Everything Fastpitch - The Podcast

40 Episodes
Subscribe

By: Tory Acheson & Don McKinlay

Everything Fastpitch is a podcast hosted by Coach Tory Acheson and Coach Don McKinlay. Tory and Don are former college coaches that are now full time instructors and travel ball coaches. Since retiring form active collegiate coaching they have committed themselves to providing educational materials to the fastpitch community. This podcast is one of the resources they are providing. Their website has 500+ blog posts and they have a YouTube channel. All of these cover fastpitch softball from coaching and training beginner athletes up through college athletes. It is a great resource for players, parents and coaches. Whether it be training...

Colorado / Hitting Lineup / NIL & Portal Interview / Parental Influence / Old School vs New
Last Wednesday at 8:00 PM

In this week's episode of Everything Fast Pitch by Fast Pitch Prep, Coach Don and Coach Tory discuss various topics including the transformation of Colorado into the epicenter for travel softball, the importance of attending these major events, and recognizing a repeat Player of the Week for her efforts in a faith-based softball camp in Montana. The podcast also delves into a listener question about the optimal number of players to use in a hitting lineup during tournaments, examining both the evidence and challenges of shorter game formats. (@14:14) They feature an in-depth part two of an interview with Dr...


Review of latest with NIL and House Settlement / Trophy Hunting / Honest feedback to athletes
07/02/2025

In this edition of Everything Fastpitch by FastpitchPrep, the hosts are back together via Zoom. Key segments in this episode include discussions on the training of Team USA Softball in Oklahoma City, the recognition of Albany, New York as the City of the Week, and a call for more Player of the Week nominations. The interview segment features Dr. Matt Wilson, who provides insights into the shifting dynamics of college sports, focusing on the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies and their implications along with the changes from the House settlement. The hosts also discuss the culture of 'trophy...


Softball popularity on the rise / SEC permanent location? / Structure of pro ball / Unfair accusations directed at young players
06/25/2025

In this edition of Everything Fastpitch by Fastpitch Prep, Coach Tory shares the news that the podcast will return to its regular format next week. This week's mini pod includes the announcement of Kerrigan Welch as the Player of the Week, praises her achievements both on and off the field, and highlights the importance of listener nominations for this recognition. Tory also discusses the increased popularity of the Women's College World Series and the SEC's consideration of a permanent tournament location. Additionally, the podcast touches on the structure and future of professional fast-pitch leagues like AUSL. Finally, Tory's weekly...


Texas Tech and the new template / Tampering / Super Team and success
06/18/2025

This show is going to discuss the impact that Texas Tech has had on college softball. We have had a lot of feedback from our discussions of the college world series. Texas Tech has done an excellent job in what they have done. But have they created a template for other teams going forward?

Tampering has been going on for a long time.

Does a super team always lead to success?


Support the show


Observations and thoughts from the College World Series
06/11/2025

Coach Tory talks about the just finished College World Series. There were things that we can use to help our players improve.Ā 

Some things need to be changed to help the flow of the game.

Impact of former men's fastpitch players becoming coaches.


Support the show


Mini Pod #3 - Tough Choices for Colleges / Impact of NIL and Portal / Coaching Softball
06/04/2025

Colleges are having to make tough choices regarding sports. Some just don't have the money to invest in all sports so they may have to eliminate some sports to keep competitive.Ā 

Will the use of NIL and the transfer portal create a new way to have success quickly?

More former players are entering the coaching profession, we wonder if that isĀ  reaching far enough into youth teams.

Support the show


Mini Pod #2 World Series News and Behavior Problems at the youth level
05/28/2025

This week the main discussion revolves around the College World Series regionals and super regionals an looking forward to the World Series.

Tory also observed something that needs to be addressed in a high school age game.

Support the show


Mini Pod #1 - Last Weekend's Amazing Softball
05/22/2025

Coach Tory goes through last weekend's games!

Support the show


An Announcement.
05/14/2025

We will be on a small hiatus from our podcast, Everything Fastpitch. A key member of our crew, our producer, had a little health scare, and he won't be able to produce for a little while. Meanwhile! We will be uploading mini podcasts throughout the time he is away! And once Elizabeth gets comfortable enough with editing, we will be back to Everything Fastpitch the big podcasts!Ā 

All of us at Fastpitch Prep thank you for your support, your patience, and your dedication to us! We appreciate you so much more than you know!

Support t...


