🥎 SAME TEAM. DIFFERENT PLAYERS. DIFFERENT NEEDS.

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.

Credit to Dr. Tom Hanson for the perspective that inspired this discussion. To explore his Play Big

Mental Performance Coach Certification:

👉 https://drtomhanson.com/certification

💬 SOFTBALL COACHES: When have you changed your approach with a player and noticed a difference? Share the age group, the adjustment, and what you observed—without naming the athlete.

— Coach JT

Pack Baseball & Softball Academy

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🥎 SAME TEAM. DIFFERENT PLAYERS. DIFFERENT NEEDS.