Welcome to the Softball Excellence Dugout

The Dugout is your cool stuff area. It's the place where you can find all the FREE STUFF (that people love), plus check out softball pictures Cindy has taken around the world, find answers to various Softball Questions, ask Cindy a softball question that might be on your mind, read the Tip of the Month, and also check out links to other softball sites.

The Dugout will continue to grow and evolve so keep checking back. And, keep in mind that if there's something you want to read about, see, hear or learn then let Cindy know so other coaches like you can read about it in The Dugout!

Explore and Enjoy!

Ask Cindy View answers to commonly asked questions that Cindy has been asked over the years. This is the place where you can write and ask Cindy whatever's on your mind. If you've got a softball question you'd like to ask, then simply complete the Ask Cindy Form, hit Send and she will answer your question as soon as she can. Softball Directory Cindy's recommended links to other interesting and useful softball websites. This is your jumping off point to a number of other softball resources on the web. This page has been somewhat organized to categorize other softball sites for you, in the hope of narrowing down your quest for softball information. The categories include sections on Associations/Organizations, other Instruction/Information Sites, Equipment, and section for Miscellaneous sites. Plan to check this page every so often as new Softball resource sites are bound to show up.

Tip Of The Month Each month I will share something new to help make your coaching life just a little bit easier. My Tip will change every month and will eventually address all skills and areas of softball. If there's a particular skill area that you'd like me to write a Tip of the Month on, please send me an email and let me know. Meanwhile, here's this month's tip ...enjoy! Our Most Recent Photos View All Photos

Our Most Recent Articles Player’s Page Pay Attention to Your Attention by Cindy Bristow on May 15, 2012 at 5:05am Do you ever suddenly struggle in practice or a game and wonder what’s going on? When that happens we tend to make physical adjustments but you may be surprised to learn you might instead need a mental adjustment. Coaches Corner Extreme Targets Pitching Workout by Cindy Bristow on May 15, 2012 at 5:05am Boring pitching workouts create bored pitchers, and bored pitchers are very hittable. To improve your pitcher’s movement and control try this extreme target pitching practice. Player’s Page 4 Steps to Changing Old Habits by Cindy Bristow on May 01, 2012 at 5:05am Are you struggling trying to learn something new? Maybe it feels weird or you can’t seem to remember how to do it – then find out how to break a habit. Coaches Corner 7 Lessons from a Legend by Cindy Bristow on May 01, 2012 at 5:05am By now, you’ve no doubt heard that legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt has stepped down as the Head Basketball Coach at the University of Tennessee. Before leaving she taught us all 7 Legendary Lessons we should never forget. Disrupting hitters with the screwball and backdoor curve by Cindy Bristow on April 17, 2012 at 5:04am The more ways your pitcher can attack each side of the plate the more effective she’ll be. Find out how the screwball and the backdoor curveball can work together to disrupt hitters. What is the College Softball RPI? by Cindy Bristow on April 17, 2012 at 5:04am Learn more about the Ratings Percentage Index Don’t be a Hippie Hitter by Cindy Bristow on April 03, 2012 at 5:04am Since the dawn of time hitters have been told to watch the ball come out of the pitcher’s hip. But is that what really happens? Find out where the ball is really released and why your hitters often fail at picking it up. Improving Practice – The Power of Struggle by Cindy Bristow on April 03, 2012 at 5:04am Nobody likes to fail, but from a skill point of view, the struggles that come with failure have a lot of beneficial qualities. While that might seem crazy learn the 3 ways that struggle in practice can help make your players better. How to Handle Playing Time Problems using the WWLS Method – Part 2 by Cindy Bristow on March 20, 2012 at 5:03am This is the 2nd of my 2 part article on The WWLS Method for Dealing with Playing Time Issues. In the last article we looked at the role that high school and college can have on playing time as well as the first 5 steps in the WWLS Method for handling such problems. Categories Baserunning Catching Communication Conditioning Experience Level Advanced All Beginner Fielding Hitting Bunting Slapping Miscellaneous Parents Pitching Practice Recruiting Strategy Throwing Testimonial "I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your newsletter. I have been coaching softball in the Kansas City area for over twenty years and have always used your videos, drill books and practice guides to help me teach my players and continue my softball education. I believe that you are the best instructor that I have ever heard when it comes to relating skills to the younger player. Not many instructors have that ability. They teach the advanced player fine but nobody breaks it down for the young athlete like you do. I just wanted to say thanks for your passion. You have helped many more players than you know." - Bryan Couch - Kansas City