Message Board

Mental Game - Research Project

Kirsten — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:42:06 GMT

Hi Michele,

I just graduated from the University of Mary Washington. I pitched there for four years and had a great career. Softball is such a huge part of my life its definitely a passion that will last forever and Ill always have such great memories from it (I wont be giving it up for a while!)

Im getting my Masters in Elementary Education and one of our assignments is to write a multigenre research project on a topic of our choice. I am interested in sports psychology and am writing about the pitching aspect, since it is obviously such a huge part. The goal of the project is to incorporate as many different sources as possible, and take it beyond looking information up in books (interviews, videos, going to festivals, etc). I was wondering if you could share some of your experiences with being mentally tough.

What do you think about when things dont go your way as well as when youre at the top of your game?

o What was your best mental game?

o What was your worst? (what do you think went wrong?)

o What was the difference between those outings?

Do you do anything to prepare yourself before the game?

Have you worked with a sports psychologist?

Are there key phrases you tell yourself?

Do you think your mental game gives you an edge when you are physically exhausted?

Do certain superstitious affect your mental focus?

How do you stay focused with so much riding on you in the Olympics?

o Did you become more mentally tough once you joined Team USA?

Ive heard that when coaches come out to speak to a struggling pitcher, the next pitch is usually a strike. Do you agree with this statement? Why do you think that is?

Im sorry to bombard you with so many questionsthese are just some ideas I was thinking of for the project. Whatever you would like to share would be so appreciated. Those are just some ideas I was interested in exploring. I would love the inside perspective of someone who has made it so far in this sport. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me!

Sincerely,

Kirsten Rowell

Forum: General Discussions

IOC Decision

mpatton — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:25:12 GMT

My daughter and I are so bummed out. Rugby and Golf? OMG!

Thank you, Michele, for all of your hard work on the behalf of our daughters.

Kind regards,

Mark A. Patton

Forum: General Discussions

rotation of movement pitches

hittingcenter51 — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:04:48 GMT

Michelle
I have a very talented 14 year old that has pitched all her life and has been a very dominating pitcher at the 16 and 18U levels for the past two years. We attended you camp in Chicago two years ago and something clicked that has made all the difference. It was your teaching us of using the "wall" with the front leg and and keeping the hips from over rotating, staying back and forming a nice big arc. The way I practice this with my daughter is by calling it Knee to knee, bring the front of knee of the back leg up to the back of the knee of the front leg and staying in line and this keeps from over rotating. Working on this alone increased her speed consistantly by 5 miles an hour the first winter. If you watch all the best pitchers in the Pros and college, they all do this, yet almost all younger girls are still useing the open and close meathod and over rotating.

To my question, we have been woring on rotation with the use of a Revfire ball, even though my daughter can throw all of the movement pitches well, and they work most of the time; we do not seem to be improving with the rotational count. We are medium at best, we want to really work on this this side of her game and nothing seems to help. I read an article the other day that said rotation was accomplished more from pressure applied to the grip than from wrist snap. Do you agree with this, we have not been concentrating on the finger pressure and grips but more the wrist snaps and we are not improving. Would love your ideas regarding this. She is only a freshman, and I know that the rotational count in getting big in SPARC testing for pitchers.
Thanks

Forum: Tell Michele

Drills for 15 year old to keep the ball low?

spittie — Thur, 10 Sep 2009 05:35:26 GMT

Can you suggest any drills for a 15 year old to keep the ball low in the zone?
thanks

Forum: General Discussions

Where were you in 1979

azeiler — Thur, 03 Sep 2009 12:43:38 GMT

I found an article in The Voice (Catholic newspaper) about a softball team that had a perfect season in 1979. One of the players is Michelle Smith. Picture is attached (I hope). Is this you?

The school is in Miami (City of Opa Locka actually).

Forum: Tell Michele

Hey Michele!

NOFEAR — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:34:06 GMT

I was just stopping by to say hi and that I missed seeing you over the summer! I am now a Junior (I know scary right!) and taking 2 AP classes this year. I'm hopping that I can come to the Holiday camp again this year, but I'm not sure if I will be able to come.

Kara

Forum: Tell Michele

Need a batting coach that truly knows slap hitting!

