Spaulding Pitching Academy

Inside a lesson with Melia 😂🥎

I’ve been working with Lia since she was 10 years old, and let me tell you… her lessons NEVER disappoint. 😂

The majority of our time is spent trying to keep her focused between the most random thoughts, stories, and questions that somehow need to be discussed RIGHT NOW. 🤦🏽‍♀️🫠

Case in point: it took me 5 videos just to get her to do this drill correctly because girlfriend was EXTRA chatty yesterday. 😂

But don’t let this fool you—she is an incredibly hard worker and always shows up ready to get better. This is also such a good reminder that training doesn’t have to be serious 100% of the time.

We work hard. We coach hard. We hold our athletes accountable.

But we also laugh. We’re goofy. We build relationships. And we have FUN.

I’ve gotten to watch Lia grow up through this sport, and these are the moments that make coaching so much fun. 💙

Because sometimes it takes 5 tries to get the drill right… and sometimes your pitching coach just has to accept that you’ve got a story to finish first. 😂🤦🏽‍♀️

Train with purpose. Compete with confidence. Lead with character.

One of the biggest takeaways I had from this year’s Kerri Foster Nelson / Founder Foster Fastpitch retreat came from Olympic Pitching Coach Kyla Holas

We spend so much time talking about speed. Parents ask about it. Athletes chase it. Social media celebrates it ;and we will always celebrate our kids reaching these goals too)

But here’s the question she challenged us to think about…

What can you actually DO with the ball?

Can you locate it when the game is on the line?
Can you move it in and out?
Can you change eye levels?
Can you create spin that hitters struggle to read?
Can you throw different pitches for strikes?
Can you make adjustments when something isn’t working?

Velocity is a tool—not the goal!

A pitcher throwing 58 mph with command, movement, and confidence will often outperform a pitcher throwing 62 mph who can’t consistently hit spots.

At SPA, we absolutely train for velocity! We strength train. We build power. We develop efficient movement.

But we never sacrifice command, movement, and understanding of the craft just to chase a number on the radar gun.

The best pitchers aren’t always the hardest throwers.

They’re the ones who know how to use (and master) every pitch they have.

Train with purpose. Compete with confidence. Lead with character. 🩵🥎

Coach Shelbi had a great conversation with one of her pitchers this week about wanting to throw harder. 💙

One of the most common goals we hear from pitchers is, “I want to gain velocity.”

The bigger question we need to ask is: What are you doing outside of your lessons to make that happen?

Throwing harder isn’t just about mechanics. It’s about having a plan and being willing to train for it. Your lesson is where we teach you what to do. Everything you do between lessons is what determines how quickly you improve.

A few things we talked about:

• Define exactly what you’re working toward (ex. +3 mph by the end of fall).
• Strength training and conditioning are part of becoming a better pitcher—not just throwing more.
• Be intentional with your throwing, recovery, sleep, and nutrition. They all play a role in performance.
• Make your goals measurable so you can track your progress and celebrate the wins along the way.

Remember: Wanting to throw harder isn’t a plan. The work you put in between lessons is what gets you there.

Excited to work alongside her and watch those goals become reality. 🥎🩵

Thank you Chy for being open and allowing us to use this for a teaching moment! Let’s get you started on that plan 👏🏼💪🏽

Learning something new can feel exciting… but it can also feel a little intimidating.

That’s why we believe one of the best ways to learn is together. 💙

When athletes train in a group, they realize they’re not the only one making mistakes, asking questions, or working through a new skill. They encourage one another, celebrate each other’s wins, and grow together.

At SPA, we don’t just teach the fundamentals—we teach athletes how to understand what they’re feeling, how to make adjustments, and how to become independent learners. Because when they know why something happened and how to fix it, confidence starts to replace frustration.

And of course… we believe learning should be fun too. The best training environments challenge you, support you, and leave you smiling when practice is over.

Come see why our Beginner Academy is one of our favorite programs of the year. 🩵 link in our bio!

Talking a little curveball with Abbey last week and making sure she was feeling confident heading into PGF! 🥎

A few of the things we focus on to create quality curveball spin:

• Unravel your arm behind your body during the back side of your circle.
• Keep finger pressure on the outside of the ball throughout the release.
• Separate your fingers to help prevent pushing the ball instead of creating clean spin.

Remember: Great movement starts with great spin. Don’t chase movement—build the foundation first.

More pitching tips coming soon, so make sure you’re following along! 🩵