Do You Have A Clueless Coach?

I wanted to title this blog “Am I a Clueless Coach?”… but figured that might tank the click-through rate.

That said, I try my best to minimize my cluelessness when I head off to the ultimate coaches' clinic most every year: the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) Convention. It’s where DI, DII, DIII, and NAIA coaches from across the country gather—basically, all the ones you see on TV—sharing what they know and what they’re still learning.

But this email isn’t just about me. It’s about you—especially those of you coaching your daughter’s team or considering stepping into that role. I want to share why you should seriously consider attending a coaches clinic, too.

After attending my first conference, I left twice as confident in my coaching and ten times more eager to learn. Whether you're a volunteer house league coach or leading a competitive travel team, you’ll find clinics more energizing—and more practical—than any YouTube rabbit hole you’ve fallen into at midnight.

Let’s be honest: most of us became coaches because we wanted to spend time with our daughters—and because no one else raised their hand. You probably figured your high school baseball memories would carry you. But then softball throws a curveball (literally), and suddenly those bleacher-parent stares feel a little more intense.

Here’s the good news:

When you learn the game the right way, you save yourself a ton of frustration, second-guessing, and yes—money. I've run dozens of pitching clinics over the years, and I can tell you: most of the time, coaches don’t attend. Maybe they assume they already know it, or maybe it just feels like too big a commitment. But here’s why I think every parent-coach should attend coaches clinics:

1. Leverage:
Send 12 players to a pitching clinic for $50 each? That’s $600 and 12 hours of player time. You attend a coaches clinic for $50, learn the skills, and teach them at practice—for free.

2. Cost-Effective:
Clinics are often free or heavily discounted. Compare that to private instruction ($50–$150/hour) and the ROI becomes pretty obvious.

3. Respect:
Kids can tell when we don’t know what we’re talking about. Coaching confidence comes from knowledge. When you invest in learning, your players invest their trust in you.

4. Trust-Building:
Kids are taught to value a growth mindset. When they see you learning, they learn to trust your leadership—and they’re more likely to grow alongside you.

5. Team Culture:
If you teach the whole team the same mechanics and approach, they start to coach each other. That shared language builds real cohesion.

6. Fun:
It’s genuinely fun to learn and teach. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching a player “get it”—and knowing you helped make that happen.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Check out NFCA.org for coaching clinics. If nothing local pops up, attend a player clinic and take notes. That one session could benefit not just this year’s team—but every team you coach after. In October be on the lookout for Practice Pro’s live online and interactive coaches clinics taught by Coach Erica Hanrahan.

A quick heads-up:
There’s more than one way to hit, pitch, or field. Some are better than others, sure—but there’s no single golden rule. Be cautious about treating one coach’s method as gospel, even if she’s a national champion.

And please—don’t be that coach who comes back from a clinic and changes everything at the next practice (yes, I’ve done this). Your players—especially your daughter—will notice. Trust takes time to build, and you don’t want to lose it chasing the “perfect” technique.

As Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” I know who I’m choosing to be around this year.

How about you?