You're a pitcher, and you've just released the perfect pitch. 

Your pitching form is picture-perfect, your follow-though is stunningly choreographed and breathtakingly beautiful, and . . . and suddenly the ball is flying toward your face at a hundred miles an hour.  What should pitchers do immediately after they have thrown their pitch? 

This program gives you some tips on avoiding injury, predicting where the ball will be hit, and why you should never stay behind the pitching plate after you've released the ball.

For more softball tips, visit my website http://slowpitchbook.com.

It's a new game!  You're on the mound!  All eyes are on you as you prepare to throw the first pitch.

Wait!  Stop right there! Are you sure you know what you're doing?

This show walks you through all the little details that should go through your mind before you throw the first pitch of a game, and then before you throw the first pitch to each batter as the game progresses.

For more tips on pitching (and hitting and coaching and managing) slowpitch softball, visit http://slowpitchmanual.com.

Earlier this year, a slowpitch pitcher in Virginia was killed by a line drive (see program #044). 

A pitcher on my own team took a line drive to the groin and had to have an emergency operation on his testicles.

This program examines ways pitchers can protect themselves in this time of flat pitches, juiced bats, and steroid-pumped batters.

P.S.  This is a photo of my shinguard.  Note the permanent dent in it, caused by a line drive.  That definitely would have crushed the bone in the front of my leg.  (Fibula?  Tibula?  Whatever.  It still hurt for several days).

By the way, I've just completely redone my book website - let me know if you find any typos there.  http://slowpitchbook.com

The site now has an easy up-top link to my softball articles - enjoy!

For newbie pitchers who want to win from the start - a list of things you must know before you step onto the field.  The pitching frame described in this show is at: http://danhughesbooks.com/backyardpitching.htm

For more tips, visit my website:

http://slowpitchbook.com

Baseball geeks live for stats, stats, and more stats.  Slowpitch softball is a bit more casual . . . or is it? 

Does your team keep good stats?  Useful stats?  And how can you use them once you have them?

On the controversial side, what exactly should a hitter get credit for?  These are a few of the topics of this internet radio show. 

For more tips on hitting, pitching, fielding, coaching, and managing adult slowpitch softball, see my web page at http://slowpitchbook.com.

How often do you schedule a team practice, and half your guys blow it off with lame excuses?

In this episode of In the Softball Corner, I offer some suggestions that just might get more of your players to your practice sessions.

The bottom line:  If you make it fun, they will come.  (I tried to print that in a Field of Dreams voice, but I don't think it's working).

More softball tips for players (especially pitchers and hitters), coaches, and managers at http://slowpitchbook.com.

Last week, an adult slowpitch softball pitcher was killed when a line drive hit him. 

This program is a tribute to George Crisp, and a look at what might be done to prevent further deaths on the mound.

For articles on playing, coaching, and managing slowpitch softball, see my webpage http://slowpitchbook.com.

The big rule change in ASA this year is the lowering of the maximum height of a pitch from 12 feet to 10 feet. 

This program discusses the ramifications of the new rule, with some suggestions on how pitchers can cope.

For more articles on managing, coaching, and playing softball, see http://slowpitchbook.com.

This is the final show in the series on catching.  Listen to the tips, tricks, and secrets of veteran catchers. 

Ideas on working with umpires, taking advantage of your proximity to all the members of the other team, body positioning on throws home, and lots more.

For more articles on managing, coaching, and playing slowpitch softball, see my website at http://slowpitchbook.com

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Should the slowpitch catcher call pitches? 

What else can he do to make a difference in the game, besides throwing the ball back to the pitcher and make plays at home? 

Catchers from around the country give their tips and tricks on playing the position.

For more articles on playing, coaching, and managing slowpitch softball, go to my website http://slowpitchbook.com.

Recent studies indicate that about 20 percent of us lack the necessary genetic variants necessary for building athletic endurance.

Is there anything we can do about that?   Well, yes, there is. 

In this program I offer some tips to help you compensate for your lack of the proper genetics.

For more articles on playing, managing, and coaching adult slowpitch softball, see my website at http://slowpitchbook.com.

When I recently put out a call for a discussion of catchers and catching, I got a lot of short responses with a lot of excellent insights and ideas.  But I also got two longer letters - one from a pitcher in Ohio, the other from a catcher in California. 

This program is a discussion of their ideas on catching.

For more articles on coaching, playing, and managing adult slowpitch softball, see my website http://slowpitchbook.com.

There are some simple changes you can make in your running style that will increase your speed out of the box.

• Should you run leaning forward or standing straight? 
• Should you take long strides or short ones? 
• Land on your heels or toes? 
• Should your toes point in, out, or straight ahead when you run?
• How should you swing your arms?

All of these things affect your running speed! 

This show gives you tips on how to increase your running speed by making simple changes in the way you run.

Roy Palmer of  http://fitness-programs-for-life.com and Bob Speroni of http://athleticquickness.com offer up their expertise on increasing your running speed by finetuning your running mechanics.

