The Power of Training Together: Why I Choose Small Groups

Hey There Friend!

I get it.

I know how much you want to help your daughter succeed in the circle. You want her to have the coach’s full attention, to get the most out of every rep, and to see steady progress over time.

It makes sense — a lot of parents choose private lessons because it feels like the best way to give their daughter focused attention. But after working with hundreds of pitchers over nearly two decades, I’ve learned something that may be surprising to many of you: small-group training often develops skills private lessons can’t.

Here’s why I’ve built my training around it.

Why Small-Group Training Works

Softball isn’t played in isolation, so I don’t believe pitching should be trained that way either. When pitchers work alongside each other, they develop skills and confidence they can’t build on their own.

Here’s why I prefer small groups:

• Game-Like Pressure → Pitchers compete against each other during drills, learning to perform when the stakes feel higher — just like they’ll experience in a game.

• Learning to Self-Adjust → In private lessons, a coach often corrects every rep. But in games, there’s no one standing behind the mound whispering instructions. In small groups, pitchers get feedback from me, process it, and work on corrections on their own without me hovering over them every pitch — a critical skill for success on the field.

• Building Confidence & Independence → When pitchers figure something out themselves instead of being told each pitch, that confidence sticks.

• Exposure to Different Styles → Training alongside peers means pitchers see different speeds, spins, and approaches, which often accelerates learning.

• Learning Through Observation → Watching other athletes work on the same skills often helps pitchers connect the dots and understand what they need to do differently.

Individual Attention Still Matters

One of the most common questions I hear from parents is whether their pitcher will “get lost in the group.” That’s a valid concern — and it’s exactly why my groups are intentionally small.

By keeping class sizes limited, I can give each pitcher specific, individualized feedback while still maintaining the benefits of training alongside peers. It’s the best of both worlds: pitchers get the attention they need and the competitive, game-like environment that helps them grow.

The Hidden Benefits Parents Don’t Always See

Small-group training develops more than just mechanics. It builds skills that pitchers carry into competition and beyond:

1. Better Retention → When pitchers have to process feedback and apply it independently, the lesson sticks.

   During my classes, I remind pitchers to repeat the last thing I corrected in their head before every pitch until I give them another adjustment. This allows them to keep learning and improving with every rep — even while I’m talking with another pitcher in their group.

2. Confidence Under Pressure → Competitive drills mimic the nerves of real game situations and prepare pitchers to perform when it matters most.

   Think about Caitlin Clark for a second — how many times do you think she practiced hitting a last-second, game-winning shot before she ever made one in a real game? It’s the same concept here. In our classes, we practice throwing a two-out, bases-loaded, full-count change-up with your team up by one run. I’ll even have the rest of the class cheering, yelling, and trying to distract her while she pitches — just like a real game. If you want to execute under pressure, you have to practice under pressure.

3. Built-In Accountability → When pitchers see their peers making progress, they’re motivated to work harder.

   I had a pitcher last season who was struggling to learn her rise ball spin using a spinner — mostly because she wasn’t practicing at home between classes. As the other pitchers in her group started showing progress, she realized her lack of reps was holding her back — and she understood that coming to a lesson alone wasn’t enough to make progress. She had to find time to work at home.

4. Teaches Leadership → Experienced pitchers often step into informal leadership roles, modeling habits for younger athletes and helping them feel more confident.

   I have some larger group classroom sessions to cover important mindset topics as part of my training program. I often divide the big group into smaller groups of 3–5 pitchers and intentionally mix ages and experience levels. This gives my older girls and returning students a chance to mentor the younger or new pitchers. It’s so cool to watch leadership skills developing right in front of me — simply because of the group environment.

5. Resilience Through Comparison → Training alongside others naturally highlights where pitchers excel and where they need growth — and learning to handle that comparison builds mental toughness.

   I may have a class full of pitchers who have all committed to play college softball, but each one brings something different to the table. One might throw exceptionally hard, another has a filthy change-up, and another spins a rise ball that creates lots of swing and misses. Even though their strengths aren’t the same, they’re all exceptional in their own way. Training in this kind of environment helps pitchers understand that you don’t need to “have it all” right now to be successful — you just need to keep building your unique strengths while learning from others.

Why I Choose This Approach

There’s no one “right” way to train pitchers. Private lessons can absolutely be valuable in the right context. In fact, I occasionally do some private lessons myself — typically with my college pitchers or as a quick tune-up for pitchers who train with me in group settings during the summer.

But for the majority of what I teach and how I structure development, small-group training offers benefits that simply can’t be replicated one-on-one.

Group training prepares pitchers for competition, builds confidence, teaches independence, and creates a sense of community. And for me, those lessons are just as important as learning the nuts and bolts of throwing a pitch.

At the end of the day, my goal is simple: to help pitchers grow — not just as athletes, but as confident, resilient competitors and leaders.

All My Best,
Myndie