Smalls — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:50:50 GMT

Help! I have played ball for nearly 10 years.....select, travel and now with my high school varsity team. I am 15 and will be an incoming sophomore. I always like to stay active and improve my playing and hitting skills. This summer, I tried a batting coach to help with my placing and versatility on the left, which is all I do now. Now I am in a slump!! If seems like with every coach, I have a new set of expectations and ideas with slap hitting. I was pretty successful on varsity with a power slap. Now this coach just wants me to place the ball on the left every time which seems to cause me to lose power. I am batting out every time!! I thought I was supposed to read the defense and make a determination from that! I am a small player, 5'0 at 100lbs. They usually come up on me which is why I was successful with the power slap. Then once they expected that I lay down a drag bunt. I am pretty fast and they need me on base. But now I can't get there! Do you know of a coach in San Antonio that really knows slap hitting? I am on a college exposure select team that has a pretty good reputation but they do not play a lot of small ball. By the way, my favorite movie is the sandlot as well! The seniors on my varsity team game me my nick name this year! (from the sandlot)

Forum: Tell Michele

need your professional expertise please

tpk143 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:45:06 GMT

Michelle,

I have a 12 year old daughter who would like to start playing softball. He rec league will begin soon. She will be turning 13 in November which will allow her to play w/ the 14u girls. Would you suggest that she play with the 12U girls since this is literally her first year? I think she would feel much more comfortable....I know some of the 14U girls are close to pro's and we are nervous that she may get hurt by a hard hit ball...

She has been practicing pitching and would love to pitch. She is actually pretty good. What size pitching glove should she be using? Would you suggest getting a pitching coach and staying out of the rec league for one year? If so, can you recommend any pitching coaches in the Atlanta area? We live in Suwanee, Ga.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...
Thanks,
Terrie D.

Forum: Tell Michele

Question for Michele

kmann_44 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:42:45 GMT

Hi Michele,

I read somewhere that you like to ride a bike for training.
I starting riding for fitness a coulpe of months ago. The farthest I have gone so far is 30 miles, took me about 2 1/2 hours to do it.
A friend of mine says that is a slow time and that I should try and go faster when I ride. I was wondering when you ride do you focus on your milage or your speed?
Thanks.
Kmann_44

Forum: Tell Michele

japans catcher equipment

rcook — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:57:28 GMT

Michelle, i believe you may know this. What manufacture has the head gear and mask that the japanese catcher was wearing in the USA game this weekend???

Forum: Tell Michele

what do the fastpitch pro softball players do in the off season?

jonstew51 — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:03:56 GMT

Michelle and anyone else,

Watching the KFC World Cup, It seems that most, if not all the players from the US are in the Pro Fastpitch National league. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think that the Pro Fastpitch league pays enough for someone to play softball full time(8 hours a day, 5 days a week, all year round). I'm sure there are a few, such as Finch who make enough from endorsements to where she can focus on softball full time. So I am wondering how the other good players who might not get endorsements or go to Japan that are in the Pro fastpitch league be able to financially support this. Would they work odd jobs(softball and non-softball related) until the season started every summer? I don't see them working for corporate America being that they would have to take so much vacation time to play in the summer. I guess they might be able to pick up coaching positions during their career and afterwards but I just wanted to get input from people who might know a bit more than me.

Thanks,

Jonstew51

Forum: General Discussions

BE PROFESSIONAL

coachsmiths — Thur, 28 May 2009 19:34:26 GMT

Michelle,
PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL to the umpires. As a player I know that people want to call them "blue". But they are UMPIRES. Many umpires consider the term "blue" to be demeaning. If you want to be considered to be a professional broadcaster/analysis, then you need to treat other people professionally. Please say "the umpire" instead of "blue".

Forum: General Discussions

Gold Camp

court1996 — Thur, 07 May 2009 01:18:26 GMT

Michele,

Can not wait until June Gold Camp in Hershey. I told my daughter (Courtney) today that she is going back to your camp in Pa. Needless to say she is very excited. Yes it is a long ways from Maine, but sure worth the trip. Just tell your coaches to be ready this year, because I need some tips on helping kids with batting. I will be watching and learning also. Our team is having trouble hitting and I have read everything you have wrote and still can not make it work. I do not like to she these kids having this trouble. They are great kids and our pitching is keeping us in the games, but just can not put it away with our bats. I look forward to seeing all the kids learning and enjoying the game with you again. Thanks for making time for these kids and hosting your camps. I hope you know how you touch these kids and how they love your camp. So thank you and see you next Month

Tim

Forum: Tell Michele

Question about Pitching & Spots

SheylaJessNaplesFla — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:51:16 GMT

Hello to Michele from Naples,Fla :

I have a very simple question in regards to pitching. Do you find down the line that most pitchers are generally more dominant with one corner? When you trained, and I know this falls into the category of being a very beginner's back to basics question ::cough:: however We want to know - How did you ace your corners? What techniques/Drills/secrets did YOU use to ace the corners? I loved the wrist idea.....(I read that in her book game winning softball drills).....We would love to know what you have to say

Sheyla and Jess in Naples,Fla

Forum: Tell Michele

Is this true?

softballchick_430 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:20:01 GMT

I read somewhere that you had retired from the Japan Pro League. Is this true? Say it ain't so! You are an amazing athlete, and if this is true, you will majorly be missed. I had a blast meeting you at camp, and I hope I can come to another one!

Forum: Tell Michele