Help with right size bat / Travel players in rec ball / How much enthusiasm is too much? / Eliminate slow pitching excuse
05/07/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Help with finding the right size bat (@14:35)Never ending discussion on travel players playing rec ball (@19:14)How much enthusiasm is too much? (@30:29)Eliminate I hate slow pitching excuse (@35:12)


Support the show


Do you have to be a super star to be recruited? / Mad Dad Syndrome / Coaches Communicate / Teach Sliding
04/30/2025

Warmup Segment

Listener Question: Does a player have to be a super star to be recruited? (@12:22)Mad Dad Syndrome (@20:34)Coaches communicate properly (@31:29)Teach Sliding (@35:18)

Support the show


Can we save college sports? / High School Politics / Rec and travel issues / Greatest coaches of all time
04/23/2025

Warmup Segment

Listener Question: Can we save college sports? (@10:55)High School Politics (@18:29)Rec and travel issues (@27:41)Greatest coaches of all time (@35:19)

Support the show


Comments on lack of pitchers / Feedback on Rec League participation / California players / Pre-game routine
04/16/2025

This week's lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Comments about lack of pitchers (@8:24)Feedback about travel ball players participating in Rec Leagues (@16:12)Why so many California players in college (@24:25)Have a pre-game routine (@30:22)

Support the show


Mental training for players and psychological intervention for parents / 11 inch ball to the 12 inch ball / Rec ball / Plan for all player's needs
04/09/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Statement: Mental training for players and psychological intervention for parentsĀ  (@12:57)Transitioning from the 11 inch ball to the 12 inch ball (@21:47)What's happened to Rec ball (@32:34)Plan for all player's needs not an isolated one (@44:36)

Support the show


Impact of NCAA changes / Great Mechanics-Poor Performance / Parents to parents politics / Rundown disasters
04/02/2025

This week's lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: What impact will all the new NCAA changes on the horizon have? (@18:35)Great hitting mechanics, but fails in a game (@30:51)Managing parents to parents politics (@45:08)Rundown disasters (@56:01)

Support the show


Tirades don't work
03/28/2025

Coach Tory shares a situation where he had to listen to a coach go into a tirade with his team. This is not how to coach especially early in the season. Listen as the coaches discuss this type of behavior.

Support the show


Age cutoff changes and tryouts / College observations / Spend wisely / Teach skills correctly
03/26/2025

This week's lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Age cutoff changes may be affecting tryout situationĀ  (@14:44)College season observations (@24:00)Spend your money wisely (@38:29)Teach skills correctly from the beginning (@45:43)

Support the show


Have a plan to handle your roster
03/21/2025

In today's environment in the travel ball world, it is imperative that a coach have a strategy/plan on handling their lineup. And it needs to be communicated to the players and parents and be adhered to if you want to have to a better experience.

Support the show


Can tryouts already be a problem? / Playing in a football stadium / Eating better / Do they understand us?
03/19/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question:Ā  Fallout from trying out for next year's team already this year (@16:04)Stanford playing in football stadium (@27:57)Eating better at tournaments (@38:30)Communicating with language, phrases and vocabulary that matches your player's level (@44:39)

Support the show


Player Communication
03/14/2025

Coaches - You must have a player to player communication system, practice it and make sure it is implemented.

Support the show


Take a called first strike? / Cool idea for softball / Observation at the ball park & glove care / Teaching pitchers to attack the zone
03/12/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Taking a called first strike? (@12:58)Cool development in college softball (@24:08)Observations at the ball park and glove care (@39:03)Teaching pitchers to attack the zone (@41:41)

Support the show


A coach's dilemma
03/07/2025

We teach our players to wipe off/forget a mistake and not let it affect our performance in the game. But we don't really want them to forget it, because mistakes are how we learn and identify what we need to practice. The discussion today is how to handle this dilemma.

Support the show


SEC have all 8 teams at CWS? / Reaction-Does any player chose to become a pitcher only? / Helping catchers improve throwing / Patience
03/05/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Could the SEC have all 8 teams at the CWS? (@13:27)Reaction to the question Does any player chose to be a pitcher only? (@21:15)Helping catchers to improve their throwing (@30:12)Art of patience (@38:01)

Support the show


Hitters and pitchers need practice against each other
02/28/2025

Especially early in the season our pitchers need practice against hitters and hitters need to see some live pitching. The coaches discuss the need and some options to make this happen.

