Softball Drill Series: Pitching Drills

The game of softball shares a lot of similarities to baseball. The one major part of the sport that is different is pitching. The throwing mechanic requires a fast underhand motion instead of the traditional overhand throw. This means softball pitchers require a completely different set of skills than their baseball counterparts. Just like every other athletic skill, the softball pitching delivery can be perfected with a lot of practice. These are the three pitching drills every softball player needs to perform to improve their skills.

Rapid Fire Drill

Every great softball pitcher needs to have the endurance to pitch the whole game. The perfect way for a pitcher to build up their endurance is by regularly performing the rapid-fire pitching drill. The pitcher will need to stand on the mound with a large bucket of softballs. The player then needs to pitch all of the balls as fast as possible using their normal pitching motion. This should teach them how to pitch effectively with a tired arm. It is best to complete this drill at the end of every practice session.

No Stride Drill

There is nothing more effective in a softball pitcher’s arsenal than an amazing fastball. The pitcher will need a very strong arm in order to develop this dominant pitch, which is where the no stride drill comes in handy. The drill starts with the pitcher throwing five pitches on top of the mound without using striding. They will then back up several feet and throw five more pitches. This process is repeated until the pitcher is no longer able to get the ball back to the catcher.

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How Strong Leaders Manage Workplace Conflict

Resolving workplace conflict is an integral part of being a leader. Leaders have to diagnose workplace problems and formulate strategies to alleviate these issues. It is a constant job to make sure one’s business is running smoothly and that their employees have their emotional needs met as well. Ensuring that interpersonal work-related relationships are in good standing, employees will feel better as a result and also perform better. Influential leaders can manage workplace conflict by doing the following:

Enforcing Clear Conversations

Workplace conflict can arise quickly from poor communication skills. When employees or a boss can’t express their points clearly, a lot is left open for interpretation or taken out of context. Then, it doesn’t take too long for assumptions to be made and conclusions to be drawn. To resolve workplace conflict, clear and concise communication should be established, especially when it comes to what is to be expected from each person.

Leadership Coaching

Executive leadership coaching can help leaders to improve their conflict resolution skills. Emotional intelligence and self-awareness are crucial to managing workplace conflict as awareness allows leaders to see exactly what is needed from them to solve the problem. Not only will they learn to process questions, they will also learn how to see the bigger picture and new ways to fix ongoing issues…

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Softball Drill Series: Fielding Drills

With any sport, running various drills during practice is a sure way to improve skills and hone in on individual strengths. It’s important to develop the skills of each single-player, while also focusing on cohesive teamwork and functionality. For a softball team, the different types of practice drills can seem almost endless. In this series, we’re going to focus on various softball drills broken down by player position (i.e., pitching, fielding, catching, etc.). To begin, here are a few softball drills that are perfect for players in the field.

Reaction Drill 

A player in the field should always focus on their reaction time, and how they can improve it. Reaction time is essential when playing the field. Games can move quickly, and players in the infield and outfield need to be prepared to react quickly. 

How To:

Set up four cones in a square shape about 15-feet apart from each other. The coach stands in the middle of the circle, while the fielders line up behind one of the cones. Players behind the cone must be facing away from the coach. The coach will then take turns throwing the ball to each player while yelling, “Go.” Once the player hears “Go,” they are to react by turning around and catching the ball quickly. Once the ball is caught, the fielder drops it and runs to the next cone before another is thrown. This continues on a rotation with each fielder. 

Grounder Drill

Ground balls are a standard part of a softball game, but can sometimes be a challenge to master from the field. The Grounder drill is a great way to help fielders learn how to quickly and effectively stop a ground ball….

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Leadership Tips to Help Motivate Your Team

Motivation is what fuels the drive and productivity behind the work of your employees. As a leader, one of your many duties is to help foster the development of your team to keep them motivated; ultimately, increasing their level of productivity. Consider your team to be your most excellent resource. They are a crucial component of the foundation of your company’s success. Here are a few ways you can inspire the employees on your team and provide a motivational boost. 

Set a Clear Goal 

When goals aren’t made clear to a team, miscommunication is common, and employees often don’t know how to prioritize work. According to Inc. contributor, Peter Economy, “63 percent of employees reported that they wasted time at work because they weren’t aware of what work was a priority, and what wasn’t.” Prioritizing work is the first step in making sure employees are using their time productively. Make sure you’re regularly discussing goals with your team and developing the best plan to reach them. 

Foster and Develop Individual Strengths

Development is vital to your employees. Your employees want to know they have the opportunities to learn new skills and further enhance the ones they already have. As employees develop these skills further, their motivation level will likely increase. A great way to contribute to employee development is offering regular training sessions that focus on the various skillsets and technologies used throughout your company…

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