For more articles on playing adult slowpitch softball, see my web page:  http://slowpitchbook.com.

I've been pitching softball for a quarter of a century now, and over the years I've had several catchers who excelled at particular facets of the game. 

In this podcast I discuss two of the best catchers I've worked with, Kevin and Bill, and I tell you what they do that you can do, too, to become a better catcher.

For more articles on hitting, fielding, pitching, catching, and managing, see my web page http://slowpitchbook.com

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Catching is a controversial position in slowpitch softball.  Many teams hide their worst athlete at catcher, but that is where the runs score!   What to do?

With the help of dozens of long-time catchers, this program looks at the ins and outs of the position.

You can see a video of the song quoted in the show here: http://tinyurl.com/yalfdj7

For more articles about managing, coaching, and playing slowpitch, please visit my website: http://slowpitchbook.com.

And for you techies, this program was recorded with a Heil PR-30 microphone straight into a Mackie 402 VLZ mixer - with no mic processor.

Several first basemen have taken issue with a suggestion I made in an earlier program, and rightly so. 

We clear that up in this show, and offer a couple of other final tips on playing first base.

For more how-tos on hitting, pitching, fielding, and managing, be sure to read the articles at my web site:  http://slowpitchbook.com.

In the last program, we asked veteran first basemen around the country some basic questions about playing first base. 

This time, we talk about some of the tips, tricks and secrets we learned from those first basemen.

Read more articles about playing, managing, and coaching softball at my web site http://slowpitchbook.com.

First base - is it a place to hide your tall, slow guy, or is it the place where more outs are made than anywhere else on the field?

Veteran first basemen from all over the country tell us what they wish they'd known before they started playing first base. 

In this show, we'll talk about the basics of playing first base.  We'll discuss playing first with runners on base, with left-handed batters, and when the top of the order is up. 

And we'll argue the glove-vs-mitt debate, and how important height is for a first baseman.

More articles about managing, coaching, pitching, hitting, fielding, and playing slowpitch softball here.

The ASA Rule Changes have been announced for the 2010 season, and one of the new rules is huge. 

Listen to a discussion of how the 2010 season will shape up under the new rules.

More softball articles, tips, secrets, etc at http://slowpitchbook.com.

How to use your end-of-season team party to keep your teammates loyal, and your sponsor happy to write next year's check.

More tips in my book, Managing and Coaching Adult Slowpitch Softball.

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It's hard enough to pitch to average batters - how do you pitch to power hitters?

In this show, I discuss different ideas from different pitchers. 

And a power hitter gives us his ideas on how a pitcher might give him problems.

And of course, there is one sure way you can guarantee that the power hitter doesn't hit a homer when you're on the mound.

For more articles for slowpitch softball pitchers (and fielders, and batters, and managers and coaches), see my website:  http://slowpitchbook.com

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Abner Doubleday and James Naismith are names you may recognize, but George Hancock?

Softball began as a game of broomsticks and boxing gloves.  Now it is the most popular participant sport in the country, with over 40 million players.

This is the story of how softball began as a lark, and grew. into a major sport.

For more information about playing, coaching, and managing slowpitch softball, see my website.

It really IS the hot corner. 

Balls hit to third base are moving faster than balls hit anywhere else on the field.

In this podcast, you'll learn some of the secrets of playing third base, with tips on positioning, preparedness, strategy . . . and survival.

Thanks to veteran third basemen Phil Denman and Jonathan Pinke for their help with this program.

More softball tips are available at my website.

On the first anniversary of In the Softball Corner, I look back at what I did right, what I did wrong, which topics were the most popular, why my book doesn't sell as well as it could, why that's fine with me, and how I was able to combine softball with my other favorite outdoor activity and podcast subject, treasure hunting.

My Birthday Quiz and In the Collector's Corner articles mentioned in this podcast appear every month in The Active Seniors and Boomers newspaper.  You can read them online at http://theactiveseniors.com.

My online high school yearbook is at http://bdhs65.com (and I am not responsible for the hair styles).

For some free articles based on chapters in my book, go to Managing and Coaching Adult Slowpitch Softball.

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Some softball players think pitchers aren't important in slowpitch softball, because you can't do much finessing with a pitch that floats in to the batter at fifteen miles per hour. 

This show offers some tips on how to be more than just a pitching machine.

My book, Coaching and Managing Adult Slowpitch Softball, is available here.

Your team needs a pitcher - fast.  What do you do? 

This show gives you some shortcuts on finding the player on your team who is most likely to be trainable as a pitcher. 

It also shows you how to build a backyard pitching frame - for under two dollars - that will help your pitcher learn to throw accurate 12-foot-high strikes. 

Here's the website with photos and detailed instructions for making and setting up your pitching frame: http://danhughesbooks.com/backyardpitching.htm

And here's the spiffy ad for my softball book: http://softballmanual.com.

