DR3 Fastpitch Blog

 One deep breath can change everything.

It sounds simple—almost too simple—but in high-pressure moments, it can be the difference between spiraling and stabilizing.

As the season approaches, parents often focus on physical readiness: reps, conditioning, mechanics. But some of the most important to...

If your daughter gets nervous before games, let me start by saying this clearly:

That does not mean she’s weak.
That does not mean she’s unprepared.
And it definitely does not mean something is wrong with her.

Pressure shows up because athletes care.

And caring is a good thing.

One of the biggest ...

One of the most powerful mental skills in softball has nothing to do with strength, speed, or mechanics.

It’s called short memory.

And it can completely change how an athlete performs under pressure.

What “Short Memory” Really Means

Short memory does NOT mean ignoring mistakes.

It means:

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One of the most powerful mental skills in softball has nothing to do with strength, speed, or mechanics.

It’s called short memory.

And it can completely change how an athlete performs under pressure.

What “Short Memory” Really Means

Short memory does NOT mean ignoring mistakes.

It means:

• L

  ...

Every softball player will strike out.
Every pitcher will give up a hit.
Every fielder will make an error.

That’s not pessimism—it’s reality.

Softball is a game of failure. The sooner athletes accept that, the faster they grow.

The problem isn’t failure itself.
The problem is what happens after f...

The Changeup: The Pitch That Separates Good from Great

Velocity gets attention.
But speed change wins games.

The changeup is often the first pitch that teaches a pitcher how to outthink a hitter. It’s not about throwing harder — it’s about throwing smarter.

A great changeup requires:

• Consist

  ...

One of the biggest mistakes parents make is thinking more throwing equals faster results.

It doesn’t.

For beginners, the goal is consistency without burnout. Pitchers should aim to get 1% better every day, but that doesn’t mean throwing a ball 7 days a week.

Improvement can look like:

• Spin w

  ...

If your daughter plays softball, she throws a ball.
If she throws a ball — she needs arm care.

And yet, arm care is one of the most overlooked parts of a player’s training. Most families wait until soreness, tightness, or injury forces them to finally pay attention. But by then? Damage has already ...

I had a parent tell me:

“Coach D, we’ve got games four nights a week. The idea of driving to a gym for workouts just isn’t realistic—but I don’t want her to fall behind.”

That’s exactly why I teamed up with Coach Dakota to build this 15-Minute In-Season Program for Pitchers. No gym. No heavy gear....

As a coach, I can teach your daughter how to spin the ball.

How to sequence pitches.

How to hit her spots.

But what I can’t do in a 60-minute lesson… is teach her to believe she belongs on that mound.

That’s why I created the Diamond Strong Mindset Academy.

Because the girls who stand out aren’...