This is a video interview with Monica Abbott. The interview was done over a web video call that I recorded. In this interview, we discussed our upcoming softball cruise clinic (February 2010), her career, softball in general, and of course, pitching.

For the interview, we received 125 questions. Obviously, I couldn't get through them all but I tried to cover as many as possible within a reasonable amount of time.

Enjoy the interview!

One of major problems in youth softball in North America is our short-term focus when it comes to softball training for young players.

For example,in the 12U category, we are thinking about winning  tournaments, dominate the opponents, going to Nationals, etc. rather than to focus on building fundamental skills and thinking about the long-term development of the kids we work with.

We tend to forget that 12U is far from being the "be all and end all" of softball. It's rather just an "early developmental stage"  in the career of a softball player.

One of the topic I'm really passionate about talent development and what it takes to help athletes achieve their full potential.

I've studied this stuff a lot over the last 10 years and it has become one of my specialties.

My final major paper for my Master's Degree was on the long-term development of elite softball players. I also did study talent  development as part of my doctoral studies and coaching certification courses.

Based on my expertise on the subject, I've been part of a committee with Softball Canada that has been working over the last few years to put together the "Long-Term Player Development Guide for Softball  in Canada".

It looks at the long term development of softball players.

This is the complete document that provides a general overview of  Softball Canada`s Long-Term Player Development model.

It identifies the key stages of development as well as the ten (10)  key factors influencing player development.

The 10 key factors are:

1. 10-Year Rule
2. FUNdamentals
3. Specialization
4. Biological Age vs. Chronological Age
5. Trainability
6. Other factors: Physical, Mental, Cognitive, and
Emotional Development
7. Annual Training Plan
8. Calendar Planning for Competition
9. System Alignment and Integration
10. Continuous Improvement

The document is general in nature and outlines general training and competition objectives based on the developmental age of players.

Even though it is based on the Canadian sports system, the major  guidelines are based on research findings in talent development and most of the recommendations are universally applicable to  all softball players anywhere in the world.

If you would like to read more about, the document is available for FREE online:
Long-Term Player Development Guide for Softball  in Canada

I've got a quick announcement for those of you who are close to Cincinnati, Ohio.

I'll be presenting at the Ohio Hawks clinic on Saturday November 22nd, 2009 along with Howard Kobata (defensive skills), Bill Hillhouse (pitching), and Debbie Hartwig (hitting).

I would love to meet you there if you are close by. It should be a great clinic. We also do on-field instruction for the kids on the Sunday.

For more information:

http://www.ohiohawks.com/clinic and you can register for the clinic online.

The say the name of the game is pitching. I can't argue with that. Without solid pitching, you can't expect to win much.

However, something is even more important than pitching: confidence. Without it, you're out before you even step on the field.

I've been coaching 20 years and the single biggest challenge I've had all these years: to get my athletes to be confident. Too often, they have doubts, fears, worries. It's the nature of being humans.

Check this video to learn how to become more confident at the plate:

If you really want to become a phenomenal hitter, you must get this: The Psychology of Phenomenal Hitting

Become all you can be!

Should be running miles if you a softball player? It's a good question. We know that running isn't a big part of the game as I report in this blog post: Softball Conditioning - Stop Running, Start Sprinting

I'm actually answering that specific question from a reader:  "We have a local JCC softball coach who has his team run two timed miles on concrete sidewalks twice a week. If they fail to best their previous time they do 2 more miles. Everyone on the team must break 16 minutes or not play. Your opinion of this?"

Here's my answer:

A few funny softball moments…

I will never repeat it enough: softball is a game of speed and power. In particular, when playing defense, you must be able quickly accelerate in any directions from a fairly still position (defensive position) to field a ball.

In softball, how quickly you get out of your defensive stance and accelerate towards the ball makes all the difference in the world when it comes time to field the ball - it's often the difference between a hit or an out.

Catching a fly ball hit over your head or behind you is especially difficult. You must quickly turn around, accelerate and sprint in the direction of the ball in attempt to catch it. As an example, think of a 2nd baseman trying to catch in fly ball behind the first base in foul territory.

