Why What Your Pitcher Does Now Shapes Her Success Next Spring

Hey There, Friend! 

I’m gearing up to kick off both my In-Person Pitcher Training Program and my online course, “The Complete Pitcher.” That means one thing: training season is right around the corner!

Every fall, pitchers make the shift from competing all summer to focusing on training — and the work they put in right now sets the tone for what happens when competition starts again next spring. To help your pitcher get the most out of this transition, I’m sharing the 9 keys I believe are absolutely essential as we move from COMPETING to TRAINING this fall.

First, a Quick Note About My Training Roadmap

At BreakThrew Fastpitch, we follow a proven, step-by-step roadmap that takes pitchers through three phases of development:

• Off-season → Build mechanics, confidence, spins, and competitive habits

• Pre-season → Fine-tune targets, add deception, sharpen command

• In-season → Compete, adjust, and maintain peak performance

This blog is built around the same approach we use inside my programs, so you can use these tips to guide your pitcher — whether she trains with me or not.

A Quick Story Before We Dive In

Last fall, a 13U pitcher named Claire came into training shy, quiet, and unsure of herself. She had plenty of talent, but she struggled to stay consistent and would shut down after a mistake.

Through the off-season, we focused on small, daily improvements and built her confidence alongside her mechanics. By spring, Claire was competing with a completely different energy — she walked into games with her head high, attacked hitters, and trusted herself in big moments.

Her story isn’t rare. I see transformations like this every single season when pitchers commit to doing the right work, the right way. Here’s how to help your pitcher do the same.

1. Let Go of Results 

For the first several weeks of training, encourage your pitcher to stop worrying about where the pitch goes.

When she’s working on mechanics, spins, or power, her command might dip before it improves. That’s completely normal — focusing on the process instead of the results builds better habits and long-term confidence.

2. Build an At-Home Training Space 

Pitchers who have a simple setup at home typically practice more often, and that helps them build confidence and see better results.

You don’t need a fancy facility. A small net in the garage, a tarp in the basement, or sock balls into a wall can make it easy for your pitcher to get daily reps.

3. Train Smarter

When it comes to building habits and improving mechanics, frequency matters more than duration. Ten minutes of focused reps daily beats one long workout a week.

To make those reps count:

• Plan each session → Know what you’re working on before you start.

• Choose one thing to improve → Small wins add up faster than you think.

• Track progress → Seeing improvement keeps motivation high.

I had a pitcher last season who loved using her habit tracker. She’d proudly come in each week saying, “I checked off every workout!” And you know what? Her consistency showed up on game day. Her confidence didn’t come from practicing longer — it came from practicing with purpose.

I see it all the time — pitchers who stick with short, focused daily workouts make steady progress and show up more prepared when the season begins.

4. Sweat the Small Stuff 

The little things like stepping on a powerline consistently, getting the ball to spin the correct direction, and using full effort every pitch are what separate good pitchers from great ones.

Paying attention to these small details helps pitchers better understand the process and make adjustments that lead to real progress. One small adjustment to a spin or stride might not seem like much, but I’ve watched little tweaks like these turn into big breakthroughs by spring.

5. Train at Game Speed 

If your pitcher wants to perform her best in competition, she has to practice the way she wants to play.

That means training with the same focus and control she’ll need on game day. Practicing at game speed builds habits that make her more prepared, consistent, and composed when it matters most. Pitchers who train with focus are the ones who step into the circle more prepared and ready to compete.

6. Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Growth doesn’t happen inside your pitcher’s comfort zone. Encourage her to push herself — physically and mentally — during training.

Last winter, one of my 14U pitchers hated competitive drills at first. They made her nervous, and she didn’t like failing in front of the group. But by the end of the program, she was asking for those challenges. That shift translated directly into her spring season — she stepped into games with more composure because she’d already practiced handling pressure.

7. Re-Frame “Failure” as Feedback

Struggle isn’t a setback; it’s an opportunity to learn and grow.

I remember a pitcher who used to get really frustrated during our class target competitions whenever she missed her spot. She didn’t like “failing” in front of her peers, and at first, it really shook her confidence. Over time, though, she realized everyone was learning together — and those misses were just part of the process. By spring, she wasn’t afraid to challenge herself, and when she made a mistake, she used it as a chance to adjust and move forward.

I see this every year — the pitchers who grow the most aren’t the ones who never make mistakes, but the ones who learn from them and keep going.

8. Mindset + Body Language Matter 

Confidence isn’t just about throwing strikes — it’s about how your pitcher carries herself.

This off-season is the perfect time to practice both self-talk and body language. I often see pitchers who let their frustration show when something doesn’t work the way they want. When they learn how to reset between reps and refocus, their entire presence shifts — and so does the way people respond to them on the field.

Sometimes it’s the smallest changes in body language — like making eye contact with her catcher and owning the moment after a missed pitch — that make the biggest difference in how a pitcher feels and how others see her.

9. Dominate What You Own

Your pitcher doesn’t need lots of different types of pitches to succeed — she needs:

• Solid mechanics at full effort

• Great command of her fastball

• A change-up she can throw with confidence

• One deceptive movement pitch

Once she masters these, then it’s time to add more. It’s important for her to understand that more isn’t always better — being exceptional at one thing is far more valuable than being average at many.

Final Thoughts + Invitation

Training season is where real growth happens — not just in mechanics, but in confidence, resiliency, and game-day habits. If you’d like a step-by-step roadmap to guide your pitcher through this off-season, I’d love to help her get there.

Registration for my 2025–26 In-Person Training Program opens on September 26th, with training beginning in early November.

If you aren’t able to train in person with me this year but would still like a structured plan to follow, my online program, “The Complete Pitcher,” would be a great option for your pitcher. Registration for it opens on October 10th.

I’d be honored to work with your pitcher and help her take the next step in her journey this season.

All my best,
Myndie