Support the show


Pitchers are hitting! / Reverse daddy ball / Bracket ready pitcher / Compete with yourself
02/26/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Feedback from "praise loudly, criticize quietly" (@17:11)Pitcher's are hitting (@28:56)Follow up to reverse daddy ball (@29:58)What is a bracket ready pitcher? (@46:57)Compete with yourself (@56:23)


Support the show


Teach your players the basics of field maintenance
02/21/2025

All fields have to be maintained. A lot of players think that it just happens and don't understand the things that have to be done to keep the field playable. By teaching and having them perform some field maintenance they will have more respect for the facilities and lessen the impact of damage during play. And a lot of school ball settings require them to do field work.

Support the show


2 Different Pro Leagues / Win the right way / Good use of limited practice time / Environment where it's save to make a mistake
02/19/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Are 2 different pro leagues good or bad? (@8:30)How to win the right way (@14:02)Make use of limited practice time (@20:39)Create environment where it's save to make a mistake (@29:24)

Support the show


Being truly ready is a skill that has to be taught
02/14/2025

There are many different ways to be ready to play a defensive position. We have to teach our players how to move to ready so they are not stationary. A lot of players, especially younger players do not understand this concept.

Support the show


Unusual situation with a dad coach / Recruiting Questions / College Season starts / Learning by Watching
02/12/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Unusual situation with player handling the pressure of playing for dad coach(@8:20)Recruiting Questions (@16:05)Kickoff to the college season (@21:47)Learning by watching (@28:13)

Support the show


At what point do you work on pickoff and trick plays?
02/07/2025

Where does working on pickoff and trick plays fit into practice? Coaches need to evaluate the skill level of their players and make a determination how much time they should devote to these type of drills.

Support the show


Advice on recruiting /Forcing a player to be a pitcher / General Hitting Advice / Coaching check list
02/05/2025

This week's lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: What is most important in college recruiting?(@12:04)School ball team has no pitchers, advice on forcing a player to be a pitcher. (@21:08)General hitting advice (@30:00)Coaching check list (@40:45)

Support the show


Coaches, continue to gain knowledge
01/31/2025

Coaches need to always be working on improving themselves. Clinics are are great way to meet other coaches and share knowledge.

Support the show


Do women's sports make any money / Correlation between team rankings and player recognition / Feedback on the shortage of pitchers / Know the rules before you argue
01/29/2025

This week's lineup:

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Do any women's sports actually make any money for their school? (@14:50)Correlation between team rankings and player recognition (@23:09)Feedback from listeners on the issue of not enough pitchers (@31:24)Know the rules if you are going to argue (@53:43)

Support the show


Make a decision on your use of stats
01/24/2025

How a coach is going to use stats in making game decisions is unique for each coach. But how important they are and the impact on decision making must be communicated to your players. Otherwise discontent and questioning will occur.Ā 

Support the show


Question about top 25 list / Interview with Val Alston / Pitch Calling Guidance
01/22/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: Saw top 25 list, what do you think about the SEC dominating the list? (@11:42)Interview with Valerie Alston, mental coach, speaker, author and podcaster (@19:29)Pitch calling guidance (@49:07)

Support the show


Baserunning practice has to include getting back to a base
01/17/2025

The more efficient we are the less likely we get picked off a base and more likely to be able to advance a base. Baserunning practice has to drill down to the small details of footwork to be the more efficient. It's not just take your lead and turn around to come back, but how.

Support the show


What to practice / Process of trying out / Most unhittable pitcher / Coaching at a young age
01/15/2025

This week's Lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: What's more important, what my team does well or what my opponent might do? (@15:31)Sorting out the process of trying out for a team (@20:40)Most unhittable pitcher in softball (@30:53)Importance of coaching at a young age (@38:13)

Support the show


Applying a quote from Catherine the Great
01/10/2025

How a quote from Catherine the Great can be applied to coaching softball.

Support the show


Junior College eligibility changes / Playing in cold weather / Social Media posts for pitchers / Former baseball player coaching softball
01/08/2025

This week's lineup

Warmup SegmentListener Question: What impact will the change allowing Junior College players 4 years of NCAA eligibility have? (@11:36)Advice for players and teams for playing in cold weather (@21:50)Discussion on the number of social media posts from teams needing pitchers (@31:05)Advice for a former baseball player in coaching softball (@44:39)


Support the show


New Year's Resolution - Wipe the slate clean
12/27/2024

We tell players to wipe off mistakes, mishaps or other negative events to perform at their optimum. Today we challenge coaches to wipe the slate clean and start the new year with no preconceived thoughts and evaluate our team and players with a fresh attitude.Ā 

Support the show