Pack Nation — this was a conversation worth bringing back to your coaches and families. Thomas Roe and Erin Sarles from Blueprint to Bluechip joined me to talk about developing the athlete beyond the numbers: preparation, character, athlete ownership, and making thoughtful decisions about the next stage. Watch the full approximately 43-minute interview attached to this post. A FEW PLACES TO START • 9:13 — Thomas on focusing on controllable preparation. • 14:48 — Erin walks through the athlete-and-family development conversation. • 16:35 — Looking beyond division labels to the right college fit. • 18:43 — Giving character and decision-making practice reps. • 26:31 — The upcoming event and the value of a testing baseline. • 39:52 — Erin on responding when things are not going well. These timestamps refer to the original uploaded recording. MY COACHING TAKEAWAY We can give athletes more than another instruction. We can help them understand where they are, choose a useful next step, and take ownership of it. That applies to preparation, conversations with parents, and decisions about college. COLORADO ATHLETES & FAMILIES Blueprint Performance Series is Sunday, December 6, 2026, in Superior, Colorado. The organizer’s page lists Zybek testing and athlete education, including NIL and branding topics. Registration tiers differ; Standard and Founder’s Circle include 12 months of Blueprint Foundation. Visit the official page for current pricing, availability, venue details, eligibility, and package inclusions: https://blueprintbluechip.com/colorado-blueprint-performance-series-coaches This is a separate third-party event; joining Train With The Pack does not register you for it. CONNECT WITH BLUEPRINT TO BLUECHIP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueprint.to.bluechip/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueprinttobluechip/

Pack Nation — Dr. Tom Hanson recently shared a perspective on goal-setting and individual differences that got me thinking about how we coach softball. Some athletes respond to a big goal. Others need a clear picture of what they can accomplish today. Both can be useful. Our job is to figure out what helps the player in front of us. Think about two hitters stepping into the box with runners in scoring position. One responds to: “Look for your pitch and drive it.” Another hears that and starts trying to manufacture the perfect swing. For her, something simpler might help: “See the ball. Stay with your approach.” Same opportunity. Different response. Or consider your pitcher after a tough inning. One wants a short conversation about the adjustment she can make. Another needs you to stop adding information, give her a moment, and let her tell you what she’s noticing. We need to pay attention to what our coaching actually produces. Did that cue help her commit—or give her one more thing to worry about? Did our energy help her compete—or add pressure? Did she understand the instruction—or just nod because we’re the coach? And here’s another piece of Dr. Hanson’s message that matters: what helps an athlete today may need to change later. The player who wanted detailed feedback in the offseason may need one clear cue during a tournament. The hitter who usually welcomes a challenge may need a different conversation after a difficult week. That doesn’t mean abandoning our standards. We can hold consistent expectations while adjusting how we teach and support each player. 🥎 TRY THIS AT YOUR NEXT PRACTICE Ask a player: “When you’re struggling, what do I do that helps? What do I do that makes it harder?” Then listen. Try one adjustment and watch how she responds. We’re helping athletes learn their own game, too—what they notice, what helps them prepare, and how they can choose their next response. That kind of self-knowledge can serve them well beyond the diamond.