“I’ll start training three months before the season in January. I’m only 10 and have other sports. I’m not trying to be Monica Abbott.”

I hear you! But remember Misconception #3? The chart we shared there applies to every athlete—regardless of age, talent, or how many activities they juggle. Whether she plays piano, basketball, or is acing her schoolwork, improvement takes consistent reps. Ideally, 4 days per week.

That said, it’s totally fine to pitch part-time, as long as your expectations match your effort. Pitching is one of the few sports that can be practiced solo—10 minutes a day throwing socks into a wall can add up. I often say, “Pitching is her other number one sport.” Even on a busy day, there’s something she can do.

From “just throw strikes” to “you need to master a fastball first,” there are a lot of misconceptions floating around about how what to teach a pitcher when developing her. Many of these beliefs are so common they feel like fact—especially for beginners. But here’s the thing: softball pitching is full of counterintuitive concepts, and the common beliefs often miss the mark.

Let’s clear the air. Here are the first 6 of 14 misconceptions we hear all the time—and why they’re holding pitchers back.

Welcome to the Ultimate Glossary of Pitching Terms, brought to you by Practice Pro. Save it, share it, and use it anytime you’re wondering what a coach, parent, or player is talking about.

🔑 Fundamental Terms

Stride – The forward step the pitcher takes toward home plate as part of her delivery.

Power Line – An imaginary line running from the pitcher’s rubber to home plate. Pitchers aim to stay aligned with this during the stride to maximize power and direction.

Once the season starts, everything shifts.

The intensity ramps up, the stakes get higher, and the margin for error shrinks. What worked during the offseason doesn’t always translate directly into game-day performance unless practices are adjusted to mirror real play. At Practice Pro, we believe that what happens in training should reflect the demands of competition. That means, when you're in-season, your practice environment has to look, feel, and challenge you like the game itself.

Drills and reps still matter—but now more than ever, how you practice matters just as much as what you practice.

So how do you create game-like situations during practice? Here are some ways to make each session more intentional, competitive, and connected to what athletes will actually face on in the circle.

High school season is here—which means hot days, quadruple-headers, long car rides, and a whole lot of competing. For pitchers, it’s an exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) time of year. So how do you make sure you're not just surviving the season... but thriving through it?

Here are 5 things I wish I would have known before I played in high school. Every pitcher should be doing to stay ready, recover fast, and show up confident every time they take the circle.

1. Have a Pre-Game Routine That Grounds You
It doesn’t need to be complicated—but it does need to be consistent. Whether it’s arm circle breakdowns, 7-minute warm-up, or a dynamic warm-up, doing the same prep before each game helps your body feel physically ready and your brain feel locked in. It also helps you focus on your game, no matter who’s in the other dugout.

We’re officially in the in-season (April–July)—the most exciting time of year! This is when pitchers finally get to apply everything they've worked on during the offseason and preseason to live games. But just because you're in the heat of competition doesn’t mean practice stops. In fact, how you train during the season is just as important as how you perform.

Each season requires a different mix of pitching workouts. In-season training depends heavily on game workload: how many games you're pitching, how many innings you're throwing, and how your arm is feeling. Managing fatigue and staying sharp are the name of the game.

Why Offseason Work Still Matters

During the offseason (October–December), pitchers have the freedom to push, experiment, and rebuild. There’s no pressure to be game-ready, which makes it the ideal time to:

Back in 2015, when I was running Chicagoland Baseball & Softball Academy’s softball program, I worked with a great coach who emphasized the importance of players understanding the game, not just playing it. My baseball counterpart had a simple yet insightful idea—he wanted the boys to coach first base so they could develop a better feel for the game.

He gave them some basic guidance and sent them out there. But to his surprise, they struggled. Even with clear instructions, they just couldn’t grasp what to do. He was baffled—when he was a kid, coaching first base was second nature.