DR3 Fastpitch Blog

No coach — and no parent — gets it right 100% of the time. I know I haven’t. 

I’ve made mistakes as a player, a coach, and a business owner. Those moments didn’t define me — but they absolutely shaped how I coach today. In fact, many of the lessons I now teach with confidence came directly from sit...

“Calm down.”

It’s one of the most common phrases said to athletes — and one of the most misunderstood.

While it’s usually said with good intentions, many athletes don’t experience it as calming at all. Instead, they hear:

• “You’re overreacting”

• “You shouldn’t feel this way”

• “You’re d

  ...

 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 feels nervous before games, take a breath.

That feeling doesn’t mean she’s unprepared.
It doesn’t mean she lacks confidence.
It doesn’t mean something is wrong.

It means her body is getting ready to perform.

As the season approaches, many parents notice the same signs:
Tighter s...

If preseason feels uncomfortable right now, you’re not doing it wrong.

In fact—if it feels hard, messy, and a little frustrating… you’re probably doing it exactly right.

Every year, as softball preseason ramps up, I hear the same quiet worries from parents:

• “She’s striking out more than usual

  ...

One of the most common things I see when athletes struggle under pressure isn’t a mechanical issue.

It’s a mental one.

Specifically, athletes don’t understand the difference between a routine and a reset — and that confusion leads to spirals on game day.

Let’s clear that up.

What a Routine Actua...

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:

• L

  ...

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

  ...

Softball is a team sport. That statement sounds simple—but it’s one of the most misunderstood truths in the game.

Whether your daughter is striking out the side in the circle or sitting on the bench waiting for her opportunity, the outcome of a game is never on one player alone. Wins and losses are...