Mike Candrea's Ultimate Coaching Clinic - Practice Planning, Infield & Hitting

featuring Mike Candrea,
University of Arizona Head Coach from 1986 through 2021;
8x Women's College World Series Champions;
winningest coach in NCAA Division I Softball history (1,674 wins);
4x Speedline/NFCA National Coach of the Year;
3x National Coach of the Year;
11x Pac-12/10 Regular Season Champions;
12x Pac-12 Coach of the Year;
named the Pac-12 Coach of the Century;
Distinguished member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Hall of Fame (1996);
2017 USA National Softball Hall of Fame;
2009 Arizona Softball Foundation Hall of Fame;
Central Arizona Head Coach from 1981 to 1985;
2x US Olympic Softball Coach (Gold in '04, Silver in '08)

This coaching clinic featuring Hall of Fame Coach Mike Candrea has been called ‘the most complete video I ever have seen’; you will soon learn why as Candrea addresses a wide variety of topics covering the gamut of skills, passion, organization, coaching focus, balance and more. 

Important Traits for Every Player

Coach Candrea believes if you can not catch and throw or if you have issues with your vision, all the drills in the world will not make you a better softball player.

If you think your kids have good fundamentals in the field or at the plate but are struggling hitting or fielding, get their vision checked by a professional.  Many times kids have vision issues, but the parent and/or coach think it is related to their skill set.

If your player doesn’t have any vision issues then we can focus on ways to improve the player’s vision.  

Rarely does a player catch a ball in a stationary position.  Our players are always moving to receive a throw or to make a throw to the appropriate bag or relay person.  Coach Candrea believes in starting practice with short throws using a four corner’s drill.  The drill can be adapted to players of various ages and skill sets.

Organizing a Great Practice

Coach Candrea advises to never do a drill at practice that isn’t sport-specific to what you may see in a game environment.  This is a waste of the players (and coach’s) time!  Every drill should progress to more advanced drills using skills previously demonstrated.  

It's ok to be creative at practice and introduce drills that simulate game-like situations. Progress from drills to live hitting and fielding which is more reflective of the actual game.

While working on infielders or outfielders’ glove and footwork, don’t forget specific drills for the pitchers.  Coach Candrea gives an example of facing a pitcher that threw 70 mph.  The first game, the opposing pitcher struck out 18 of Coach Candrea’s batters.  Coach Candrea noticed the opposing pitcher had issues throwing overhanded to bases.  Therefore, the next time the two teams faced each other, Coach Candrea started bunting more.  The pitcher struggled throwing to bases and Coach Candrea’s team won the game.

Infielder’s Responsibilities

Coach Candrea advises that each infielder on every play is either fielding the ball, covering a base or backing up a throw.  

The first and third baseman is closer to home plate and thus must play lower to the ground because they have less time to react.  Learn how to field the ball with the glove fingers scratching the clay.  Learn how to rake through a softly hit ground ball to the players backhand.  

Coach Candrea emphasizes how to open up on the front side and hide the glove when making a short throw to a bag so the receiver can see the ball better.  Learn how the infielders communicate with each other and the outfielders.

Infielder Training

Learn how and when the shortstop and second baseman would charge a ground ball with a hop vs giving a step and learning how to read the speed and direction of the ball.

Coach Candrea demonstrates two techniques used by the shortstop in fielding a backhand.  The technique used depends on how hard the ball is hit.

Coach Candrea also shows how the first baseman gets to the bag with both feet then commits stretching to the throw with the glove hand.  Learn how to make tags at first base on errant throws that pull the first baseman off the bag.

Coach Candrea demonstrates how the middle infielders and the third baseman approach the bag on throws from the outfield and catcher.

Hitting Goals

Coach Candrea teaches how to achieve maximum force with minimal effort.  Learn how to be efficient.  Learn how the swing starts from the ground up and why the “squash the bug” approach that was once taught regularly should never be taught again.

Learn how to use the ground to generate force and not to spin on the right foot for a right handed batter.  Coach Candrea explains how the lower and upper body must be connected and work like gears to generate more bat speed.

Not only does Coach Candrea discuss staying connected in the swing, video clips he shares demonstrate how the gears work together.  Coach Candrea shares several video clips of successful softball and major league baseball players on their pre-pitch carrying through to the swing and extension.

Learn how to turn the bat sooner and keep the bat on plane longer to put more balls in play even if you are early, on time or late with the swing.  Learn what 90-degree angles are on how they impact how hard your players can hit the ball.

Character vs. Skills set

Coach Candrea’s dad advised him at an early age that if you cannot sleep because of issues with a kid in your program, then you need to release the kid from your program.  Coach Candrea explains in detail why he would rather have a kid with high character than a kid with a more impressive skill set.

Learn how to develop your program based on a culture built from the inside out implemented with the assistance of all players and how the coach must set the example on and off the field.

Coach Candrea discusses the pillars of a successful program and reflects on character, attitude and discipline.

Coaching Pitfalls

Coach Candrea does a fantastic job of explaining the fundamentals of the game, each player's responsibilities and how to organize a practice and instill values in your players setting the tone for a winning culture.  However, this video goes beyond coaching to challenge each coach to evaluate their individual happiness and work/life balance.  

Coach Candrea challenges each coach to examine where they are with their family life or lack thereof and see if they are driven by wins/losses or training young people for life lessons.  Coach Candrea discusses what motivated him as a young coach in junior college and what motivated him during his successful time at Arizona and the USA Head Olympic Coach.

This video will provide every coach with insights and lessons that will reinforce and reinvigorate your future stages as a coach and person!

226 minutes.  2023.