Thanking God glorifies and magnifies Him, but it also changes us. The Lord doesn’t need our gratitude, but as we give thanks, we become more aware of His character and are less consumed by our own concerns. Expressing gratitude ...
Refocuses our attention. Life is filled with distractions that can make it harder to notice all God has done for us. Instead of living with the weight of the world on our shoulders, we can refocus on the Lord by thanking Him for His faithfulness.
Dominating the line of scrimmage means you are moving people and there’s no better way to accomplish this than with combos. It gives the offense the opportunity to put two on one to get level one movementbefore coming off to level two. While this seems simple and smart, to be effective you must have a system for doing this, and the teaching progression and drills that create the execution you need.
Level 1 - High Knee
Taking care of level 1 is priority #1. The correct footwork, hand placement is necessary to get the block and the run play going. For Steve Ciocci, offensive line coach at Bryant University, the movement on level one is created with a high knee position which gives his linemen the leverage the need to get movement on level one started. He explains the five situations for the “high knee mentality” in this video.
Teaching Uncovered/Covered Principles
In order for double teams to work all the time against different fronts, alignments, and movements, having a system for assignments allows the offensive linemen to be set up for success.
Ohio University Offensive Line Coach Allen Rudolph explains his system for teaching combos here:
Perfect it by Drilling it
Once you install the techniques and the system for how combos will work, drilling it over and over allows this to become second nature for your offensive line. There are plenty of drills and equipment which help in this process and Coach Rudolph and Coach Ciocci include their drill progressions in their CoachTube courses.
University of Central Florida Offensive Line Coach Herb Hand uses a tried and true piece of equipment that many programs have had for a long time - the Crowther Sled. He spoke for over an hour and a half at the COOL Clinic.
Coach Hand explains a little of the history behind this sled as well as why he believes in using it to teach and drill his double teams. In this set of videos he explains what he means when he says “The Crowther doesn’t lie.”
Whether you have a Crowther or not, having sound progressions which teach all aspects of dominating the double team are necessary. Building the performance of the offensive line in practice does not happen by accident.
These three courses which total over 3 ½ hours of video are loaded with the details and drills needed for you to displace defensive linemen and get level two blocked as well.
Whether you are teachingzone schemes or gap schemes, these techniques will help you dominate the defense and get the ground game rolling.
If you want to get the run game going, this is specifically focused on double team/combos will give youall the details you need from some of the best offensive line coaches in the game. Courses from these three coaches are available.
Everyone has a role to play in the National #YouthSports Strategy! Learn more about the strategy and ways to get involved from @HealthGov: https://bit.ly/2lQ85f6
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
Trump wins Venezuelan TPS case | Admin says parents’ rights are non-negotiable | 10/6/26
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