Start low and out. Most hitters don’t like that pitch and will let it go by for a free strike. “When in doubt, throw low and out.” This came up recently when the mom of one of my students asked me for a little help in learning how to call pitches for her daughter. Makayla […]

At Swim Smooth we are firm believers that anyone can become a strong swimmer, whether swimming comes easily to you or if it takes you a little longer to get there. Of course it’s only natural that if you are frustrated with your lack of swim speed then you may be wishing you were more […]

Before you even start planning your practices and drilling your players, you’ll need to check out the handbook for your specific league. Perhaps you love football. Maybe you even played football in high school. And now, you’ve signed your own child up for the local youth football league. What’s more, you’ve agreed to coach his […]

The focus is on lengthening the time that the players can concentrate and the resistance they can work against. “Small sided games, while no guarantee, are the best way to get children interested in soccer…” “Over and over again during matches and training sessions, situations occur that are suitable for ‘mental training.’ This is because these […]

For some parents it can be extremely difficult to turn the baseball instruction on and off. Remember to draw a clear distinction between parent-coach and child-player. Coaching your own children can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a parent. Yet it can be nerve-wracking. While on one hand coaching your child gives you […]

This challenging setting drill requires players to set the ball many times continuously. Players can do this drill on their own at home as well as in practice. Repetitive volleyball drills can help the players on your team improve their skills and develop good habits. Avoid boring your team by choosing fun drills that will […]

When preparing for a team that runs the Jet Sweep it’s critical the defensive coaches make sure the players know who is the Force Defender and Near Deep Defender in every formation. The Jet Sweep is a difficult play for any defense to defend. The heart of what makes the Jet Sweep so difficult to […]

If you are lucky enough to be blessed with some speed, do you respect your gift? Do you take care of your legs? Do you warm up and cool down? Do you avoid mixing it up during practice? Do you avoid doing stupid things that would put your knees at risk? At soccer tryouts, coaches […]

To build the drill and get players to develop the drill in a more dynamic environment the coach can add multiple times when the defender must come to balance. One area where defenders tend to struggle is transitioning from a full sprint to a position to make a tackle. Many tacklers will continue going as […]

Swimmers need to make sure their top hand is locking in their bottom hand by using the top hand’s thumb. This is extremely important because if you don’t lock the bottom hand in your streamline will fall apart. The streamline is the most hydrodynamic position swimmers can be in, that’s why it’s vital your streamlines are […]