When it comes to teaching how to catch that kind of fly ball, most softball coaches (and baseball coaches too) teach the "drop step" or the "pivot" technique to quickly turn around.

While it works, there is an even better: faster and much easier to learn as it is the body's natural way of doing it. It uses the "plyometric effect" to quickly and very efficiently overcome inertia (your body not moving) and accelerate towards the ball.

It`s call the hip turn technique. It's very effective, much quicker than the traditional "drop step" or "pivot". Every athlete I have taught this technique too has learned it quickly and was much faster at getting going!

Watch the video and apply the concept to your own game and watch yourself "explode out of your static position".

To learn a lot more secrets like this to transform your game, click here NOW!

Get out there and be quick fielder!

Softball is, for a lot of people, a year round sport. However, the big mistake many softball players do is to play competitively year round. You need periods in the year when you taper and focus on building your softball skills and improving your conditioning. This period is the off-season.

Fall is considered for youth softball players to be the off-season.

This morning, I was talking on the phone with the dad of a young 13-year-old softball player who absolutely loves the game and dreams of playing college softball.

He was confused as to what exactly he should be working on or prioritize at this time of the year.

Great question.

Here is the answer:

(The answer might vary based on where you liveor what other sports you practice).

Right now, it's fall. Technically, competitive travel ball is over.

Any fall ball is usually just to further improve your skills and gain experience but isn't as important ont he priority scale.

This is call the "off-season". You're off important competition.

At this time of the year, the focus should always be on building and strengthening the foundation.

This means:

• Doing any major changes needed in the swing
• Learning new pitches for pitchers
• Improving mechanical deficiencies
• Building a good base of strength
• Improving running and agility techniques
• Building a good cardio base

Bottom line…

Skills - doing the major technical changes and improvements and learning new skills that takes time and practice to master.

Physical - building a strong foundation of strength and cardio.

Later (late fall, winter, etc.), we will focus on…

Skills - Refining and keep improving on any major changes or new learning we did previously to be ready for the season.

Physical - Build on top of the foundation of strength and aerobic capcity: develop explosive strength (power) and speed/agility (sprint work, footwork, etc.).

In a nutshell, you must progress your learning from generic/big early in the off-season to more specific/refinement later in the off-season and pre-season.

Here is an example of a new skill that you can learn in off-season that takes time to master and refine: slap hitting!

Today, I got a message from a coach that was looking for a stretching resource for his daughter.

Her physical therapist told her she was too tight and needed to loosen up to relieve her pain. She has nagging  shoulder pain due to too much tightness in the shoulder area.

This is VERY common in softball.

Tightness leads to PAIN, INJURIES, and AFFECTS PERFORMANCE.

Are you tight?

If so, you game is affected.

Increasing your flexibility will bring you MANY benefits:

• Increased speed and agility (increased stride length)
• More hitting power (more rotational trunk flexibility)
• Improved throwing velocity (more shoulder range of motion)
• Increased energy levels
• Fewer injuries
• Pain relief
• Better athleticism
• Improved body awareness
• Enhanced muscle coordination
• Better range of motion around the joints
• Decreased stress and tension
• Improved posture
• Faster healing and recovery (greater circulation of blood)
• Greater sense of well-being

Can you really pass all these great benefits?

Now that you know why you should stretch..

Isn't worth to spend a few minutes after each workout, practice,  and game to stretch your tight muscles?

Next time you finish a workout, a practice, or a game, sit down and take a few minutes to stretch. Alright?

If you want super simple, highly effective stretches for commonly  tight muscles that are also good for softball, I've got a video you'll really enjoy:

Static Stretching and Flexibility Training for Softball

Who loves ya?

Your friend,

Coach Marc
"Your Softball Peak Performance Coach"

P.S. This video will show you both individual and partner stretches to help you improve your game, prevent injuries, and make your feel better!

Softball is a sport that requires a lot of speed and agility. More specifically, you need quick footwork and the ability to change directions quickly (agility).

Here's a very simple drill with variations that will really help these skills: