to help cultivate that feeling for their teams—which should lead to success.
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
US Sports Golf: Two Main Principles For Improving Your Golf Short Game and Hyo Joo Kim Highlights | Ford Championship
Sports Talk, Rock, and Fun! Extra Salty. Now Streaming On US Sports Radio!
- 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.
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
US Sports Hockey: 4 Hockey Skating Drills for Youth Players: Building Speed, Balance, and Agility and Highlights Sabres vs. Capitals
- By Jackson Chlebowy
Skating skills are the foundation for any good hockey player. Youth hockey players who develop good skating technique and habits at a young age will have a significant competitive advantage over their teammates and opponents. Mastering the hockey skating fundamentals early will give young players a head start in developing speed, agility, and edgework. Whether you are coaching complete beginners or a talented team of Peewee’s, practicing ice skating basics will help build an edge over the competition.
Basics of the Forward Stride: One Foot Push Drill – Nicole Uliasz
Coach Nicole Uliasz is a women’s varsity ice hockey coach for the Lawrenceville School, a prestigious prep school in New Jersey. She played women's hockey at a high level, starting her career in 2000 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2001, she left the team to play for her country on the US national team. In 2002, she played games on the pre-Olympic tour before joining the women's U-22 national team. She later returned to Wisconsin to finish her collegiate career, earning All-Big10 Honors.
Coach Uliasz teaches the basics of an efficient skating stride in her course ‘Hockey Fundamentals for Beginners’. Good skating starts with a strong, hockey-ready stance. In an athletic stance, a player's knees should be bent, shoulder width apart. Their chest should be up, facing the direction they want to skate. Some players will hunch over, tilting their chest down toward the ice. This is not ideal for skating as it puts the body in an awkward position, resulting in inefficient strides and wasted energy. It also makes it difficult for young players to keep their heads up, and aware of their surroundings. This is key for player safety, but also for game awareness.
If a player skates their head down, they are less likely to be ready to receive or give a good pass and will miss opportunities to make plays. Keeping the head up is a crucial habit to develop at a young age.
The key to an efficient and effective stride is a strong push. Emphasize the importance of digging the skates into the ice and getting a strong outward push before returning them all the way back under your body. This is key, as it allows for a longer, more powerful stride at minimal energy cost. Shorter, choppier strides that don’t return under the body are less energy efficient and don't allow the player to generate as much power and speed over space. These are good for getting a quick start, but not skating fast over longer distances.
The One-foot push drill is an easy way to get young players comfortable and familiar with the proper skating form and technique. It may be difficult for young players to consistently use proper mechanics, but by breaking it down they will become more aware and intentional about their stride. You must emphasize the long stride starting and returning from under the body. Make the drill fun, and challenge players to see who can glide the farthest per stride. Turn it into a one-footed race, challenging players to skate as fast as they can with proper form.
Quick Feet Stop and Start Drill
Hockey is a game of inches. The ability to gain speed and change direction on a dime is essential for being a good skater. Learning quick stops and starts will help players be more effective skaters and will allow them to follow the puck/play more effectively. It is also a crucial skill in developing small space speed and acceleration, allowing players to win more puck battles or create separation from their opponents.
The drill is simple. Line players up at the bottom of a faceoff circle, or in a line with 2 cones spread a few feet apart. On the coach's whistle, players will make a quick crossover start, getting 3 quick and powerful strides focusing on getting from stop to start as fast as they can. They will then stop at the top of the circle, and explode out of the stop back to the bottom of the circle, repeating this as many times as desired. You can incorporate puck carrying into this drill for more skilled players. Make sure you explain the importance of keeping their heads up with the puck on their stick and instructing them to protect the puck when they stop and start.
Jump Sticks Drill – Coach Patrick Burke
Coach Patrick Burke is a former collegiate and junior hockey player, playing for Connecticut College, the Ramapo Saints, and the New Jersey Rockets. He is now a USA Hockey Association coaching education director and certified USA hockey coach. Coach Burke has coaching experience at nearly every level of the game, from mites to elite high school hockey. He has now turned his attention to youth hockey, focusing on youth player development.
Coach Burke’s ‘Jump Sticks Drill’ from his ‘Coaching Youth Hockey: From Mites to PeeWees’ Course is a great way for young hockey players to practice their balance and agility on their skates. Have your players spread out and lay their sticks down on the ice. On the coach's go, the players will practice jumping over their sticks. Start with 2 feet jumps, emphasizing the importance of keeping their knees bent, and their chest and head up. This will help players keep balance and prevent them from falling. After they’ve gotten the hang of the 2-foot jump you can add fun wrinkles to the drill to keep the kids engaged. They can try 1-foot jumps, spinning jumps, or fast feet. If they really get the hang of the stick jumps, you can incorporate figure 8 skating. Have the players begin on one side of the stick, jumping over the stick and making a tight turn around the ends of their stick. This further stresses the importance of balance and that athletic stance while incorporating movement and skating.
Circle Skating Drills
There are many different circle skating drills that are very effective in teaching good skating skills and habits. All of the variations follow one base drill. Line all of your players up in one corner, with the first player in line where the goal line meets the corner. Without a puck, have players practice skating on the circle all the way around. Teach players to use crossovers to keep and gain speed while staying on the circle as best they can. After the first player skates past the line, and around the top of the circle again, they will skate to the next circle (2nd corner). Players can be sent on the coach's whistle, or after the player in front passes the line.
After players have the hang of skating the circles, you can add edgework. One way to do this is by having players lift one leg, using only their inside or outside edge around the tops of the circles.
You can have players practice their transitions and backward skating. Tell players to keep their chest facing the far end of the ice at all times (or if there is a clock or scoreboard use those as landmarks to limit confusion). This will force players to incorporate both forward and backward skating while also working on smooth transitions as they reach the tops and bottoms of the circles.
Adding pucks is also a good way to elevate this drill, forcing players to focus on puck control and making turns with the puck.
Finally, you can turn this drill into a race, having players chase one another around the circles. If any player gets caught by their teammate they owe push-ups. The race adds stakes, creates competition, and keeps practice fun for young players.
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