Even if you're not interested in the book, the page has links to several free softball articles.  Check them out!

My last-place senior team beat the league's first-place team  - twice! - by using this unorthodox outfield formation.

This program, about my team's 2009 season, includes a description of an effective method of defense against a team that hits a lot of singles to the short outfield.

And don't forget to check out the free articles on the website for my book on managing and coaching adult slowpitch softball.

Good umps, bad umps - what do you do when your ump makes a bad call, or doesn't know the rules?

For more articles on coaching, managing, and playing slowpitch softball, see my website http://slowpitchbook.com.

The knuckleball can be the most valuable tool in the pitcher's arsenal.

When to use the knuckleball (you'll be surprised) and how to throw it are covered here.

Much more about pitching, hitting, fielding, coaching and managing adult slowpitch softball here.

P.S.  This is the most-listened-to episode of all of my softball podcasts.

Here are some tips and tricks for outfielders. 

How to get a force-out when normally you couldn't, how to avoid collisions, who takes priority, where to play your strongest arm, and more.

Be sure to listen to more outfield tips in podcast 013.

And check out my other softball articles:  http://slowpitchbook.com.

What do you carry in your team bag? 

I asked managers around the country to list the items they felt were important to have available. 

Here's a list of things you should consider, including some surprises.

Here's my book, Managing and Coaching Adult Slowpitch Softball.  Buy a copy so I can feed my dog Max.

How often do you have to turn in your starting lineup before some of your players have arrived? 

Here are some tips on getting your players to the ballpark on time.

Here's the book for managing and coaching adult slowpitch softball.

Softball is fun, right? 

That's why we play, right?

So what's with so many hotheads on the field, always angry about something?

Here's the book, Managing and Coaching Adult Slowpitch Softball.

Major league baseball teams win .542 at home, but just .458 on the road. 

Fan noise plays a major role.

In this show we'll give you some tips on how to get the crowd noise going in your favor. 

And we'll talk about bringing kids to your games, too.

More softball articles here:  Managing and Coaching Adult Slowpitch Softball.

Books on adult slowpitch softball are hard to find, but there are a lot of videos on the topic.

Herewith, a look at some of the most popular (and some not-so-popular) softball instructional videos.

More articles at my book site:  http://slowpitchbook.com.

What do you do when players don't show up for your games? 

Twenty managers give their ideas on handing no-shows.

More softball articles at http://slowpitchbook.com.

The new rulebook is out!

Here's a summary of the American Softball Association's rule changes for 2009.

Read more articles about playing, coaching, and managing softball at my website, Managing and Coaching Adult Slowpitch Softball.

Tips for playing the outfield, including:

• Judging the natural curvature of fly balls
• Avoiding collisions in the outfield
• How to begin your run for a ball
• The best way to the make the catch

And a lot more.

For more slowpitch softball articles, check out http://slowpitchbook.com.

Very basic tips on playing the infield in adult slowpitch softball. 

For detailed diagrams on infield strategy, click here.

For more articles on slowpitch softball, go here.

Tips on finding new players during the offseason - setting up a team website and internet bulletin board - keeping stats.

Find much more in my book Managing and Coaching Slowpitch Softball:  http://slowpitchbook.com.

If you're a new softball manager, winter is the time to get started.  Here are some of the things you should be doing.

Many more tips in my book, http://slowpitchbook.com.

100mph bats, including the Freak and the Syn 2, have been banned for one year now. 

How has that ban affected batters?

Check out my website for several articles on hitting, fielding, pitching, coaching, and managing adult slowpitch softball.

A look at the importance of good base coaching, with suggestions for base coaches.

For more tips on coaching, and also hitting, pitching, and fielding, see my website.

Part two of a series on hitting.

More articles about softball at http://slowpitchbook.com.

This time, Part One of a series on learning to become a better hitter.

Read more articles about softball on my website, http://slowpitchbook.com.

Are you sure you want to be a manager? 

Here's a look at two philosophies of managing, and why each of them hurt.  This is the first show in a sometimes series. 

For the complete lowdown on managing, check out my book: http://slowpitchbook.com

Five lists of pitching tips:

• Before you ever pitch a game
• Bbefore the game
• Before you throw your first pitch
• While the pitch is on its way
• When the ball is hit

Each of these topics are covered in more detail in a series of shows starting with program #047.

For more articles on slowpitch softball, see my website:  http://slowpitchbook.com.

More and more leagues are allowing pitchers to stand farther away from the plate than the "official" 50 feet.  Here's how that extra distance affects both pitcher and hitter.

Tips and tricks of slowpitch softball at http://slowpitchbook.com.

In this program, we compare baseball batting lineups to softball batting lineups, with some thoughts on on-base average vs. batting average.

For articles on sofball, visit http://slowpitchbook.com.

A couple of quick fielding tips for beginners, and a discussion of vintage softball bats.

For more softball articles, see my website http://slowpitchbook.com.